Eligibility for Michigan Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits and SSI

If you live in Michigan and have a medical condition that keeps you from working full-time for at least twelve months, you can apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSDI is a federal insurance program where you gain coverage based on your work history and the amount you've contributed in payroll taxes. SSI is a needs-based benefit available to people who have income and assets below a low threshold.

Like SSDI, SSI is federally funded, but unlike SSDI, each state has the option to provide extra SSI payments in addition to the federal benefit rate.

Michigan isn't one of the few states that offer short-term disability benefits, but if you're covered by private long-term disability insurance, your provider may pay out benefits to you at a certain percentage rate of your average income.

How Do I Apply for Social Security Disability in Michigan?

Regardless of where you live, there are three ways you can file for disability. These options depend on whether you're applying for SSDI or SSI. (Because SSI has income and asset restrictions, a representative from Social Security will need to contact you at some point to confirm that your earnings and savings are below the cut-off for eligibility.)

File Online at SSA.gov

If you're applying for SSDI, you can file your entire application online using Social Security's web portal. When you first start your online application you'll be assigned an application number that you can use to complete the application at a later date and track the status of your claim.

You can begin your application for SSI online, but you'll need to finish it in person or over the phone.

Apply In Person at Your Local Field Office

You can apply for benefits at your local Social Security field office. There are around 50 offices in the state of Michigan. You can find the one nearest you by putting your ZIP code into the office locator tool.

Field offices are typically open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some offices require that you make an appointment, so make sure you call ahead of time.

Call the Social Security National Phone Number

Social Security also gives you the option to apply by telephone. This can be helpful if you live too far away from your field office or if your disability makes it hard to travel. You can apply by phone by calling 800-772-1213 between 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.

Michigan Disability Determination Service (DDS)

Once you've submitted your application and Social Security has determined that you're legally eligible to receive disability benefits, the agency will hand over your file to a state agency called the Disability Determination Service (DDS). DDS makes the initial decisions about whether you're disabled according to Social Security's definition of disability.

DDS is a part of Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services. You can find the contact information for the four DDS offices below.

Lansing Disability Determination Service
P.O. Box 30011
Lansing, MI 48909

Telephone: 800-366-3404

Traverse City Disability Determination Service
P.O. Box 1200
Traverse City, MI 49685

Telephone: 800-632-1097

Kalamazoo Disability Determination Service
P.O. Box 4020
Kalamazoo, MI 49003

Telephone: 800-829-7763

Detroit Disability Determination Service
P.O. Box 345
Detroit, MI 48231

Telephone: 800-383-7155

Claims examiners at DDS review your medical records to determine if you meet a listed impairment or have a residual functional capacity that rules out all work. For fiscal year 2023, Michigan DDS examiners approved around 40% of initial disability applications, around the national average.

Appealing a Disability Denial in Michigan

If your application isn't approved at the initial level, you have 60 days to appeal the denial. The first step in the appeals process is called requesting "reconsideration." Reconsideration means that you're asking a different DDS examiner to review your file and determine whether the initial denial was incorrect. Only about 15% of Michigan disability claims are approved after reconsideration, again in line with the national average.

If your claim is denied again after reconsideration, you can request a hearing with an administrative law judge. Social Security's Office of Hearing Operations (OHO) schedules and conducts disability hearings throughout the state. There are ten OHO offices that conduct disability hearings for Michigan residents. Your claim will be assigned to an OHO based on your geographic location.

Contact information for the OHOs handling Michigan disability hearings is as follows:

Detroit OHO
Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building
477 Michigan Avenue, Room 900
Detroit, MI 48226

Telephone: 888-748-7696
Fax: 833-942-2185
eFile Fax: 877-559-1737

The Detroit office serves the Dearborn, Detroit, Fort Gratiot, and Wyandotte regions.

Flint OHO
300 West Second Street
Flint, MI 48502-2047

Telephone: 877-607-9526
Fax: 833-694-0063
eFile Fax: 877-559-1917

The Flint office serves the Bay City, Flint, and Saginaw regions.

