Georgia Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI

Georgia residents can apply for disability benefits through their local Social Security Administration field office. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has manages two programs to provide disability payments to those who have been disabled and are no longer able to support themselves and their families: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The State of Georgia does not offer short-term disability benefits.

Federal Disability Benefits

Disabled persons may apply for one or both of the federal disability assistance programs available through the SSA.

To qualify for the SSDI program, a person must have:

• a disability that prevents them from doing substantial work

• a disability that lasts at least one year or is expected to last that long, and

• enough credits in the Social Security system, which have been earned by working approximately five of the last ten years.

To qualify for SSI, a person must have:

• a disability that prevents them from doing substantial work

• a disability that lasts at least one year or is expected to last that long, and

• low income, and
• low assets.

In Georgia, SSI recipients automatically receive Medicaid, and they may also be eligible for food stamps.

Disability Process in the State of Georgia

Georgia has a number of SSA field offices that can provide application forms and assistance with SSDI or SSI claims. The application may be submitted through the Georgia SSA field office, over the SSA toll-free phone line (800-772-1213), or online through the SSA's website (www.ssa.gov). Once processed, the SSA sends the application to Georgia's Disability Adjudication Services (DAS) agency. A claims examiner requests your medical information from your doctors and determines whether you are disabled.

The main DAS office is in Stone Mountain. There are satellite offices in Athens, Dalton, Savannah, and Thomasville as well. Here is their contact information.

Central Office
1551 Juliette Road
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
678-639-2100

Athens Office
706-227-5455

Dalton Office
678-639-2100

Savannah Office
912-351-3511

Thomasville Office
229-225-5279

Georgia State Disability Benefits

In some cases, the State of Georgia adds on a small state supplement (currently $20) to the federal SSI payment. The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) manages the SSI supplement. You don't need to apply separately for the state SSI supplement because the DHR will identify recipients who are eligible (currently only those living in Medicaid facilities).

Getting Disability Help in Georgia

There are public and private agencies within the state to provide assistance and advocacy for the disabled, including:

Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc.
150 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 430
Decatur, GA 30030
404-885-1234
800-537-2329

However, the Georgia Advocacy Office will not provide legal representation for your appeal hearing, should you be denied disability benefits. You may want to hire a disability attorney to present your case for benefits on appeal. If your case requires repeated appeals and it reaches federal court, then you must be represented by a disability attorney. It may be wise to save time and stress by consulting an attorney early on in the appeal process. Arrange a consultation with a Georgia disability attorney.