Massachusetts Disability Benefits: SSDI, SSI and SSP

Massachusetts residents who have a medical condition that keeps them from working full-time for at least twelve months may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is based on your work history and earnings record, while Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to people with limited income and assets.

While the legal and financial eligibility requirements for SSDI and SSI differ, the medical qualifications for both programs are the same. You'll need to show that you either meet a listed impairment or have a residual functional capacity that rules out all work.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability in MA

Social Security provides several convenient methods for filing your disability application. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.

• File online using the Social Security web portal. SSDI applications can be submitted entirely through the portal. If you're filing for SSI, you can begin the process online, but a Social Security representative will need to contact you to complete the application.
• Call the agency hotline at 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• Go in person to the Social Security field office nearest you. There are around 30 field offices in Massachusetts, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some offices require that you make an appointment before you arrive, so make sure to call ahead.

After you submit your application, your file is reviewed by your local Social Security field office to determine whether you're legally eligible to receive SSDI or SSI. (You won't be able to get benefits—no matter how poor your health is—if you don't qualify financially for either program.) Once the field office is satisfied that you meet these preliminary requirements, your file is sent to a different agency to decide whether your medical conditions are disabling.

Massachusetts Disability Determination Services

Disability Determination Services (DDS) is a Massachusetts state agency that decides whether you meet Social Security's medical definition of disability. Claims examiners at DDS review your medical records, doctors' opinions, and daily activities to see how severe your symptoms are and in what ways they affect your ability to work.

DDS is part of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, a branch of the Office of Health and Human Services. If you have questions about the status of your application or want to submit medical evidence, you should contact your claims examiner at the appropriate DDS office. You can find the contact information below:

For fiscal year 2023, claims examiners in Massachusetts approved about 43% of initial SSDI and SSI applications. If you aren't approved for benefits on your first try, you have 60 days to appeal the denial. The first step in a disability appeal is called "reconsideration." At the reconsideration level, a different examiner at DDS reviews your file and decides whether the initial denial was incorrect. About 20% of Massachusetts claims are approved at this stage.

Massachusetts SSDI and SSI Disability Hearings

If you're denied after reconsideration, you have the opportunity to appeal again by asking for a hearing with an administrative law judge. Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) schedules and conducts disability hearings across Massachusetts.

OHO has locations in Boston, Lawrence, and Springfield. If you have an in-person hearing, you'll need to show up to the designated office at the time and date printed on your Notice of Hearing. Contact information for the three hearing offices is as follows:

Boston OHO
10 Causeway Street
6th Floor, Room 601
Boston, MA 02222

Telephone: 888-870-7573
Fax: 833-710-0405
eFile Fax: 877-787-5236

As of May 2024, the average waiting time between when a hearing is requested and when a hearing is conducted is 10 months for the Boston OHO.

Lawrence OHO
439 South Union Street
Suite 301
Lawrence, MA 01843

Telephone: 877-405-9189
Fax: 833-775-0565
eFile Fax: 877-312-6172

The average wait time for a hearing at the Lawrence office is 12 months.

Springfield OHO
1441 Main Street
Suite 450
Springfield, MA 01103

Telephone: 866-964-5058
Fax: 833-359-0109
eFile Fax: 877-787-5232

The average wait time for a hearing at the Springfield office is 9.5 months.

Disability judges in the state of Massachusetts issued favorable decisions (awarding benefits) in about 47% of cases, according to May 2024 data.

How Much Will My Disability Benefits Be in MA?

The exact amount you'll receive each month depends on the type of benefit you applied for. SSDI benefits are based on the amount of FICA taxes you paid into the Social Security system while you were employed. The maximum monthly amount you can receive in SSDI as of 2024 is $3,822, although the average benefit is much less, at $1,537 per month.

SSI payments vary based on a number of factors. Each year, Social Security adjusts the federal benefit rate, which determines the maximum amount the agency will pay in SSI. In 2024, this amount is $943 per month, minus any countable income you've earned in that month. However, Massachusetts provides a state SSI supplement in the form of an extra payment on top of the federal benefit amount.

The exact amount of the SSI supplement for disabled beneficiaries in 2024 ranges from $30.40 per month (for an individual with shared living expenses) to $454 per month (for an individual in assisted living). One of the most common examples is for individuals who are living independently and paying for their full living costs. They are eligible for an additional $114 per month from the state.

Massachusetts SSI supplements are also available for people living in a rest home, Medicaid facility, or in the household of another. If you're married and your spouse is also disabled, you may qualify for up to $528.50 in additional payments.

People who are eligible for both SSI and the state supplement will receive two checks, one from the Social Security Administration and one from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The payment schedules for both programs are the same, so you should receive both checks (or direct deposits) on the same date. You can find more information at the MA State Supplemental Program (SSP) government website.

Health Insurance Options for Disabled MA Residents

If you're approved for SSDI, you can enroll in Medicare two years after you begin receiving benefits. If you need insurance to cover the two-year gap, you can apply for an insurance plan under MassHealth until you get on Medicare. SSI recipients in Massachusetts are automatically eligible for MassHealth.

Can I Get Short-Term or Temporary Disability in Massachusetts?

Unfortunately, Massachusetts isn't one of the few states that offer temporary or short-term disability to its residents. However, if you're covered by a private long-term disability (LTD) insurance policy, you may be entitled to receive monthly benefits at a certain percentage of your average wages.

Social Security doesn't pay short-term (lasting for less than twelve months) disability benefits, so an LTD policy can be a good way to keep you afloat if you expect to return to work within one year. Keep in mind that some LTD policies require you to apply for Social Security once you've been out of work for one year, and you may have to pay back the LTD payments if you're approved.

Disability Advocacy and Legal Help

If you're disabled and need legal assistance—whether because you've faced issues with reasonable accommodations, employment discrimination, or getting benefits—you have many resources at your disposal.

Disability Law Center is the designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) organization for the commonwealth of Massachusetts. The P&A program was established by Congress in the 1970s in response to reports of widespread neglect of disabled people in group housing. For example, if you're requested to have a representative payee for your Social Security benefits, the Center can make sure that your payee manages your money in your best interests.

You can contact the Disability Law Center using the information below:

Disability Law Center
11 Beacon Street
Suite 925
Boston, MA 02108

Telephone: 617-723-8455 or 800-872-9992
Email: [email protected]

While Social Security doesn't require you to have a lawyer at any step of the disability determination process, many disability applicants find hiring an attorney to be worth it. Most disability lawyers offer free consultations, so don't hesitate to ask around to find an attorney who will be a good fit for you. If you're not sure where to start looking, check out the free attorney directories on Lawyers.com or Avvo.com, two sites that are part of the Nolo family.