How Maine Social Security Disability Benefits Work

If you live in Maine and you're unable to work full-time for at least one year due to a medical condition, you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. These two programs are both paid for by the federal government, but SSI benefits are often administered on a state level. States have the option to provide a supplemental benefit in addition to the federal benefit rate, and Maine does provide a small additional monthly payment for people receiving SSI.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability in Maine

Even though the definition of disability is the same for both SSDI and SSI, each program has its own financial eligibility requirements. SSDI is based on your work history and how much you've paid in FICA (payroll) taxes, while SSI is needs-based and available only to disabled applicants who have below a certain earnings and assets threshold.

Filing for disability benefits is the same no matter where you are in the country. Social Security provides several options for you to begin your claim:

• Apply online. You can file a claim for SSDI or SSI using Social Security's web portal. If you're filing for SSDI, you can complete the entire application online, but if you're filing for SSI, a representative from Social Security will contact you for more information before your claim is complete.
• Call the National Social Security Hotline. You can call 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to file for SSDI or SSI. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• File in person. Social Security field offices handle both SSDI and SSI applications. They are generally open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can find the office closest to you by putting your zip code into the agency's locator tool.

There are eight Social Security field offices in Maine. Some offices may require that you make an appointment to come in and file your application, so you may want to call ahead. The contact information for the Maine field offices is below.

Auburn
600 Turner St.
Suite 5
Auburn, ME 04210

Telephone: 833-388-6432
Fax: 833-950-3581

Augusta
330 Civic Center Dr.
Suite 4
Augusta, ME 04330

Telephone: 866-882-5422
Fax: 833-950-3579

Bangor
202 Harlow St.
Room 10307
Bangor, ME 04401

Telephone: 877-405-1448
Fax: 833-950-3577

Portland
99 Commercial St.
Portland, ME 04101

Telephone: 877-319-3076
Fax: 833-950-3575

Presque Isle
365 Main St.
Presque Isle, ME 04769

Telephone: 866-837-2719
Fax: 833-950-3583

Rockland
169 Camden St.
Rockland, ME 04841

Telephone: 855-269-9179
Fax: 833-950-3585

Saco
110 Main St.
Suite 1450
Saco, ME 04072

Telephone: 877-253-4715
Fax: 833-950-3248

Waterville
14 Colby St.
Waterville, ME 04901

Telephone: 866-931-9169
Fax: 833-950-3258

When you submit your application for disability benefits, your first point of contact will be with the Social Security Administration (SSA). After Social Security confirms that you meet the financial eligibility requirements to receive SSDI, SSI, or both, your case will be transferred to a state agency that helps determine your medical eligibility for disability benefits.

Maine Disability Determination Services

Disability Determination Services (DDS) helps the federal Social Security agency process disability applications within the state of Maine. DDS will assign your case to a claims examiner who will request your medical records and determine whether you meet the medical requirements for disability.

DDS is a subset of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Contact information for DDS is as follows:

Department of Health and Human Services
Disability Determination Services
1705 US Route 202
Winthrop, ME 04364

Telephone: 207-287-9600 or 800-452-8718

In fiscal year 2023, claims examiners in Maine approved around 40% of initial disability applications. If you're not awarded benefits at the initial level, you have 60 days to appeal the denial by requesting "reconsideration" of your claim. Reconsideration means that another claims examiner—not the original one who denied your application—reviews your file and determines whether the initial denial was correct. Only about 19% of reconsiderations are approved in Maine, but if you're denied a second time, you can ask for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge.

Social Security Disability Hearings in Maine

Once you request a hearing, your case is sent from DDS to Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). Maine has one OHO that conducts disability hearings for all residents. If you have an in-person hearing scheduled, you'll need to be present at the OHO at the date and time printed on your hearing notice.

Maine's OHO is located in Portland. You can find the contact information below.

SSA OHO
One Portland Square
Suite 600
Portland, ME 04101

Telephone: 877-701-2137
Fax: 833-632-0069
eFile Fax: 877-787-5229

As of May 2024, the average wait time for a hearing in Maine is 9 months. Judges in the Portland OHO issue favorable decisions (awarding benefits) in about 44% of cases.

Maine SSI State Supplements and Medicaid

Because SSI is funded by the federal government, the federal government sets the maximum monthly amount people on SSI can receive. Called the "federal benefit rate," this amount is $943 per month in 2024, minus any countable income you receive during that month. The federal benefit rate is adjusted every year to account for increases in the cost of living.

However, states have the option to provide additional payments above the federal benefit rate. These "state supplements" are often quite modest and depend on your living situation. For example, in Maine, people who receive SSI who are living independently may receive an extra $10 on top of the federal benefit rate, while those who are living in a group facility may receive several hundred dollars more per month.

MaineCare is a program provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that provides health insurance to Mainers who have low household income and resources. If you qualify for SSI, you're automatically eligible for MaineCare. You can apply using one of the following methods:

• Apply online through MyMaineConnection.
• Download the MaineCare application form and mail it to the Office for Family Independence, 114 Corn Shop Lane, Farmington, ME 04938.
• Email your application to [email protected].
• Fax your application to (207) 778-8429.
• Visit one of the DHHS field offices to apply in person.

DHHS has 16 field offices in Augusta, Bangor, Biddeford, Calais, Caribou, Ellsworth, Farmington, Fort Kent, Houlton, Lewiston, Machais, Portland, Rockland, Sanford, Skowhegan, and South Paris.

If you're approved for SSDI, you won't be able to receive a state supplement. The maximum monthly amount you can receive in SSDI benefits in 2024 is $3,822, although the average benefit is much lower, at $1,537.

Maine Workers' Compensation or Short-Term Disability Coverage

Maine residents whose disability occurred as a result of a work-related illness or accident may also be able to obtain workers' compensation through their employer. While the state of Maine—like most states—doesn't provide public short-term disability benefits for people who are out of work for less than one year, your employer may provide private short- and long-term disability insurance that can cover you for a specified period of time.

Disability Advocacy Rights Organizations in Maine

In the 1970s, Congress created a system of state disability rights organizations in response to the discovery of widespread abuse and neglect at institutions for people with disabilities. These Protection and Advocacy (P&A) organizations are empowered to provide legal assistance to disabled people whose rights and liberties have been violated.

Each state has its own designated P&A organization. For Maine, the P&A is Disability Rights Maine. They have offices in Augusta and Falmouth. Contact information for these offices is as follows:

Disability Rights Maine doesn't provide representation for Social Security disability hearings, but if you're already receiving benefits, they can assist you with Ticket to Work programs or overcoming other barriers to employment.

Getting Legal Help with Maine Disability Benefits

Anyone who is physically or mentally unable to work full-time knows how important it is to obtain disability benefits. But just because you've been told by your doctors that you're disabled doesn't mean that Social Security will agree. It's critical to know how to present your case effectively—which means submitting all the required medical documents and being able to avoid any pitfalls at your disability hearing.

It's usually wise to consider a consultation with an experienced disability attorney, especially if you've already been denied Social Security benefits. A good lawyer will help you meet deadlines, address any inconsistencies in your record, and prepare you to answer questions at a disability hearing.