Every claimant who is denied at hearing by an ALJ has the right to appeal that decision to the Appeals Council, which is a basic safeguard of every claimant’s due process rights. Unfortunately, data released by the Social Security Administration reveals that the number of successful appeals has plummeted over the past eight years:
| Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of claims overturned on appeal | 21.77% | 21.19% | 18.62% | 17.11% | 14.34% | 13.58% | 12.03% | 10.41% | 11.83% |
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As shown in the above chart, in 2010 the Appeals Council overturned (or “remanded”) 21.77 percent of the claims that it reviewed. The remand rate then steadily declined over the next eight years, with 2018 seeing only 11.83% percent of claims remanded. That equals an almost 10 percentage point drop in remands over that period, affecting tens of thousands of claimants who in prior years would have likely had their cases overturned.
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What Does This Mean For SSDI Applicants?
The above decline in remands is consistent with the ALJ approval rate at hearing, which during the same period has fallen from 67% in 2010 to 54% in 2018. When considered in conjunction with one another, fewer approvals at hearing and an ever-falling remand rate represent troubling trends for disability claimants.
The most important thing an applicant heading into a hearing can do to maximize their chances of success at hearing (and thus avoid the need for an appeal) is to make sure they have qualified representation and to make sure they have solid medical records and medical documentation. Not only will these help at the hearing, but also, should the applicant need to make an appeal, having this documentation on the record will be helpful for the appeal as well.
About Citizens Disability, LLC:
Since 2010, Citizens Disability has been America’s premier Social Security Disability institution. Our services include helping people in applying for SSDI benefits, managing the process through Reconsideration, and representing people in person at their Hearing, and if necessary, bringing their case to the Appeals Council. Our mission is to give a voice to the millions of Americans who are disabled and unable to work, helping them receive the Social Security Disability benefits to which they may be entitled. Learn more about us and disability benefits like SSDI & SSI or give us a call (800)492-3260.
Citizens Disability is committed to helping keep people safe from fraud. We will never ask for personal details to start an SSDI application over Facebook or social media. We will only ask for certain details, in private messages, to confirm the identity of a client in a customer service situation. The only way to begin an SSDI application with us is on the phone, through a number found on our website, or one of our clearly-marked advertisements. Please keep your personal details safe, don't share them in a public forum, or with individuals who solicit your information.
