The Numbers Are In

     Social Security has posted final numbers on disability claims filed and approved in 2017 as well as the number drawing disability benefits. Claims filed decreased by 6% in 2017. This was the seventh straight year of declining claims. There's been a 26% decline in the number of claims filed since the peak in 2010. The number of claims approved actually went up by 2.4% in 2017, the first yearly increase since 2010. Still, the number of claims approved is down 28% from the peak. The number of claimants in current payment status declined by 1.29% in 2017. The termination rate increased to 9.30% which is the highest of any year presented. However, it should be noted that many of those terminations were because claimants had aged off disability benefits and on to retirement benefits.