Approximately 4.8 percent of the more than six million residents living in the State of Michigan receive Social Security Disability benefits. There are approximately 50,000 more Michigan residents backlogged in the Social Security system waiting for a decision on their Social Security Disability claims. This is largely due to the fact that the majority of Michigan Social Security Disability applications are denied during the initial stage of the application process. In fact, approximately 65 percent of initial disability claims are denied by the Michigan Social Security offices.

The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits to American Citizens living in any one of the 50 states or U.S. Territories. The SSA has 10 regional headquarters and each regional headquarters is responsible for the disability claims filed in the states within its jurisdiction.

Indiana is home to nearly four million residents. Of these four million residents, approximately 4.6 percent receive Social Security Disability benefits. Each year, thousands more will apply for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the State of Indiana. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of initial disability applications are denied.

There are more than 8 million residents in the State of Illinois. Of these residents, approximately 3.5 percent receive Social Security Disability benefits. There will be thousands of new Illinois Social Security Disability applications this year alone. Of these applications, approximately 70 percent will be denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Unfortunately, the majority of first appeals will be denied as well.

There are currently more than 300,000 North Carolina residents receiving Social Security Disability benefits. While the initial stage of the application process only takes three to four months to complete, most North Carolina Social Security Disability recipients wait a year or more before receiving their first disability payment. This is due to the fact the most cases are approved until the hearing stage. It can take a North Carolina Social Security Disability applicant anywhere from 338 to 548 days to be scheduled for a disability hearing.

Each and every year, thousands of Ohio Social Security Disability applicants submit their disability applications to the Social Security Administration expecting to be approved for benefits in a matter of months. Unfortunately, nearly three-fourths of these applicants are denied at the initial stage of the application process and even more are denied at the initial reconsideration stage of appeals and have to request a hearing.

Of the 5 million residents in Virginia, approximately four percent receive monthly Social Security Disability payments. Each year, thousands of new Virginia Social Security Disability applicants submit claims to the Social Security Administration. Unfortunately, more than half of these initial applications are denied.

Of the more than four-million residents that live in the State of Washington, approximately 3.6 percent receive Social Security Disability benefits. Thousands more apply for Social Security Disability benefits each year. Unfortunately, approximately 70 percent of the disability claims received by the Social Security Administration are denied during the initial stage of the application process. The majority of Washington Social Security Disability applicants must obtain a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge if they hope to receive disability benefits at some point in the future.

Each and every year, thousands of Massachusetts residents file claims for Social Security Disability benefits. Of the more than four million residents living in the state, approximately 4.5 percent receive disability payments from the Social Security Administration. Unfortunately, more than half of the Massachusetts Social Security Disability applicants who apply for disability benefits will be denied at the initial stage of the application process.

In 2011 alone, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is expected to receive more than three million applications for Social Security Disability benefits. In the State of Texas, more than sixty percent of initial applications received by the Texas Social Security Disability offices will be denied if prior approval rates are any indication of the future. To make matters worse, more than 80 percent of initial appeals will be denied by the SSA as well.