Aspects of Disability Decision Making: Data and Materials

10. Disability Awards—Calendar Years 1975-201010a. Number of Disability Awards for DI and SSI, 1975-201012001000800600400200DI workerSSI 18 to 64SSI under 18019751977197919811983198519871989199119931995199719992001Thousands2003200520072009The number of DI worker and SSI disability awards has increased greatly since 1982. SSA issued a setof Social Security Rulings at that time which provided guidance for the first time on a range of complexadjudication issues. In 1985, a major revision to the mental impairment listings was published. Some of theincrease in awards may be attributed to these policy clarifications and changes.Awards declined slightly in the mid-1990s but have risen since then, increasing sharply for adult categoriessince 2008. This increase in awards corresponds to the increase in the number of applications filedfor those years (see Chart 1a and 1b) and can be at least partially ascribed to the economic recession thatbegan in 2007 and to the aging baby boomers, but is consistently in excess of the projections contained inthe Trustees Report, as Chart 10b indicates below.10b. Percent Difference between Actual DI Expenditures and Estimates in Prior Year’s Trustees Report,2000-2010Percent Difference (Estimated - Actual)1.0%0.0%-1.0%-2.0%-3.0%-4.0%-5.0%-6.0%-7.0%0.4%-0.3% -0.4%-0.1%-0.6%-1.8%-2.8%-3.6%-3.7%-4.6%-5.6%2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Aspects of Disability Decision Making: Data and Materials 15