Minnesota SSDI and SSI Benefits

If you live in Minnesota and can no longer work full-time due to a medical condition, you may be eligible for one of the Social Security disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is funded by payroll taxes and is available to people who've worked a certain number of years. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is financed by general funds from the U.S. Treasury and is available to people with income and assets below a low threshold.

Even though SSDI and SSI are federal programs, the State of Minnesota is initially responsible for deciding who meets Social Security's medical definition of disability. The state also sets the payment rate for Minnesotans who receive SSI and decides whether they are also eligible for Medicaid.

How to Apply for Disability in Minnesota

Social Security provides three easy ways for you to apply for disability:

Online. If you're applying for SSDI, you can file online using the Social Security web portal.

In person. You can apply in person at your local Social Security field office. This option is available for either SSI or SSDI applicants. At the field office, a representative can help you complete your paperwork and explain the forms to you. However, the representative can't give you legal advice.

There are almost 20 Social Security field offices in Minnesota. Each one is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can find the one nearest to you with the agency's office locator tool.

By telephone. You can apply by phone for either SSI or SSDI by calling 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. (If you're deaf or hearing impaired, you can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.)

It's a good idea to be prepared before you begin your application. Having all your information at the ready can make the process go more smoothly. You can learn more in our article about filing a disability application.

Minnesota Disability Determination Services

Whether you file online, over the phone, or in person, Social Security makes the preliminary decisions about financial eligibility for SSDI or SSI. Once the agency has determined that you're qualified to receive at least one of these benefits, your application will be handed off to Minnesota Disability Determination Services (DDS).

Minnesota's DDS makes the initial medical decisions about whether you are disabled. Claims examiners at DDS will gather your doctors' notes and review your daily activities to determine the severity of your functional limitations. If the examiners think they need more information to decide your claim, they may also schedule you to attend a consultative examination.

The parent agency of DDS is the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The offices are headquartered in St. Paul. You can reach them using the following address and contact information.

Great Northern Building
180 E 5th St.
Suite 1200
St. Paul, MN 55101

Telephone: 651-259-7114 or 800-657-3858
Email: [email protected]

During fiscal year 2023, claims examiners in Minnesota approved disability applications at a higher rate than the national average, with almost 45% of claimants getting benefits after initial review.

Disability Denials and Appeals in Minnesota

If you aren't awarded disability benefits at the initial level, you can file a request for reconsideration within 60 days of receiving the denial letter. Reconsideration is the first stage of appealing a disability denial. When you request reconsideration, another claims examiner at DDS will review the denial decision and determine whether it was incorrect. Only about 12% of Minnesotans are approved for benefits at this stage, however, so you'll likely have to appeal again by asking for a hearing with an administrative law judge.

Minnesota state DDS doesn't handle disability hearings. Instead, your claim will be sent to the Social Security Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). The OHO is responsible for scheduling your hearing date and conducting your hearing. There is one hearing office for Minnesota disability claims, located in Minneapolis. You can find the contact information for the OHO below:

Minneapolis OHO
Suite 300
250 Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Telephone: 877-512-3856
Fax: 833-619-0551
eFile Fax: 877-904-5482

If your hearing is scheduled in-person, you'll have to show up at the OHO at the date and time found on your hearing notice. If your hearing is scheduled remotely (over the phone or using videoconference), a hearing monitor from the OHO will call you at the correct time, or you'll need to log on to a secure conference link provided to you by the OHO.

As of April 2024, disability applicants had an average wait time of 7 months between when they requested a hearing with the Minneapolis OHO and when the hearing was held. Judges at the Minneapolis office issued favorable decisions (awarding benefits) in about 58% of cases.

How Much SSI Can I Get in Minnesota?

For 2024, you can receive up to $943 a month in SSI benefits from the federal government. In addition, most Minnesotans are eligible for a supplemental payment from the Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) program. Minnesota uses the difference between your SSI payment—or your income, if it's higher—and the MSA monthly income standard to determine your possible grant amount from MSA.

Here are the current MSA monthly standard amounts:

People who live in certain residential care facilities can receive an extra $125 per month for personal needs and clothing. Additional funds may also be available in certain circumstances, such as if you need funds to purchase foods for a special diet, pay for a representative payee (or other guardian), make repairs to your home, or replace furniture and appliances.

You can apply for the supplement at a Minnesota Department of Human Services county or tribal nation office near you. A list of all offices, along with the contact information for each, can be found at the County and Tribal Nation Offices web page. There are 135 such offices in the state.

Medical Assistance for Disabled Minnesotans

If Social Security determines that you're blind or disabled and you're under the age of 65, you may be eligible for medical assistance from the state through the Medicaid program. However, you must also meet certain income and asset requirements.

The specific income and asset limits vary depending on the size and age of people in your household. Additionally, you'll need to show that your household income is a certain percentage of the federal poverty guidelines. You can find the exact figures for your living situation at the Income and Asset Guidelines table (effective for dates between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025).

Even if you're over the income limit, you may still be eligible for coverage through the "spenddown" program. Any amount you have in unpaid medical bills will be deducted from your monthly income to help you meet the eligibility requirements.

Determining whether you qualify under the eligibility guidelines can be difficult. If you're not sure that you qualify for medical assistance, contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Do I Need to Talk to a Disability Attorney?

Because the disability process is long and complicated, it may be helpful to talk to an experienced attorney about your claim. Applicants who have representation are more likely to get their claim approved than those who don't.

Your lawyer can help you collect your medical records, submit them to Social Security, and advocate on your behalf at a disability hearing. Most disability attorneys offer free consultations, so it doesn't hurt to ask around until you find a representative who's a good fit for you.