The idea that most claims are approved at the hearing level is false. In Fiscal Year 2001 out of every 100 applicants 40 were approved at the initial application. Out of the 60 who were dissapproved only 25 asked for Reconsideration and only 4 were approved at Recon. This means that out of the 21 who were denied at Recon only 19 appealed their decision and asked for a hearing. Out of the 19 who asked for A Hearing, 12 were approved.
As you can see from the foregoing figures (published by SSA) 40% of applicants are approved at their initial application and only 12% (of the initial 100) were approved at the Hearing level. the foregoing figures vary slightly from year to year but remain fairly constant.
Thanks for the numbers...maybe there is hope for me yet Actually, I believe that my medical evals all went well. They were each long enough for the Drs. to each make a fair conclussion. (It wasn't like I went in and 10 mins. later they said ok, good bye ) Anyway, thanks for the info. It is encouraging to read.
The way I understand the numbers is that 19 out of 100 are accepted at the hearing level, where as 40 out of the 100 are accepted right off the first applacation. I think purplebill was pointing out that the idea that most people don't get accepted the 1st round, is not an accurarte statement.
(At least I hope that is what he was saying, since that is very encouraging to me )
LisaP has interpreted the numbers but another way to look at it is that out of the original 100 applicants (100%), only 19% appealed their case to the hearing level and only 12% were approved at hearing. As opposed to 40% who were approved at the initial level. Just goes to show that there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.
Re: Most Claims NOT appproved at Hearing 
Actually, I believe that my medical evals all went well. They were each long enough for the Drs. to each make a fair conclussion. (It wasn't like I went in and 10 mins. later they said ok, good bye
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