If you live in Nevada and become disabled and are no longer able to work, the federal government offers two programs to provide assistance: Social Security Disability (SSD), for those who have worked and paid into the Social Security system, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), for those who have below a certain income. While these are federal programs, a Nevada state agency decides who is disabled and who is not.
After you submit your disability application to Social Security, claims examiners at the Bureau of Disability Adjudication (BDA), which is part of Nevada's Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation, will review your case and approve or deny you benefits. The BDA only approves 34% of the initial applications it reviews.
The Bureau of Disability Adjudication has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. If you have a questions regarding your claim, you can contact the BDA at 775-885-3700.
Nevada pays an additional amount to recipients of SSI who are blind, although Social Security administers the payment, so those eligible receive one combined SSI check. The amount depends on the person's living arrangements. A blind person living on their own will receive a total of $880.30 in combined state and federal payments. A person living in someone else's household will receive a total of $727.96. And those living in private nursing homes or residential facilities receive a total of $1,162 (most of which goes to the facility).
Nevada residents are also automatically eligible for Medicaid from the State of Nevada when they are approved for SSI.
Nevada does not pay short-term benefits to those who are disabled (some states provide benefits for up to six months for temporary disabilities).
The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) is the office that handles disability hearings. There are OHO hearing offices in Las Vegas and Reno. On average, it takes 18 months to get a hearing date scheduled in Las Vegas or Reno.
If you're interested in hiring legal representation for your disability hearing, you can find a local Social Security disability lawyer by using our Nevada disability lawyer finder.
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