Filing for Disability in the District of Columbia

D.C. approval rates for Social Security and SSI disability and SSI supplemental payments.

By , J.D. · University of Baltimore School of Law

Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are federal programs; however, the District of Columbia (D.C.) differs in the amount of SSI a person can receive and how long a claim takes to be decided.

Disability Approval Rates in D.C.

D.C.'s Disability Determination Division (DDD) is the department that makes medical disability decisions for Social Security in D.C. A claims examiner from DDD will probably contact you after he or she receives your file.

The Disability Determination Division approved 38% of disability claims at the initial application level in 2018/2019. At the first level of appeal, the reconsideration, another 12% of claims were approved by the D.C. DDD.

After the second level of appeal, the hearing, D.C.'s administrative law judges (ALJs) awarded benefits in 45% of the appeals they heard. However, it took an average of 18 months from the time the request for hearing was filed to the date the case was decided by an ALJ.

D.C.

Nationally

Initial Application Approval

38%

35%

Reconsideration Approval

12%

13%

Hearing Approval

45%

45%

Hearing Wait Time

18 months

16 months

D.C.'s Disability Determination Division

The Department on Disability Services administers D.C.'s Disability Determination Division (DDD). The contact information for DDD is:

Disability Determination Division
1125 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Phone: (202) 730-1700

OHO Location in D.C.

The District of Columbia has one Social Security hearing office that services all of its field offices. The hearing office is called the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). Once you request a hearing, you should direct your questions to the hearing office. Here is its contact information:

DC Hearing Office
1125 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 866-414-6259
FAX: 202-254-0634

How Much SSI Will I Receive in D.C.?

D.C. provides a supplementary payment to the federal SSI payment for people living in adult foster homes who are eligible for SSI. Adult foster care homes consist of Certified Residential Facilities (CRFs) and Adult Living Facilities (ALFs). To qualify, the income limit for individuals is $1,206; for couples it is $2,412.

The amount of optional supplement depends on the living situation of the recipient:

  • An individual adult living in an adult foster home with less than 50 beds will receive a combined (federal plus D.C.) SSI payment of $1,411.
  • A couple living in an adult foster home with less than 50 beds will receive a combined SSI payment of $2,793.
  • An individual adult living in an adult foster home with more than 50 beds will receive a combined (federal plus D.C.) of $1,521.
  • A couple living in an adult foster home with less than 50 beds will receive a combined (federal plus D.C.) of $3,013.

The supplemental payment is administered jointly by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF). You can apply at your SSA field office or the DHCF. You can locate your SSA field office using Social Security's field office locator. The DHCF is located at 899 North Capitol Street, Suite 6037.

Rehabilitation Services

D.C.'s Department on Disability Services also offers assistance for disabled residents to help foster independence in the community and workplace. This office provides vocational rehabilitation services, including specialized programs for visually impaired people designed to encourage entrepreneurship.

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