You’ve struggled with your health for months, with your medical condition affecting your ability to manage daily tasks. Now, it’s made maintaining a regular work routine impossible.
Your doctor says your condition is degenerative and unlikely to improve, which could put you out of the workforce permanently. To say you’re worried about making ends meet is an understatement. If that sounds familiar, you probably wonder whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. You may have also heard that the application process is challenging and lengthy.
At Disability Services of America, our SSA-approved employment network helps clients nationwide confirm their SSDI eligibility, complete their application, and navigate the evaluation process to secure the benefits they deserve. We understand that knowing your chances of approval—and learning how to submit a stronger claim for benefits—can help ease some of your stress during this difficult time.
Here’s what you should know about SSDI claim success rates for various conditions and how we can help boost your chances of approval.
Understanding SSDI Approval Statistics
The Social Security Administration (SSA) denies approximately 65 percent of initial SSDI applications. However, approval rates vary significantly depending on the medical condition. Understanding how the SSA evaluates disabilities can help you better prepare your application.
While some conditions automatically qualify for disability benefits if you meet specific criteria, you may still qualify for an unlisted condition if it is medically equivalent to a listed impairment or prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity.
Factors that increase your chances of SSDI approval include:
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Medical documentation quality
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Your age
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Your education level
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Your work history
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Whether you have representation
Working with disability advocates significantly increases your chances of approval. Our team at Disability Services of America knows exactly what evidence the SSA needs to see and how to present your case effectively.
Medical Conditions With Higher Approval Rates
Some conditions have historically higher approval rates because they’re easier to document objectively or they clearly prevent substantial gainful activity (SGA). For example, certain cancers have typically high approval rates, with the SSA often expediting applications for:
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Brain cancers
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Pancreatic cancer
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Small-cell lung cancer
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Stage IV cancers
Other medical impairments with higher approval rates include:
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Neurological conditions with clear diagnostic criteria and significant functional limitations, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Parkinson’s disease
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Traumatic brain injuries resulting in persistent effects
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Epilepsy with frequent, documented seizures that continue despite treatment
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Congestive heart failure
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Coronary artery disease with repeated hospitalizations
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Heart transplant recipients
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Recurrent arrhythmias causing fainting
Conditions With Moderate Approval Rates
Some conditions may require more extensive documentation but still have reasonable approval rates. Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease have moderate approval rates. Gaining benefits for these conditions often depends on documenting:
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The frequency and severity of your flare-ups
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Your response to treatment
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The condition’s impact on your work capacity
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Lab reports objectively confirming your diagnosis
Mental Health
Mental conditions may also qualify for SSDI under certain conditions. However, your medical records must show consistent treatment and how symptoms affect your ability to work to qualify. Statements from mental health providers about functional limitations are particularly valuable for conditions like:
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Autism spectrum disorder
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Bipolar disorder
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Severe depression
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Schizophrenia
Conditions With Lower Initial Approval Rates
Other conditions face more challenges in the approval process. Back pain and degenerative disc disease are among the most common disability claims but have a low initial approval rate. Having objective evidence like MRIs or X-rays and documentation of unsuccessful treatments you’ve tried are essential to making your case to the SSA.
Conditions without definitive diagnostic tests, such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) or fibromyalgia, face even greater scrutiny. Having records that show a consistent treatment history over time, as well as diagnostic tests that rule out other conditions, can increase your chances of approval.
Helping You Secure the SSDI Benefits You Deserve
Are you ready to apply for SSDI benefits? Don’t navigate the frustrating and confusing process alone. The national average SSDI approval rate is significantly higher for applicants who receive professional help. Disability Services of America can assist you by:
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Gathering medical evidence
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Preparing a strategic application
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Providing personalized support
Discover how we could help strengthen your application for benefits.