In fiscal year 2016, 8,699 Americans died on the disability insurance waiting list. That number rose to 10,002 in 2017.

The number of deaths is rising among people who appealed a Social Security Disability Insurance denial but did not receive a ruling in time. In 2017, there were more than 10,000 such deaths. The Social Security Administration says the average appeal wait time is 540 days, but points out that 540 days are fewer than in previous years – and that aging Baby Boomers are causing an unprecedented surge in applications, while federal funding has decreased. Legislation proposed four years ago to mitigate the problem still awaits a hearing.