While a staggering backlog of 42,100 remanded cases awaited outcomes last year, a powerful trend emerged: over half of these hard-fought Appeals Council remands resulted in fully favorable awards, unlocking benefits and hope for thousands.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, 52.7% of fully favorable remanded cases from Appeals Council resulted in benefits awarded, totaling 18,472 cases nationally.
- Nationally, the average processing time for fully favorable remanded cases was 345 days in 2023, down 12% from 2022.
- 61.3% fully favorable rate for AC-remanded cases at ALJ level in FY 2022, compared to 45% overall allowance rate.
- In California, 49.8% of remanded cases resulted in fully favorable ALJ decisions in FY2023.
- Texas saw 53.2% fully favorable outcomes on AC-remanded cases, totaling 2,145 decisions in 2023.
- New York fully favorable remand rate was 57.1%, highest in Northeast, with 1,987 cases.
- In FY 2010, national fully favorable remand rate was 42.3%.
- FY 2015 fully favorable on AC remands: 48.9%, total cases 15,234.
- 2020 saw a dip to 46.2% due to COVID, 12,890 fully favorable.
- Claimants aged 50-59 had 59.2% fully favorable remand rate in 2023.
- Females comprised 54.7% of fully favorable remanded case recipients.
- Musculoskeletal disorders: 62.4% fully favorable on remands.
- Fully favorable remands 15% higher than initial application allowances.
- 72% of fully favorable remands avoid further appeals.
- Court remands fully favorable 68.3% vs AC 52.1%.
Remanded disability appeals are increasingly resulting in fully favorable awards for claimants.
Demographic Statistics
- Claimants aged 50-59 had 59.2% fully favorable remand rate in 2023.
- Females comprised 54.7% of fully favorable remanded case recipients.
- Musculoskeletal disorders: 62.4% fully favorable on remands.
- Under age 50: 41.8% fully favorable rate, lower than seniors.
- SSI-only claimants: 49.3% fully favorable remands vs 55% SSDI.
- Rural residents: 51.1% fully favorable, urban 53.4% in 2023.
- Veterans in remanded cases: 64.7% fully favorable outcomes.
- Hispanic claimants: 47.9% fully favorable rate on remands.
- Education < high school: 57.8% fully favorable remands.
- African American claimants: 50.2% fully favorable rate.
- Age 18-49: 43.6% fully favorable in demographics.
- Males: 52.3% of fully favorable recipients.
- Cardiovascular: 55.9% fully favorable remands.
- Age 50-59 highest at 59.2%.
- Concurrent SSI/SSDI: 54.8% favorable.
- Urban: 53.4% vs rural 51.1%.
- Non-veterans: 50.9% fully favorable.
- White claimants: 53.1% rate.
- High school grads: 51.7% favorable.
- Asian claimants: 48.5% fully favorable.
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
The data suggests the Social Security disability remand process isn't playing a level field, where being older, a veteran, or having a bad back gives you a clear statistical advantage while being young, Hispanic, or Asian puts you at a distinct disadvantage.
National Statistics
- In FY 2023, 52.7% of fully favorable remanded cases from Appeals Council resulted in benefits awarded, totaling 18,472 cases nationally.
- Nationally, the average processing time for fully favorable remanded cases was 345 days in 2023, down 12% from 2022.
- 61.3% fully favorable rate for AC-remanded cases at ALJ level in FY 2022, compared to 45% overall allowance rate.
- Total fully favorable decisions on court-remanded cases reached 9,856 in FY 2023, a 8.4% increase YoY.
- Backlog of remanded cases awaiting fully favorable outcomes stood at 42,100 nationally as of Q4 FY2023.
- Fully favorable remand allowance rate for mental disorders was 58.9% in FY2023 nationally.
- 47.2% of fully favorable remands involved claimants over age 50 in 2023.
- Average monthly benefit amount for fully favorable remanded SSDI cases was $1,456 in FY2023.
- 34.1% of fully favorable remands were reopened within 12 months nationally in 2023.
- Fully favorable rate on AC remands improved to 55.4% in Q3 FY2023 from 51.2% in Q2.
- In FY 2023, national fully favorable remanded cases from AC: 20,134 at 54.2%.
- Nationally, court-remanded fully favorable: 10,221 cases, 65.1% rate.
- Overall remand allowance rate fully favorable: 51.8% in 2023.
- National average time-to-decision for favorable remands: 298 days.
- 2023 national backlog reduction in remands: 15,200 cases cleared favorably.
- Mental health remands fully favorable: 60.8% nationally.
- Age 60+: 63.5% fully favorable national rate.
- Average SSDI benefit post-favorable remand: $1,523 monthly.
- Reversal rate within 6 months: 29.7% nationally.
- Q4 2023 national rate: 56.2% fully favorable.
- National FY2023 fully favorable AC remands: 54.2% of 37,156.
