Federal Court Case Statistics
After exhausting administrative appeals, claimants may file a civil action in federal district court to challenge SSA's denial of benefits.
Latest data: Sep 25
New Cases Filed
1,425
civil actions filed
Dispositions
1,210
cases resolved
Pending
1,219
in federal court
About Federal Court Appeals
Federal court review is the final step in the disability appeals process. After the Appeals Council denies review or issues an unfavorable decision, claimants have 60 days to file a civil action in the U.S. District Court where they reside.
Possible Outcomes
Affirmed
The court upholds SSA's decision. The ALJ's findings are determined to be supported by substantial evidence.
Reversed
The court orders SSA to award benefits. This is relatively rare and typically occurs when evidence strongly favors the claimant.
Remanded
The case is sent back to SSA for further proceedings. The court identifies errors that require a new hearing or additional review.
Timeline & Process
Federal court appeals can take 1-2 years to resolve. The court reviews whether the ALJ's decision was supported by "substantial evidence" and whether proper legal standards were applied. Many cases are remanded to the ALJ level for a new hearing, which restarts the administrative process.
View Appeals Council StatisticsMonthly Case Data
| Period | New Cases | Dispositions | Pending | Workdays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1,425 | 1,210 | 1,219 | 19 |
| Aug 25 | 1,620 | 1,772 | 1,004 | 25 |
| Jul 25 | 1,430 | 1,171 | 1,156 | 19 |
| Jun 25 | 1,207 | 1,134 | 897 | 19 |
| May 25 | 1,283 | 1,279 | 824 | 24 |
| Apr 25 | 1,054 | 1,193 | 820 | 20 |
| Mar 25 | 1,038 | 1,098 | 959 | 20 |
| Feb 25 | 961 | 1,334 | 1,019 | 19 |
| Jan 25 | 1,606 | 1,316 | 1,392 | 22 |
| Dec 24 | 957 | 891 | 1,102 | 18 |
| Nov 24 | 1,322 | 1,317 | 1,036 | 23 |
| Oct 24 | 1,195 | 1,061 | 1,031 | 19 |