I worked for nearly 2 years as a Social Security Claims Rep before transferring to another agency. This was way back in the early 70’s but I doubt the system has changed.
Very few people are approved when they first apply. Next you have to file for a reconsideration. Practically no one was approved on reconsideration. The next step was to ask for a hearing by an administrative law judge. That is where most people got approved. I guess they wanted to discourage people by making the first two extremely difficult.
Social Security Disability is one of the most difficult disability claims there is. SSI is basically the same system.
Civil Service disability is by contrast very easy to have approved. Basically all you have to do is have your Dr. say you are disabled.
The article stated that Congress significantly watered down the eligibility standards in the 1980s.
This summer when I called SS regarding regular retirement SS, every time I called and every person I talked to with SS, without excpetion asked several times “did I want to sign up for SSI”.
No damn wonder its broke with these gubmint fools looking for more ways to piss the money away.