On average, the Social Security approval rate for disability claims is 38 percent (and a 62 percent denial rate). That means that the chance of being approved on the first application is a bit better than 1 in 3. 

At the hearing level, the chances of winning improve quite a bit. More than 50 percent of cases in front of Social Security Administrative Law Judges are approved. However, there is considerable variability in the number of cases each judge approves or denies. 

Last updated on November 1, 2011 by stasiukfirm