Reconsideration approval rates are low—typically between 10 and 15 percent nationally—but the rate varies significantly by state, by the type of disability, and by the quality of the medical evidence you submit.

The Social Security Administration does not publish a single national approval rate for reconsideration requests. Instead, the data breaks down by state and by fiscal year. In recent years, the national average has hovered around 10 to 15 percent, meaning that roughly 85 to 90 percent of people who ask Social Security to reconsider a denial are denied again. This is substantially lower than the approval rate at the initial process stage, which runs between 30 and 35 percent.

The reason reconsideration approval rates are so low is structural: by the time you reach reconsideration, Social Security has already reviewed your case once and found you ineligible. The reconsideration examiner is looking at largely the same evidence you submitted the first time, often with the same medical sources. Unless you have genuinely new medical evidence—test results, imaging, or treatment records that did not exist when you first applied—the examiner has little reason to reach a different conclusion.

Key Takeaways

  • Reconsideration approval rates fall between 10 and 15 percent nationally, meaning most denials are upheld on reconsideration.
  • Approval rates vary by state: some states consistently approve 20 percent or more of reconsiderations, while others stay below 10 percent.
  • New medical evidence—test results, imaging, or recent treatment records—substantially improves your chances, because the examiner is not straightforward reviewing the same file.
  • If reconsideration is denied, you have the right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge, where approval rates are significantly higher (around 40 to 50 percent).

Why approval rates differ by state

Social Security publishes approval data by state in its annual Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) reports. States like New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine have historically approved 18 to 22 percent of reconsiderations, while states like Nevada, Arizona, and parts of the Midwest stay closer to 8 to 12 percent. These differences reflect variation in the disability population, the types of conditions being reviewed, and the strictness of individual examiners—not differences in the law itself.

The variation also depends on what kinds of cases dominate in each state. A state with a large population of older workers may see higher approval rates for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular conditions, which are easier to document medically. A state with younger applicants may see lower rates because mental health and pain-based conditions—which make up a large share of younger applicants—are harder to prove under Social Security's rules.

How new medical evidence changes your odds

The single most important factor in reconsideration approval is whether you have new medical evidence. If you submit the same records you submitted at initial process, the examiner will almost certainly reach the same conclusion. But if you have obtained new test results, imaging studies, specialist evaluations, or treatment records since your initial denial, your chances improve substantially.

New evidence does not have to show you are sicker than before. It has to show that your condition meets or equals one of Social Security's Listing of Impairments—the medical criteria that automatically may have access to you—or that your condition prevents you from doing any work. A new MRI showing disc herniation, a recent hospitalization, or a new psychiatric evaluation documenting cognitive decline can all shift the examiner's view. The key is that the evidence must be dated after your initial process or must be medical records from before your initial process that you did not submit the first time.

The role of your medical sources

Social Security weighs evidence based on who provided it. Records from your treating physician—the doctor who has seen you regularly—carry more weight than a one-time evaluation from an emergency room. Records from a specialist (a rheumatologist, cardiologist, or psychiatrist) carry more weight than records from a general practitioner. And records from a physician carry more weight than records from a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, though all are considered.

If your initial process relied on records from a single provider or from a provider you saw only once, obtaining records from a treating specialist can improve your reconsideration chances. Social Security is more likely to credit a detailed evaluation from someone who has treated you over time than a snapshot from someone who saw you once.

Reconsideration versus requesting a hearing

Many people do not realize they can skip reconsideration and request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) instead. The approval rate at a hearing is roughly 40 to 50 percent—two to three times higher than the reconsideration rate. However, a hearing takes longer: reconsideration usually takes 3 to 6 months, while a hearing can take 1 to 2 years depending on your local hearing office's backlog.

If you have new medical evidence and can wait, a hearing is often the better choice. If you need a decision quickly and your evidence is weak, reconsideration may be your only realistic option. You cannot have both: once you request reconsideration, you must wait for that decision before you can request a hearing. If reconsideration is denied, you then have the right to request a hearing.

What happens if reconsideration is denied

If Social Security denies your reconsideration request, you receive a new notice explaining the reason. This notice includes your right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge. You have 60 days from the date on the notice to request a hearing, though Social Security will usually accept a late request if you have a good reason for the delay.

At a hearing, you can present new evidence, testify about your condition, and have a representative (a lawyer or non-lawyer advocate) argue your case. The ALJ will also order a medical informed to review your file and testify about whether your condition meets Social Security's standards. This process is substantially more thorough than reconsideration, which is why approval rates are higher.

State-by-state variation in reconsideration data

If you want to know the approval rate in your specific state, you can find it in the annual ODAR statistics published by Social Security. These reports break down approval rates by state and by type of case (disability versus retirement, for example). The data lags by about a year—the 2023 data becomes public in mid-2024—but it gives you a realistic sense of your odds in your jurisdiction.

Keep in mind that these are aggregate numbers. Your individual chances depend on the strength of your medical evidence, the clarity of your diagnosis, and how well your condition fits Social Security's rules. A low state approval rate does not mean you cannot win; it means you need strong evidence and often benefit from representation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does reconsideration ever approve cases that initial process denied?

Yes, but rarely—roughly 10 to 15 percent of the time. Approval is most likely when you have new medical evidence that was not available at initial process. Without new evidence, the examiner is reviewing the same file and usually reaches the same conclusion.

Is my approval rate better or worse in my state?

You can find your state's approval rate in Social Security's annual ODAR reports, available on the Social Security website. Rates range from about 8 percent to 22 percent depending on the state, but your individual case depends on your evidence, not the state average.

Should I request reconsideration or go straight to a hearing?

If you have new medical evidence and can wait 1 to 2 years, a hearing is usually better—approval rates are 40 to 50 percent. If you need a decision quickly or your evidence is weak, reconsideration may be your only option. You cannot do both at once; reconsideration must be decided first.

What counts as new medical evidence for reconsideration?

New evidence is medical records dated after your initial process, or records from before your initial process that you did not submit the first time. Test results, imaging, specialist evaluations, and recent treatment records all count. Records showing the same condition without new findings usually do not change the outcome.