Filing for Disability in Arizona: Social Security and SSI

Arizona no longer offers a state supplement to the federal SSI disability payment administered by Social Security.

Filing for Social Security disability in Arizona is much the same as in other states, since Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are federal programs, but a couple of things are different in Arizona, including:

  • how long a claim takes to be decided, and
  • how many disability claims are approved.

We discuss these differences in this article along with contact information for the various disability-related offices in Arizona.

How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits in Arizona?

There are three ways to apply for disability: online, in person at an Arizona field office, and by telephone.

Online applications. Online applications are available for all applicants, although Social Security will contact SSI applicants to finish their applications offline). To apply online, visit www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm.

Applications by telephone. You can apply for disability benefits by phone at (800) 772-1213 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). If you are deaf or hearing impaired, call (800) 325-0778.

Local field offices. You can contact information for the Arizona Social Security field offices below. Before you go, you should call Social Security to schedule an appointment at the field office.

After you submit your application, Social Security sends it to Disability Determination Services (DDS), a state agency run by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). DDS decides whether you are medically disabled or not.

How Do I Appeal if My Initial Application has Been Denied?

Arizona's appeal process has four steps: reconsideration, request for a hearing, Appeals Council, and federal court.

Step 1: Reconsideration. If the Arizona DDS denies your initial application for disability, you have 60 days from when you receive the denial to ask for a reconsideration of your claim. A different claims examiner at DDS will review your claim.

Step 2: Hearing. If the DDS examiner denies your reconsideration, you can request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge (ALJ). Hearings are held at the hearing office located nearest to your field office (see below for contact information).

Step 4: Appeals Council. If the ALJ denies your claim at the hearing level, you have 60 days from the date you receive the denial to appeal to the Appeals Council (AC).

Step 5: Federal court. If the AC decides not to review your claim or denies your claim, you can appeal to the federal district court in Arizona. The district court hears cases in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Prescott, Tucson, and Yuma.

What Are My Chances of Getting Approved for Disability in Arizona?

The Arizona DDS approved just 31% of disability claims at the initial application level over the past year. The DDS approved 13% of denied claims at the reconsideration level during the same time period.

Not everyone who is denied at the reconsideration level appeals, but those who do wait an average of 9 months from the time the request for hearing is filed to the date the case is decided by an ALJ.

On appeal, Arizona ALJs awarded benefits in 51% of the cases they heard, on average in 2021-2022. Judges in Phoenix, however, awarded benefits in only 46% of cases, while judges in Tucson awarded benefits in 61% of cases.

Stage of Application

Arizona

Nationally

Approval After Initial Application

31%

36%

Approval After Reconsideration Review

13%

13%

Approval After Appeal Hearing

51%

51%

Hearing Wait Time

9 months

10 months

How Much Will It Cost to Get My Medical Records?

Arizona law allows healthcare providers to charge a "reasonable fee" to provide you with copies of your medical records. It can sometimes speed up your claim to order your own medical records and submit them after you apply.

How Much SSI Will I Receive in Arizona?

Although some states provide a cash supplement to SSI recipients, Arizona no longer pays a supplement. So in Arizona, if you're approved for SSI, you will receive only the federal amount of $841 a month (in 2022), or less if you have any countable income.

Where Is Arizona's DDS Office?

Here is the contact information for Arizona's two DDS locations:

Disability Determination Services - Phoenix Office
4000 North Central Avenue, Suite 1800
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Telephone: (602) 771-7100

Disability Determination Services - Tucson Office
5441 East 22nd Street
Suite 135
Tucson, Arizona 85711
Telephone: (520) 790-2580

Where Are Arizona's Hearing Offices?

Hearings are held at Social Security's Offices of Hearing Operations (formerly the Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review). Arizona has three hearing offices located throughout the state. The hearing office schedules and conducts the hearings and manages the case file once it gets to the hearing level. Below is the contact information for each office and a list of the areas they serve.

Phoenix

Siete Square, Suite 200
3737 North 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Phone: (888) 748-1991
Fax: (833) 365-0283

This ODAR serves Apache Junction, Chinle, Flagstaff, Mesa, Phoenix (Downtown), and Tuba City.

Phoenix North

18444 North 25th Avenue, Suite 430
Phoenix, AZ 85023
Phone: (877) 784-3690
Fax: (833) 676-0149

This hearing office serves Colorado River Basin, Glendale, Phoenix (North), and Prescott.

Tucson

Rio Nuevo Professional Plaza, Suite 265
201 N. Bonita Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85745
Phone: (888) 383-8694
Fax: (833) 365-0285

This hearing office serves Casa Grande, Douglas, Globe, Nogales, Safford, Sells, Show Low, and all field offices in Tucson.

Where Are the Social Security Field Offices in Arizona?

Social Security operates the following fields offices in Arizona. If a field office does not list its direct telephone number, call the SSA at (800) 325-0778 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday for contact information.

Apache Junction Office

253 W Superstition Blvd
Apache Junction, AZ 85120
Local Phone: (866) 964-7417
Hearing Office: Phoenix

Casa Grande Office

Suite 2
1637 E Monument Plz Cr
Casa Grande, DE, AZ 85122
Local Phone: (520) 836-4887
Hearing Office: Tucson

Chinle Office

Tseyi Shopping Center
Hwy 191 Bay E and F
Chinle, AZ 86503
Local Phone: (877) 405-0476
Hearing Office: Tucson

Douglas Office

600 E 15th St
Douglas, AZ 85607
Local Phone: (520) 364-1241
Hearing Office: Phoenix

Flagstaff Office

Suite 130
2715 S Woodlands Village B
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Hearing Office: Phoenix North

Glendale Office

5907 W Kings Ave
Glendale, AZ 85306
Local Phone: (623) 298-4129
Hearing Office: Phoenix

Globe Office

1405 E Ash St
Globe, AZ 85501
Hearing Office: Tucson

Mesa Office

702 W Jerome Avenue
Mesa, AZ 85210
Local Phone: (480) 649-0002
Hearing Office: Phoenix

Nogales Office

1760 N Mastick Way
Nogales, AZ 85621
Hearing Office: Tucson

Phoenix Downtown Office

Suite 100
250 N Seventh Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Hearing Office: Phoenix

Phoenix North Office

16241 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite B
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Hearing Office: Phoenix North

Prescott Office

205 N Marina
Prescott, AZ 86301
Hearing Office: Phoenix North

Safford Office

650 South 14th Avenue
Safford, AZ 85546
Hearing Office: Tucson

Sells Office

Suite 100
88 W 38th St
Tucson, AZ 85713
Hearing Office: Tucson

Show Low Office

2500 East Cooley, Suite 407
Show Low, AZ 85901
Hearing Office: Phoenix

Tuba City Office

1010 Main Street
Tuba City, AZ 86045
Local Phone: 888-810-7609
Hearing Office: Phoenix

Tucson Office

3808 North 1st Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85719
Hearing Office: Tucson

Tucson (South) Office

Suite 100
88 W 38th St
Tucson, AZ 85713
Hearing Office: Tucson

Yuma Office

Suite 1
325 West 19th Street
Yuma, AZ 85365
Hearing Office: Tucson

Arizona Rehabilitation Services

Arizona offers rehabilitation services through the DES. The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program assists disabled and blind individuals with employment services, access to assistive technology, and services to help disabled individuals live as independently as possible. For more information, visit the VR website.

Updated June 9, 2022

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