In 2017, the Social Security Administration (SSA) received 2.18 million applications for disability benefits; the number of applications is 25.7% lower than the 2.94 million applications received in 2010. SSA attributes the decline to improvements in the economy. Since 2010, the number of disability applications each year was lower than the year before. The percentage of applications awarded benefits each year ranged from the high of 35.7% in 2010 to the low of 32.0% in 2015.