The definition of disability under the law actually has changed since 1980, largely to encompass more conditions that are truly disabling. In other words, “actual disability” as defined by law has indeed increased. Notably, in 1984 Congress mandated the inclusion of mental disorders and pain in disability standards and required examiners to “consider the impact of multiple nonsevere impairments in determining disability.” A few years later, Social Security instituted a major outreach program to ensure that those eligible for disability benefits applied for them; as expected, this increased the rolls.