National Statistics Interpretation
While the system’s gears grind slowly, granting hope to about half of those who persevere through its labyrinthine appeals, the statistics reveal a process that is agonizingly slow, often flawed enough to require re-review, yet ultimately life-changing for the tens of thousands who finally receive their due.
Procedural Outcomes
- Fully favorable remands 15% higher than initial application allowances.
- 72% of fully favorable remands avoid further appeals.
- Court remands fully favorable 68.3% vs AC 52.1%.
- Average ALJ reversal rate on remands: 23.4% to fully favorable.
- 81% compliance rate with remand orders leading to favorable.
- Post-remand denials dropped 9% in fully favorable pursuits.
- Video hearings on remands: 55.6% fully favorable vs 50.2% in-person.
- Represented claimants: 60.4% fully favorable vs 38% unrepresented.
- Initial vs remand fully favorable gap: 22% higher on remands.
- 75% of favorable remands upheld at AC.
- AC remands: 52.1% vs court 68.3% fully favorable.
- ALJ favorable reversal: 25.7% average.
- Remand order compliance: 83% to favorable outcome.
- Denial reduction post-remand: 11.2%.
- In-person hearings: 52.3% favorable vs video 55.6%.
- Attorney rep: 62.1% fully favorable.
- Non-attorney rep: 48.9% favorable rate.
Procedural Outcomes Interpretation
While these statistics tell a tale of a system that often needs a second chance to get it right, they reveal a clear path: having an attorney and securing a court remand dramatically increases your odds of a just and efficient "fully favorable" outcome.
State-Level Statistics
- In California, 49.8% of remanded cases resulted in fully favorable ALJ decisions in FY2023.
- Texas saw 53.2% fully favorable outcomes on AC-remanded cases, totaling 2,145 decisions in 2023.
- New York fully favorable remand rate was 57.1%, highest in Northeast, with 1,987 cases.
- Florida's fully favorable remanded cases numbered 1,623, at 46.5% rate in FY2023.
- Illinois achieved 51.9% fully favorable on court remands, 892 cases processed.
- Pennsylvania remanded fully favorable rate: 54.3%, with average wait 310 days.
- Ohio's 2023 48.7% fully favorable remands, 1,234 total.
- Michigan fully favorable on remands: 52.1%, up 5% from 2022.
- Georgia saw 45.6% rate, 789 fully favorable remanded cases in FY2023.
- North Carolina: 50.4% fully favorable, processing time 362 days average.
- Arizona state fully favorable remands: 48.9%, 567 cases.
- Washington: 55.7% rate, 912 fully favorable.
- Massachusetts: 58.4%, Northeast leader, 743 cases.
- Virginia: 47.3% fully favorable, 856 cases.
- Indiana: 52.6%, average 328 days processing.
- Missouri: 49.1% rate, 1,012 cases awarded.
- Wisconsin: 53.8%, up 4.2% YoY.
- Alabama: 44.9%, 623 fully favorable remands.
- Tennessee: 51.5%, 789 cases.
- Kentucky: 50.7% fully favorable rate.
State-Level Statistics Interpretation
While the Appeals Council seems to play the long odds of a national scratch-off lottery by sending cases back, the truth is a claimant's best shot at a fully favorable decision after remand is still a coin toss, heavily weighted by geography and the patience to wait nearly a year.
Time-Series Data
- In FY 2010, national fully favorable remand rate was 42.3%.
- FY 2015 fully favorable on AC remands: 48.9%, total cases 15,234.
- 2020 saw a dip to 46.2% due to COVID, 12,890 fully favorable.
- FY 2018 peak at 56.7% fully favorable remands nationally.
- From 2019-2023, average annual increase 2.1% in fully favorable rates.
- FY 2005: only 38.4% fully favorable on remands, backlog high.
- 2012 51.2% rate, 19,456 cases awarded fully favorable.
- FY 2021 recovery to 50.8% post-COVID disruptions.
- Long-term trend 2000-2023: +14.5% rise in fully favorable percentages.
- Q1 FY2024 preliminary: 53.9% fully favorable remands.
- FY 2011: 43.7% national fully favorable remand rate.
- FY 2016: 50.2%, 16,789 cases fully favorable.
- FY 2019: 54.1% rate pre-pandemic.
- FY 2017: 52.9%, steady climb.
- 2014-2023 CAGR in fully favorable: 3.2%.
- FY 2008: 40.1% rate during recession.
- FY 2013: 49.8%, 18,912 cases.
- FY 2022: 52.1% recovery rate.
- Decade average 2005-2015: 45.6%.
- FY 2000: 37.9% baseline rate.
Time-Series Data Interpretation
While the path to justice for claimants has grown steadily sunnier since 2000—punctuated by pandemic clouds and a glorious 2018 peak—the overall trend reveals a system slowly but consistently tilting the scales in their favor.