Research · Appeals Council

Why the Appeals Council remands.

The top reasons the AC sends cases back to ALJs, monthly activity, and how those reasons have shifted over time. Sourced from SSA AC disposition data.

Q2 FY2025 · SSA Public

AC cases pending

45,173

FY monthly data

12months

Remand reason data

17fiscal years

Latest remand year

FY 2025

Headline — FY 2025

Top remand reasons at the Appeals Council.

The most common reasons the AC sends cases back to ALJs. Address these issues in the hearing brief.

  1. 01
    4.9%

    Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Medical Source Opinion(s)

  2. 02
    4.8%

    Found Persuasive Without Adequate Articulation

  3. 03
    4.7%

    VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.)

  4. 04
    4.1%

    Medical Source Opinion(s) Not Identified or Discussed

  5. 05
    3.7%

    Inadequate Articulation of Consistency of Medical Source Opinion(s)

  6. 06
    2.7%

    Inadequate Rationale for Symptom Evaluation Finding

  7. 07
    2.6%

    RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated

  8. 08
    2.1%

    Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Prior Administrative Medical Findings

  9. 09
    2.1%

    Need For Assistive Device Not Adequately Evaluated

AC monthly activity · FY 2025

MonthReceiptsDispositionsPendingNet change
Oct 246,7025,67748,408+1,025
Nov 247,1737,17948,402-6
Dec 244,8964,85448,444+42
Jan 257,2086,50749,145+701
Feb 255,4236,02148,547-598
Mar 255,6575,35048,854+307
Apr 256,6086,25649,206+352
May 258,6638,15149,718+512
Jun 256,9186,77249,864+146
Jul 256,5327,78848,608-1,256
Aug 258,94010,91946,629-1,979
Sep 257,1158,57145,173-1,456

How remand reasons have shifted

Showing the #1 remand reason for each fiscal year — what the AC cares most about shifts over time.

  • FYFY 20106.3%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20118%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20129%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20139.4%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20148.7%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20157.6%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 2016 (52 Weeks)7%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 2016 (53 Weeks)7%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20175.6%New Evidence Presented to Agency (Reasonable Probability)
  • FYFY 20185%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20195.8%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20205.7%*RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 20215.9%RFC - Mental Limitations Inadequately Evaluated
  • FYFY 202210%SPECIAL CASE PROCESSING
  • FYFY 20236%Evidence In The Record Not Considered Or Exhibited
  • FYFY 20247.9%VE and DOT Not Reconciled (e.g., sit/stand limitations , time off task, etc.)
  • FYFY 20254.9%Inadequate Articulation of Supportability of Medical Source Opinion(s)

How this helps your cases

  • Before a hearing — address the top remand reasons in the brief before the ALJ can make those mistakes. If the AC remands most often for “inadequate articulation of medical source opinions,” make sure the ALJ has no choice but to address each medical source.
  • After an unfavorable decision — compare the ALJ's decision against the top remand reasons. If they failed to address any of these, you have a strong basis for AC appeal.
  • Setting client expectations — the monthly data shows how many cases the AC is processing and how big the backlog is — use it to give the client a realistic timeline.

Source: SSA Appeals Council disposition data · Updated quarterly · Current through Q2 FY2025