Colorado SSDI and SSI Benefits

Coloradans who find themselves unable to work full-time for at least twelve months should consider applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Although the financial eligibility requirements for these programs differ—SSDI is based on your work history and payroll tax contributions, while SSI is needs-based and subject to income and asset restrictions—the disability determination process is the same for both.

How to Apply for Disability in Colorado

The Social Security Administration has several methods you can use to apply for disability benefits. Many people who are applying for SSDI choose to file online at ssa.gov. You can also call 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security field office. Field offices are typically open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, although some rural offices may have reduced hours or shortened weeks.

Keep in mind that if you're filing for SSI (or both SSDI and SSI at the same time), you can begin your disability claim online, but a Social Security representative will reach out to you to schedule a telephone or in-person appointment to complete your application.

Colorado Disability Determination Services

Once Social Security finds that you meet the basic eligibility criteria for either SSDI or SSI, the agency sends your file to Colorado Disability Determination Services (DDS) for review. DDS is a state agency, run by the Colorado Department of Human Services, that helps Social Security determine whether a disability applicant meets the medical criteria to be considered disabled.

The DDS office for Colorado is located in Aurora. If you have questions about your disability application, you can contact the office at:

3190 S. Vaughn Way
Aurora, CO 80014-9833

Telephone: 303-368-4100
TTY/TDD for deaf and hard of hearing people: 303-752-5650

Claims examiners at DDS will look at your medical records, work history, and function report to decide if you're disabled according to Social Security regulations. For fiscal year 2023, claims examiners in Colorado approved about 37% of initial disability applications, slightly below the national average.

If your disability application is denied, you have 60 days to appeal the denial. The first step in an appeal is asking DDS to review the claim again ("reconsideration"). Only about 13% of applications in Colorado are approved at the reconsideration level, but you can appeal again by requesting a hearing with an administrative law judge.

Social Security Disability Hearings in Colorado

The Social Security Administration's Office of Hearing Operations (OHO) schedules and conducts hearings for disability benefits. Each OHO handles appeals for claimants within a specific geographic area. Colorado has two OHO locations, with contact information for each one below.

Colorado Springs OHO (for claimants who live in or near Alamosa, Canon City, Colorado Springs, Durango, La Junta, Pueblo, and Trinidad):

Plaza of the Rockies, North Tower
111 S. Tejon Street, Suite 401
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Telephone: 888-844-8269 Ext. 10909
Fax: 833-779-0458
eFile Fax: 877-389-4219

According to the most recent statistics, the average wait time in 2024 from appeal to hearing in the Colorado Springs office is about 9 months. Judges in this office issue favorable decisions in about 37% of cases.

Denver OHO (for claimants who live in or near Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Greeley, Lakewood, Littleton, Louisville, and Montrose):

Suite 752
1244 Speer Boulevard
Denver, CO 80204-3584

Telephone: 888-383-8889 Ext. 22944
Fax: 833-586-0160
eFile Fax: 877-389-4221

As of April 2024, the average wait time between filing an appeal and holding a hearing in the Denver office is about 10 months. Judges in this office issue favorable decisions in about 43% of cases.

Additional Assistance for SSI Recipients in Colorado

Even though the SSI program is federally funded, payments are administered at a state level. Some states, including Colorado, choose to provide more assistance to SSI recipients by adding a small stipend to the 2024 federal benefit rate of $943 per month. These payments are referred to as "state SSI supplements."

Colorado SSI supplements are called Aid to the Needy Disabled. Depending on your living situation, you may qualify for one or more of the following (numbers current for 2024):

• cash assistance to bump your SSI benefit up to the federal benefit rate if you're not receiving the full amount
• interim financial assistance if you're actively seeking SSI but haven't been approved yet
• if over 60, an old age pension of $981 per month
• a monthly home care allowance of up to $605, and
• if you're in an assisted-living facility, a personal needs allowance of $79 per month.

In addition to state supplemental payments, SSI recipients in Colorado are automatically eligible for Medicaid. Social Security makes Medicaid eligibility determinations when the agency issues disability award letters, and then a representative for the state of Colorado contacts the newly approved recipients directly.

Disability Rights in Colorado

During the 1970s, Congress responded to pressure from disability rights activists concerned with injustices against people with disabilities by creating the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system. Each state has a P&A organization that provides legal assistance and access to resources for people with disabilities. In Colorado, that organization is Disability Law Colorado, with an office in Denver. You can get in touch with them using the contact information below.

Disability Law Colorado
455 Sherman St, Ste 130
Denver, CO 80203

Telephone: 303-722-0300 or 800-288-1376 (all lines are TTY)
Fax: 303-722-0720

You may also want to seek the services of an experienced disability lawyer, especially if you've been denied benefits. Most disability attorneys offer free consultations, so you don't have to pay upfront or settle for a representative that isn't a good fit for you.