SSDI approval odds for circulatory system in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania’s DDS approves 38.0% of initial claims — 0.8 points belowthe national median. Here’s how circulatory system claims tend to move through the process here.

Pennsylvania initial DDS approval

38.0%

vs national median 38.8% · below by 0.8 points · -0.5 pts over 3 yrs

Circulatory system · historical allowance rate

52%

allowed at the initial level

~76%

ultimately allowed once appeals are counted

SSA research on 1997–2004 applications (Meseguer, Social Security Bulletin 73(2), 2013), national by primary diagnosis — not specific to Pennsylvania and older than the state and stage figures shown here.

National allowance rate by stage · FY2024

Initial application30.8%
Reconsideration12.1%
Hearing46.5%

If it reaches a hearing in Pennsylvania

8

hearing offices

44–70%

judge approval range

247–293

days to decision

seven fields70%elkins park61%philadelphia56%johnstown55%philadelphia east55%pittsburgh50%harrisburg44%wilkes barre44%

Approval rates vary widely by judge — which office (and ALJ) hears the case is one of the biggest factors in the outcome.

Why claims are denied — and how they’re allowed

National SSA final decisions for disabled workers, FY2022.

Top denial reasons

  • Can do other work36%
  • Other35%
  • Not severe enough20%
  • Can do past work8%

How allowances are made

  • Medical-vocational (grid) allowance47%
  • Meets a medical listing46%
  • Equals a listing5%
  • Other3%

What SSA requires to approve a claim

The Blue Book criteria for cardiovascular disorders

The exact medical criteria — in plain language, with the evidence each one needs. Nearly half of allowances come from meeting a listing.

Estimate a specific case

Run the estimator for Pennsylvania

Pre-filled to circulatory system in Pennsylvania — add age and stage for the base rates that fit a real claim.

Circulatory system — nationallyAll Pennsylvania SSDI data

Source: SSA public datasets · Updated 2026-06-18. Not legal advice. State DDS rate is the latest SSA fiscal-year figure (all conditions); stage allowance rates are national and current. Per-condition rates are from SSA research on 1997–2004 claims (Meseguer, Social Security Bulletin 73(2), 2013) and are national, not state-specific. Figures are historical aggregates, not a prediction of any individual claim.