The government denied your claim for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits. The decision perplexes you. How could this happen?
Well, you are not alone. In the decade of 2010 to 2019, the Social Security Administration (SSA) on average denied 67% of all disability claims. So, why were those benefits denied? There are several reasons.
Able to perform other work
As you see, most workers have their claims denied. During the same 10-year period of 2010 to 2019, an average of 21% of applicants received benefits upon making initial claims. The SSA awarded benefits to another 10% of applicants after the reconsideration and hearing levels.
According to the 2020 Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, here are the four most common reasons workers had their applications denied in 2019:
- The person had the ability to do other types of work: 42%
- The medical impairment was not considered severe: 23.8%
- The person had the ability to continue to perform his or her usual work: 9.1%
- The impairment would not last 12 months: 4.6%
In addition, 20.5% of all denials were due to other factors. They included the impairment was the result of alcohol or drug addiction; failure to provide sufficient medical evidence; failure to cooperate; did not subscribe to prescribed treatment; declined to continue with the claim; and returned to significant work before the establishment of a disability.
The option of filing an appeal
A denial of SSD benefits often leads to mounting frustration, especially when you cannot work and unable to provide for your family. There are many reasons the government denies these necessary benefits. Filing an appeal just may change the outcome.