Alabama Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits

If you live in Alabama and have a medical condition that keeps you from working full-time for at least one year, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is available to people who've contributed to the program by way of payroll taxes (or self-employment taxes), while SSI is needs-based and limited to disabled adults and children below certain income and asset thresholds.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits in Alabama

You can start your application ("claim") for disability benefits in several ways:

• File online at the Social Security Administration's web portal. If you're applying for SSDI you can complete the entire application process online, but if you're applying for SSI, a representative from Social Security will contact you to finish over the phone or in person.
• Call 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to file for SSDI or SSI. Deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants can call the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• Go in person to your local Social Security field office. There are about two dozen offices in the state of Alabama, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can find the one nearest to you by putting your zip code into the field office locator tool.

Once your application has been submitted, Social Security will look to see that you meet the financial requirements for either SSDI or SSI. If you're legally eligible to receive benefits, your claim will then be forwarded to a state agency that decides whether you meet the medical definition of disability under the Social Security Act. (42 U.S.C. 423).

Alabama Disability Determination Services

Alabama's Disability Determination Services (DDS) is the agency that decides whether you are disabled according to Social Security's rules. Claims examiners at DDS review your doctor's notes to determine whether you meet a "listed impairment" or have a "residual functional capacity" that rules out all jobs.

For fiscal year 2023, examiners in Alabama approved about 36% of initial disability claims, slightly below the national average. If you aren't awarded benefits on your first try, you have 60 days to appeal the denial by requesting reconsideration of your claim.

At the reconsideration level, a different examiner will review your records and make another decision about whether you're disabled. Only around 17% of claims in Alabama are approved after reconsideration, but you can appeal further by asking for a disability hearing with an administrative law judge.

Social Security Disability Appeals Hearings in Alabama

Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) is responsible for scheduling and conducting disability hearings in Alabama. Once you request a hearing, your case file is sent to the appropriate OHO that handles claims from your geographic area. There are four hearing offices that process Alabama disability appeals, with contact information as follows:

If you live in or around Decatur, your hearing may be held at the Franklin, TN office. Here's the contact information for the Franklin OHO:

Suite 350
6840 Carothers Parkway
Franklin, TN 37067-6538

Telephone: 866-568-9450
Fax: 833-763-0400
eFile Fax: 877-560-6889

As of June 2024, the average wait time for a hearing in one of the above OHOs was 6.5 months. Judges in the offices handling Alabama claims issued favorable decisions (awarding benefits) in about 51% of cases.

Alabama SSI and SSDI Disability Payments

If you receive SSI, the 2024 federal benefit rate for an individual is $943 per month for an individual ($1,415 for couples), but whether you receive this full amount depends on whether you have any countable income.

The state of Alabama also offers a modest state supplement of between $56-$120 per month for people who are receiving SSI while using home health care.

If you receive SSDI, you can get up to $3,822 in monthly benefits (for 2024), but the average monthly payment is much lower, at $1,537. That's because SSDI payments are calculated based on your earnings history, which varies significantly between each SSDI recipient.

Disability Rights Advocacy in Alabama

In 1975, as a response to the discovery of widespread abuses in facilities meant to house developmentally disabled individuals, Congress established the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system to safeguard the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. The P&A program allows designated state organizations to provide services for disabled residents who need legal support.

The designated P&A agency for Alabama is the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program. The address and telephone number for the program is as follows:

Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
2008 12th Street
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Telephone: 800-826-1675

You can also contact the organization using its online client intake form.

Getting Help With Your Disability Application

While you aren't obligated to have an attorney when filing for SSDI or SSI, it usually makes sense to hire an experienced disability lawyer to help with your claim, especially if you're denied twice and want to attend a hearing. You may want to find a local representative who is familiar with the administrative law judges in your area and knows what arguments are more likely to result in a favorable decision. Most disability attorneys offer free consultations, so you can ask around to find one who's a good fit for you.