Social Security Disability Approval Rates by State: Interactive Map

Important: We updated this article in October 2025 after fact-checking against Social Security Administration monthly workload reports. If you’re disabled, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has two federal programs that offer benefits. But how hard is it to get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in your state? What if you’re applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on a disabled child’s behalf instead? We looked at Social Security disability approval rates by state during the past 12 months to learn the answer.

Below, we’ll list the states where you’re most and least likely to win SSDI and SSI benefits. To find disability approval rates for your state, click the interactive infographic map below.

State Approval Rates for Social Security Disability Benefits: Key Takeaways

• Less than 1 in 5 (19%) of initial applications for Social Security disability benefits are successful.
• Your disability success odds depend on which program you file a claim with and whether you’re a child or adult.
• People who work with a disability attorney are 2.9x more likely to get benefits on their first try, and within 6 months.
• Technical requirements are the primary reason the Social Security Administration denies people benefits. These include not having enough work credits, already getting retirement from Social Security, or monthly income that’s above the maximum limit.

Federal Program #1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits

The first federal program, Supplemental Security Income, pays monthly income to disabled children, adults, and seniors aged 65+. To qualify, you must have very limited income and few or no financial resources. If you’re 18-64 years old, disability applicants must also prove they cannot work for at least 12 months. You must also show the reason why you cannot work is because of at least one medical condition.

In 2025, your total household income must be less than $2,019 to qualify for SSI benefits. That means not just how much money you get every month, but every person who lives in your home, combined.

Individuals must own less than $2,000 in assets they can easily sell for cash to be eligible for SSI payments. For couples, the SSI asset limit is no more than $3,000.

States Where It’s Easiest for Disabled Adults to Get SSI Disability Benefits

You have a better than 50/50 chance of getting SSI benefits as a disabled adult in:

1. Alaska – 64%
2. Missouri – 58%
3. Idaho – 54%
4. Nebraska – 54%
5. New Hampshire – 53%
6. North Dakota – 52%
7. Vermont – 51%

Lowest SSI Approval Rates By State for Disabled Adults

1. Mississippi – 34%
2. Alabama – 35%
3. Georgia – 35%
4. Kentucky – 35%
5. South Carolina – 35%
6. Indiana – 36%
7. West Virginia – 36%

States With the Highest Approval Rates for Disabled Children Seeking SSI Benefits

Mothers with either preemie babies or kids born with certain health issues often qualify for SSI. These monthly payments help them cover things such as high-calorie formula, in-home nursing care or other special needs. And with many older Americans raising their grandchildren at home, these SSI benefits are crucial for making ends meet.

In the past 12 months, SSI disability approval rates for kids were highest in these states:

1. Alaska – 79%
2. Idaho – 79%
3. North Dakota – 75%
4. Oregon – 73%
5. New Hampshire – 72%
6. Minnesota – 71%
7. Colorado – 69%
8. Hawaii – 69%
9. Maryland – 68%
10. Vermont – 68%

There’s also another reason why the SSI disability approval rates are so high for kids. SSI can help cover certain costs for children born with developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome or spina bifida. Since those kids will need dedicated medical care for life, SSI can help struggling parents cover those costs.

States With the Worst SSI Approval Chances for Disabled Children

The following states had the lowest approval rates among disabled children applying for SSI disability:

1. South Carolina – 36%
2. Louisiana – 41%
3. Indiana – 43%
4. Alabama – 45%
5. Mississippi – 46%
6. Montana – 46%
7. Ohio – 46%
8. Pennsylvania – 47%
9. Tennessee – 47%
10. Michigan – 48%

Program #2: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits

Disabled workers who cannot work for 12 months for health reasons may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) income. SSDI eligibility criteria for disabled adults are as follows:

• Monthly income that falls below $1,620 if you’re sighted, or $2,700 if you’re blind.
• Serious, long-lasting medical condition that makes you unable to work for at least one year.
• Not yet drawing any other Social Security benefits, like early or regular retirement or RSDI dependent payments.
• Have enough, and especially recent, work history (40 Social Security work credits, minimum). If you worked at least 5 in the last 10 years while paying Social Security taxes, you likely meet these technical requirements.

Important: Because of the work history requirement, disabled children cannot qualify for SSDI benefits on their own. However, the SSDI program does pay dependent benefits to eligible children and spouses of disabled workers. Those payments equal 50% of the beneficiary’s amount, but no more than 180% of the worker’s benefit per household.

Highest SSDI Approval Rates By State for Disabled Adults

1. Alaska – 51%
2. Rhode Island – 50%
3. Nebraska – 49%
4. New Hampshire – 49%
5. Connecticut – 47%
6. Vermont – 47%
7. Iowa – 46%
8. Kansas – 45%
9. South Dakota – 44%

States with the Lowest SSDI Approval Rates for Disabled Adults

1. Arizona – 31%
2. Colorado – 33%
3. Florida – 34%
4. Alabama – 35%
5. Georgia – 35%
6. Kentucky – 35%
7. Oklahoma – 35%

Highest Disability Approval Rates by State for Adult Applicants, on Average

If you’re aged 18-66 and health issues make you unable to work for at least 12 months, you can apply for SSI, SSD, or both. We looked at applications for each benefit program as well as concurrent claims in the last 12 months.

On average, these states have the highest adult disability approval rates overall:

1. Alaska – 50%
2. New Hampshire – 45%
3. Missouri – 44%
4. Nebraska – 44%
5. Vermont – 44%
6. Arkansas – 41%
7. Connecticut – 41%
8. Iowa – 41%
9. Kansas – 40%
10. North Dakota – 40%

As you can see, you have less than a 50/50 shot at getting disability benefits in nearly every state.

States with the Lowest Disability Claim Approval Rates for Adults, Averaged

States with the lowest disability approval rates for adults (once averaged across both SSDI and SSI) are as follows:

1. Arizona – 30%
2. Kentucky – 30%
3. Alabama – 31%
4. Mississippi – 31%
5. Colorado – 32%
6. Georgia – 32%
7. Oklahoma – 32%
8. West Virginia – 32%

Infographic: Interactive Map of Disability Approval Rates by State for Children and Adults

If your state isn’t listed among the best or worst states shown above, now what? We’ve mapped out the numbers for every U.S. state in 2025 in our interactive map below:

Talk to a Disability Lawyer Near You for Free Help Qualifying for Monthly Benefits

Live in a state where the disability approval rates are disappointingly low? Having a Social Security lawyer file your claim nearly triples your chances for winning benefits within 180 days. People who apply on their own without a disability attorney or advocate usually wait years for their first payment.

Every disability advocate we can connect you with gives free consultations to eligible applicants. We’ll match you with the closest attorney available to answer your questions for free right away.

All SSD lawyers and advocates work on contingency, which means you pay nothing up front. If the SSA doesn’t award you benefits, then you pay your lawyer $0. And if you do win, then you’ll only pay one small fee.

Want to know if you’ll qualify before you start the disability application process? Click the button below to confirm your eligibility for free claim assistance now:

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