**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Boston, MA - May 1, 2026** - Massachusetts continues to stand out as one of the most applicant-friendly states for Social Security Disability Insurance, with a 45% initial approval rate that runs 7 percentage points above the national average of 38%. The figures come from data published this week by [Disability Exchange](https://disabilityexchange.org/states/massachusetts/), an independent benefits research site, in its Massachusetts state profile.

The state's reconsideration approval rate also runs unusually high at 23%, compared to the national average of about 14%. That's a meaningful difference for the state's 835,832 residents living with at least one disability, who make up 12.1% of Massachusetts' total population of 6.9 million.

"Massachusetts disability examiners are deciding cases on the merits a lot more often than the national norm, and the data shows it at every stage," said the team at Disability Exchange. "If you're applying here, your odds at the initial level are better than they would be in most states. The trade-off is that you're going to wait longer for that decision."

The trade-off is real. Massachusetts averages 270 days for an initial Disability Determination Services decision, well above the national average of 227 days. The state's DDS office has been working through a heavier-than-average pending claim load for years, even as SSA reported a national 33% backlog reduction between June 2024 and February 2026.

The state profile also includes economic and demographic context that affects how SSDI plays out for applicants. Massachusetts has a median household income of $101,341, the third-highest in the country, and a poverty rate of 6.6%, well below the national average of 8.7%. The unemployment rate sits at 3.5%. Higher wages can help applicants meet SSDI's work-credit threshold, but they also mean substantial gainful activity rules ($1,690/month in 2026 for non-blind applicants) cut sharper for part-time workers trying to stay below the limit.

Disability rates climb steeply with age in Massachusetts, as they do nationally. Just 6.4% of children under age 5 have a reported disability. By age 75 and over, that rate hits 45.2%. The most common disability type in the state is ambulatory difficulty, affecting 375,172 residents.

Massachusetts also adds a State Supplementary Payment to federal SSI for low-income disabled residents, which is one reason the state's net SSI benefit is among the most generous in the country. The CommonHealth Medicaid program provides Medicaid coverage to disabled residents who exceed standard income limits, which protects families who would otherwise lose coverage when one spouse goes to work.

"What we want people to understand is that the system actually works better in some states than others, and Massachusetts is one of the better ones at the front end," said the team at Disability Exchange. "If you're sitting in the 270-day wait, that's the part that's hard to fix. But if your medical evidence is strong, your odds of approval are real."

Massachusetts residents researching benefits can review the full state profile at https://disabilityexchange.org/states/massachusetts/ or use the free 2-minute eligibility tool at https://disabilityexchange.org/qualify/.

The Disability Exchange Massachusetts profile draws on the most recent SSA processing data, U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 figures, and SSA's FY2024 Agency Financial Report. The site is privately owned and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration.

About Disability Exchange: Disability Exchange is an independent disability benefits research site providing state-by-state data, application guidance, and free eligibility tools. The site covers all 50 states plus DC.

Media Contact: Anthony Albert, Benefits Research Director, Disability Exchange, [email protected], https://disabilityexchange.org