Arizona SSDI and SSI Benefits

Arizona residents who can't work due to a physical or mental condition may qualify for several types of disability benefits. Arizonans who can't work at any job for at least one year may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), while those who were injured at work may benefit from the Arizona state workers' compensation program.

Keep in mind that Arizona doesn't offer short-term disability benefits to residents who need to take several weeks or months off work but can return to work within the year. Additionally, Arizona no longer offers a state supplement for SSI recipients, so if you're awarded SSI in Arizona, your maximum monthly payment will be the federal benefit rate.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits in Arizona

Starting your application ("claim") for disability benefits is fairly simple. Many people chose to file online using Social Security's SSDI web portal. Filing online has several advantages, including the ability to complete the form at your own pace. You'll receive a case number that you can use to log in later and fill in any missing information before you submit it.

The downside to using the web portal is that if you're applying for SSI, you can't submit the entire claim online. You can start the application, but a representative from Social Security will contact you to finish it either over the phone or in-person.

Both SSDI and SSI applicants can call the national Social Security hotline at 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to start their application. Deaf or hard of hearing claimants can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.

Finally, you can make an appointment at your local Social Security field office. Arizona has over a dozen offices spread across the state. You can find the contact information for the major offices below.

Other field offices include those in Chinle, Douglas, Nogales, Safford, Sells, and Tuba City. If you don't see your local office information above, search for the office nearest to you using Social Security's field office locator.

Whether you submit your application for disability benefits online, over the phone, or in person, Social Security will check to see if you meet the financial eligibility standards for SSDI or SSI. People who've worked a certain number of years while paying Social Security taxes are eligible for SSDI, while SSI is needs-based and available only for people with low earnings and assets.

Arizona Disability Determination Services

After Social Security reviews your application to make sure you're legally eligible to receive benefits, your file is handed off to a claims examiner at Arizona's Disability Determination Services (DDS). DDS is a state agency, run by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, that helps Social Security determine medical eligibility for disability benefits.

DDS offices in Arizona are located in Phoenix and Tucson. The telephone number for the Phoenix office is 800-352-0409 and the telephone number for the Tucson office is 800-362-6368. If you have questions about your application while you're waiting for your decision, you should contact your claims examiner at the appropriate DDS office.

Your claims examiner reviews your doctor's records to determine if you meet Social Security's medical definition of disability—meaning you have a severe impairment keeping you from working any job full-time for at least one year. In fiscal year 2023, Arizona claims examiners approved about 35% of applications after the initial review.

If you aren't approved after initial review, you can appeal the denial by requesting reconsideration of your claim within 60 days of receiving the denial notice. Reconsideration is the first step in the disability appeals process. A different claims examiner will review your case and determine whether the original decision was incorrect. About 18% of disability claims in Arizona are approved after reconsideration, slightly higher than the national average.

Social Security Disability Appeals Hearings in Arizona

Arizonans who've been denied twice at the state DDS have the option to appeal further by requesting a hearing with an administrative law judge. As of April 2024, judges in Arizona issued favorable decisions (awarding benefits) in about 57% of cases brought before them, so your hearing represents your best shot at success in your disability claim.

Hearings are run at the federal level by Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). Arizona has three OHOs where judges conduct disability hearings. If your hearing is in-person, you'll need to be present at the office handling your case at the date and time scheduled on your Notice of Hearing.

Contact information for the OHO locations in Arizona is as follows:

Phoenix (Downtown) OHO
Siete Square, Suite 200
3737 North 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85014

Telephone: 888-748-1991 Ext. 21651
Fax: 833-365-0283
eFile Fax: 877-394-4579

Phoenix (North) OHO
Suite 430
18444 North 25th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85023

Telephone: 877-784-3690 Ext. 19839
Fax: 833-676-0149
eFile Fax: 877-847-1601

Tucson OHO
Rio Nuevo Professional Plaza, Suite 265
201 N. Bonita Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85745

Telephone: 888-383-8694
Fax: 833-365-0285
eFile Fax: 877-394-4580

Waiting times to get a hearing scheduled vary by office. For April 2024, the average waiting time for the downtown Phoenix office was seven months, while the Phoenix North office averaged 10 months. The Tucson office had an average wait of nine months from the hearing request to the date of the hearing.

How Much Are Disability Benefits in Arizona?

In 2024, you can receive up to $3,822 per month in SSDI benefits. However, the average SSDI benefit is much lower, about $1,537. The exact amount you'll receive depends on your work history. Your award letter will contain a detailed breakdown of how much you're entitled to receive as well as any disability backpay you're due.

SSI benefits aren't based on your work history. Instead, you'll receive a maximum benefit of $943 per month, set by the federal government and adjusted each year. The exact monthly amount you'll receive can be reduced by any countable income you earn in that month. Arizona doesn't have a state supplement for SSI recipients anymore, but if DDS finds that you're disabled and approves you for SSI, you're automatically approved for Medicaid as well.

Arizona Workers' Compensation

Employers in Arizona are required to provide worker's compensation insurance for their employees. Benefits for lost wages are available to any employee who is injured at work or becomes ill because of a workplace condition.

Workers who are permanently disabled due to a work-related accident or illness may be entitled to long-term worker's comp benefits as well as Social Security. But be aware that any permanent disability settlement you receive from workers' comp may lessen ("offset") the amount of your SSDI or SSI payments.

Disability Rights Advocacy Resources in Arizona

Arizonans with disabilities can get assistance through Disability Rights Arizona. Disability Rights Arizona is part of the federal Protection and Advocacy system established by Congress to prevent abuses of the rights of disabled people. The organization has offices in Phoenix and Tucson. You can find the contact information for the Disability Rights Arizona offices below.

The Disability Rights Arizona website contains useful information for Arizonans who are applying for Social Security benefits, such as tips on how to represent yourself at a hearing. But while you don't need a lawyer to apply for Social Security disability or workers' compensation benefits, it's often the smart thing to do. Your attorney can handle communications with the relevant agencies and make sure your medical records are submitted on time. For guidance on choosing the right representative for your needs, see our article on how to find a good disability lawyer.