Nevada SSDI and SSI Benefits

If you live in Nevada and have a medical condition that keeps you from working full-time, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI benefits are available to people who've earned enough in work credits to qualify for insured status, while SSI is a needs-based program with strict income and asset limits.

These programs are funded by the federal government, but a Nevada state agency makes the first determinations about whether you meet Social Security's definition of disability. At higher levels of review, your application may be decided by a judge with the Office of Hearings Operations or Appeals Council, which are part of the federal Social Security Administration.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability in Nevada

The first step in the disability determination process is filing your initial application ("claim") for benefits. You have several ways in which you can start your claim:

• File online for SSDI benefits at Social Security's web portal.
• Call the Social Security hotline at 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to speak with a representative. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• Make an appointment in-person at your local Social Security field office.

Nevada has five Social Security field offices. These offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can find the contact information for the office closest to you below.

Elko
Suite 100
350 W Silver St.
Elko, NV 89801

Telephone: 866-854-7647
Fax: 800-325-0778

Henderson
10416 S Eastern Ave.
Henderson, NV 89052

Telephone: 855-207-7084
Fax: 833-950-3025

Las Vegas
Suite 150
1250 S Buffalo Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89117

Telephone: 866-704-4859
Fax: 833-346-7159

North Las Vegas
4340 Simmons St.
North Las Vegas, NV 89032

Telephone: 866-614-9667
Fax: 833-902-2608

Reno
1170 Harvard Way
Reno, NV 89502

Telephone: 888-808-5481
Fax: 833-571-2615

While you're able to file your entire application for SSDI benefits online, if you're applying for SSI, you'll need to speak with a Social Security representative at some point in the process so that the representative can determine whether you're financially eligible for the program.

Nevada Disability Determination Services

After you submit your disability application to Social Security, it's handed off to a claims examiner at the Nevada Bureau of Disability Adjudication, a branch of the Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation. You can contact the Bureau with questions about your claim at 775-885-3700 or 800-882-4430.

The claims examiner will review your medical records, work history, and daily activities to determine whether you should receive disability benefits. In 2023, claims examiners at the Nevada Bureau of Disability Adjudication approved about 39% of initial disability applications, around the national average. Nevadans who aren't awarded benefits on the first try have 60 days from receiving the denial letter to start the appeals process.

The first level of appeal is called "reconsideration review." At the reconsideration level, another claims examiner with the Bureau of Disability Adjudication takes a look at your file and decides whether the original denial was incorrect. Not many applications are approved at reconsideration—in Nevada, only around 15% of disability claims were awarded at this stage in 2023. If you're denied a second time, you have 60 days to appeal again by asking for a hearing with an administrative law judge.

Social Security Disability Appeal Hearings in Nevada

Once you've requested a hearing with an administrative law judge, the Nevada Bureau of Disability Adjudication doesn't handle your claim any longer. Instead, your file is sent to Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) for further development while you wait for your hearing to be scheduled.

The OHO has two locations in Nevada. You can find the contact information for these locations below.

Las Vegas OHO, serving claims originating from the Henderson, Las Vegas, and North Las Vegas field offices.
Suite 4452
333 Las Vegas Boulevard, South
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Telephone: 888-397-5623 Ext. 28218
Fax: 833-903-2285
eFile Fax: 877-730-3360

Reno OHO, serving claims originating from the Elko and Reno field offices.
Suite 4000
300 Booth Street
Reno, NV 89509

Telephone: 877-897-0607 Ext. 29208
Fax: 833-721-0881
eFile Fax: 877-871-1885

In early 2024, the average wait time to get a hearing scheduled in Nevada was around 11 months. Once the hearing has been held, Nevada disability judges issue a favorable decision (awarding disability benefits) in about 51% of cases.

If you've received an unfavorable decision, you can appeal within 60 days by requesting review from the Appeals Council. You should carefully read your decision for any errors of law made by the judge that may form the basis of an Appeals Council remand.

How Much Will I Get in Disability Benefits From the State of Nevada?

The amount of disability benefits you'll receive depends on many factors, such as whether you've paid into Social Security via payroll taxes or how much cash you have on hand. SSDI pays more than SSI, with a 2024 maximum monthly benefit amount of $3,822 (although the average SSDI check is much smaller, around $1,537 per month). SSI benefits are smaller—$943 monthly per individual in 2024—and are reduced by any countable income you receive.

Nevada pays an additional amount to recipients of SSI who are "aged" (at least 65 years old) or blind, although Social Security administers the supplemental payment, so if you're eligible you'll receive one combined SSI check. The exact amount varies by living arrangement, as you can see in the table below.

If your spouse also has a qualifying disability, these numbers may be slightly different. For more information, see Social Security's Publication EN-05-11106, Supplemental Security Income in Nevada. Residents are also automatically eligible for Medicaid from the State of Nevada when they are approved for SSI.

Do I Need to Find a Disability Lawyer?

You don't need to have an attorney for any stage of the disability process, but it's generally a good idea to get one, especially if you need to appeal a denial or attend a hearing. Many large national firms have offices in Nevada, or you might prefer to hire a small local law firm or solo practitioner. Many disability lawyers offer free consultations, so don't hesitate to ask questions until you find a representative who is a good fit for your needs.