Grand Rapids OHO
Suite 200
1925 Breton Road, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Telephone: 866-613-2860
Fax: 833-619-0613
eFile Fax: 877-904-5481

The Grand Rapids office serves the Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon regions.

Lansing OHO
Suite 200
4202 Collins Road
Lansing, MI 48910

Telephone: 877-691-6144
Fax: 833-510-0098
eFile Fax: 877-904-5486

The Lansing office serves the Battle Creek, Jackson, Lansing, and Owosso regions.

Livonia OHO
3rd Floor
19575 Victor Parkway
Livonia, MI 48152

Telephone: 866-530-7806
Fax: 833-676-0113
eFile Fax: 877-847-1606

The Livonia office serves the Ann Arbor, Detroit (Northwest), Farmington Hills, Inkster, Livonia, and Pontiac regions.

Milwaukee OHO
Room 300W
310 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203

Telephone: 866-495-0039
Fax: 833-559-0772
eFile Fax: 877-486-2940

The Milwaukee office serves the Escanaba, Houghton, Ironwood, Marquette, and Sault St. Marie regions.

Mount Pleasant OHO
4035 Sweeney Road
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

Telephone: 866-873-6604
Fax: 833-964-2265
eFile Fax: 877-435-0325

The Mount Pleasant office serves the Alpena, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Ludington, Mount Pleasant, Petoskey, Traverse City, and West Branch regions.

Oak Park OHO
Crown Pointe Building, Suite 500
25900 Greenfield Road
Oak Park, MI 48237-1267

Telephone: 877-223-6060
Fax: 833-302-0016
eFile Fax: 877-904-5525

The Oak Park office serves the Chesterfield, Clawson, Detroit (7 Mile-Wyoming), Highland Park, Pontiac, Roseville, and Sterling Heights regions.

Toledo OHO
13th Floor
One Seagate
Toledo, OH 43604

Telephone: 866-783-7304
Fax: 833-702-0716
eFile Fax: 877-847-1605

The Toledo office serves the Adrian and Monroe regions.

Valparaiso OHO
1250 Eastport Centre Drive
Valparaiso, IN 46383

Telephone: 866-873-1269
Fax: 833-702-0714
eFile Fax: 877-435-0326

The Valparaiso office serves the Benton Harbor area.

As of May 2024, the average wait time for a hearing in the above offices is 8 months. Michigan judges issued favorable decisions (awarding disability benefits) in about 50% of cases.

What Will My SSDI or SSI Payment Amounts Be?

For 2024, you can get a maximum of $3,822 in monthly SSDI benefits, although the average SSDI payment is much lower, at $1,537. This is because the amount of SSDI you receive is based on your earnings history, and depends on how much money you've made in the past.

The monthly maximum SSI amount is set every year by the federal government. In 2024, that amount is $943 per month, minus any countable income you received in that month. Michigan adds a small state supplement to disabled residents receiving SSI.

The amount of the state supplement depends on your living situation. The chart below shows the Michigan state supplement amounts for 2024. (You can add this number to your federal SSI benefit to determine your total monthly benefit amount.)

Michigan residents who receive SSI are automatically eligible for Medicaid. For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit the Medicaid page on the official state of Michigan website. M

Michigan's Disability Protection and Advocacy Agency

Disability Rights Michigan is the designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for the state. Instituted by Congress in the 1970s as a response to concerns about widespread abuses in group homes for disabled children, the P&A program establishes an organization in each state that looks out for the rights and welfare of disabled people.

Disability Rights Michigan has two offices in Michigan. Below is the contact information for each office.

Both offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday. You can also reach Disability Rights Michigan by completing their online intake form.

Contact a Michigan Disability Lawyer

It may be helpful to contact an experienced disability lawyer to talk about your case, especially if you've been denied once already. Many national law firms have offices in Michigan, as well as boutique law firms or solo practitioners who specialize in Social Security disability.

Two sites that are part of the Nolo family, Lawyers.com and Avvo.com, provide free lawyer directories. These directories allow you to search by location and area of law, and they list detailed information about lawyers. Most disability attorneys offer free consultations, so you can ask around to find one who's the best fit for you.