The 5-year rule stat that floored me in a hearing prep packet

I was reading through my SSA file last week, getting ready for my appeal. Found a fact buried on page 14 that I never knew. SSA approves about 38 percent of initial claims, but over 60 percent win at the appeals level with a lawyer. Talked to my rep about it, and she said that's been true since the early 2000s. Made me wonder how many people quit before even trying the next step. Has anyone else seen numbers like that in their own records?

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ninaw881mo ago

Wait, are you sure about that 38 percent number? I kept seeing different stats when I was digging through my own appeal, and my rep told me the initial approval rate is actually closer to 33 or 34 percent when you factor in all the medical denials and technical denials. The 60 percent at the appeals level is real though, I've seen that figure pop up in a few places, but it's misleading because it includes people who get approved after a hearing with an ALJ, not just lawyers. A lot of folks win without one too, they just have to be really prepared, but yeah, the gap between step one and step two is wild. It just makes me wonder how many people get that first denial letter and just give up without realizing the odds actually swing in their favor the second time around.

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