The newest issue of the NOSSCR Forum contains updated statistics of approval rates of disability claims at the initial application and reconsideration levels. According to this information, the State Disability Determination Bureau approves 40.3% of initial disability applications. This means that 59.7% of initial applications in Wisconsin are denied. At the reconsideration level, the state agency approves 17.8% of cases, meaning 82.2% of Wisconsin reconsideration requests result in denials.
Neighboring states have similar rates of approval. Michigan approves 30.2% of initial applications. In Minnesota, 37.4% of initial applications are approved. In Illinois, the initial application approval rate is 35.6%.
The national average for approval of initial applications is 36%. Nationally, only 13.8% of reconsideration requests are approved.
The state with the highest rate of approval of initial applications is Hawaii where 52.6% of initial applications are approved (New Hampshire’s rate is 51.9%). Meanwhile, Mississippi has the lowest approval rate of initial applicationat 24.5%.
