The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently released their Fiscal Year 2024 Disability Decisions “waterfall” chart. The data presented includes approvals, dismissals and denials for the various stages throughout the SSDI determination process. Being mindful of the figures from the preceding year is extremely beneficial for disability representatives.

The waterfall chart grants the opportunity to compare the recorded data with previous years and further examine which decision levels are considered more probable for claimants, ultimately benefiting disability representatives, such as Olinsky Law Group.

Taking a deeper look into the newly published waterfall chart, there are several percentage changes to note, specifically the increases in Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) approvals and remand rates at the Appeals Council (AC) and Federal Court levels. When asked about these increases, partner, Kristi Reppel referenced the good news stating, “ALJs nationwide not only issued more decisions in 2024, but they also issued more favorable decisions in 2024.”

Although there were many positive takeaways after the release of the 2024 data, she says, “there were still almost 9,000 more decisions in 2024 that could be appeals to the AC than in 2023. Appeals to the AC were less in 2024 than in 2023, letting even more claims end without giving them another chance.”

Given the 2024 data, she advocates for representatives not to let their cases end because the claim was assigned an ALJ that simply did not see it the claimant’s way. “Give your claimants another try and do not let your cases fall away to a reapplication,” she says.

Additionally, her recommendation derives from the increase in remand rates from 2023 to 2024. At Olinsky Law Group, our team takes pride in our favorable remand rate, one of the many reasons referral sources continue to place their trust in us. As such, these changes and increases are valuable to our firm, providing us with insights as we look ahead to 2025 and continue to represent clients and referral sources with exemplary quality.