The Social Security Administration (SSA) reported nationwide award rates at the initial and reconsideration levels remaining in the same narrow range for fiscal year (FY) 2018. Since FY 2010, initial level award rates have remained between 32-35%, while reconsideration level award rates have stayed between 11-13%.
The largest change in award rates occurred at the hearing level, where the nationwide rate fell 2%, from 47% to 45%. In FY 2010, the hearing level award rate was 62%.
The “waterfall” chart below is released annually by the SSA as part of its budget reporting process, but was provided early to Allsup through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request:
