Filing For Disability In West Virginia

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the office that administers Social Security and SSI disability benefits throughout the country. In addition, West Virginia plays a part in the disability process for its residents, through its Disability Determination Section, which falls under West Virginia's Division of Rehabilitation Services. Here is some state-specific information about applying for disability benefits in West Virginia.

Disability Benefits Statistics in West Virginia

In West Virginia, DDS approves only 25% of individuals for disability benefits at the initial application stage. This is lower than the national average approval rate of 32%. At the reconsideration stage, another 8% of previously denied individuals are approved for benefits, compared to 11% nationally. At the hearing stage, West Virginia has the same approval rating as the national average (58%).

The wait time for a disability appeal hearing in West Virginia is also very close to the national average; in West Virginia, you will have to wait an average of 385 days for a hearing.

No SSI State Supplement in West Virginia

Unlike most other states, West Virginia does not offer a state supplementary payment to SSI (additional money over and above the monthly payment from the federal government).

Cost for Copying Medical Records in West Virginia

To receive a copy of your medical records to provide to Social Security with your disability application, health care providers may charge you up to $0.75 per page and a search fee of no more than $10. There is no limit on how much your total charge may be.

However, if you meet certain low income requirements, you may be eligible to receive a free copy of your medical records for your Social Security claim. You must provide reasonable proof of your financial inability to pay for the records due to unemployment, disability, income below the federal poverty level, or receipt of state or federal income assistance. Provide this proof to the doctor's office or hospital with your Release of Information form for your medical records. If you meet the above requirements, you are entitled to one free copy of your medical records.

WV Disability Determination Section (DDS)

West Virginia's Disability Determination Section (DDS) is the office that makes the decision regarding whether or not you are disabled, based on an applicant's medical record. West Virginia DDS now uses a “single decision maker” process in making these disability determinations. Generally, when you applied for Social Security benefits, a medical consultant at DDS would have to review the decision made by the DDS disability examiner and sign off on it if he or she agreed. Now, with the single decision maker process, your application and medical records will no longer be reviewed by a medical consultant before a decision is made, unless the application is for a child or someone with a mental disability claim.

West Virginia has one DDS office that makes all disability decisions for West Virginians. The contact information for that office is below.

DDS

1206 Quarrier Street

Charleston, WV 25301

Telephone: 800-642-8207 or 304-766-4600

WV Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) Offices

Social Security's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is the office that processes all Social Security appeals, including SSI disability appeals. If you request a hearing, it will be held at an ODAR office. If you have questions regarding your appeal, contact your local hearing office (ODAR). The contact information for the local hearing offices is below.

Charleston Hearing Office

Suite 100

500 Quarrier Street

Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Telephone: (888) 527-9325

Cover the following local offices: Beckley, Charleston, Logan, Parkersburg, St. Albans, and Williamson

Charlottesville, Virginia Hearing Office

2nd Floor,

1470 Pantops Mountain Place

Charlottesville, Virginia 22911

Telephone: (866) 613-2969

Covers the Petersburg Social Security field office

Huntington Hearing Office

301 9th Street, 2nd Floor Annex

Huntington, West Virginia 25701

Telephone: (866) 592-1607

Covers the Huntington Social Security field office

Morgantown Hearing Office

6 Suburban Court

Chestnut Ridge Road

Morgantown, West Virginia 26505

Telephone: (877) 405-9197

Cover the following local offices: Clarksburg, Elkins, Fairmont, Morgantown, and Wheeling

Richmond, Virginia Hearing Office

801 East Main Street

4th Floor

Richmond, Virginia 23219-2406

Telephone: (877) 405-3665

Covers the Martinsburg Social Security field office

Roanoke, Virginia Hearing Office

Second Floor, Suite 200

612 South Jefferson Street

Roanoke, Virginia 24011

Telephone: (866) 592-3548

Cover the Bluefield and Welch Social Security field offices

Vocational Rehabilitation

The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) provides services for those who are disabled to help them prepare to get a job, find a job, and help them to keep that job. To apply vocational rehabilitation, you should contact DRS. To contact DRS, you may call the statewide contact number, call your district office, send a message via the DRS website, or send a request through the mail. The contact information is below.

Statewide Contact Number: 800-642-8207

Website: http://www.wvdrs.org

Mailing Address:
West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services

107 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301-2609

District Offices:

District 1: Charleston

Serving the counties of Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam and Roane

Charleston District & Branch Offices: 304-356-2371

District 2: Clarksburg

Serving the counties of Barbour, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur

Clarksburg District & Branch Offices: 304-842-2951

District 3: Wheeling

Serving the counties of Brooke, Doddridge, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood

Wheeling District and Branch Offices: 304-238-1092

District 4: Beckley

Serving the counties of Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers and Webster

Beckley District & Branch Offices: 304-256-6900

District 5: Huntington

Serving the counties of Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming

Huntington District and Branch Offices: 304-528-5585

District 6: Martinsburg

Serving the counties of Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton

Martinsburg District and Branch Offices: 304-267-0005 or 304-267-0009

Finding a Disability Lawyer in West Virginia

If you've been denied benefits and want to get a lawyer to hep you win your disability hearing, visit our West Virginia disability lawyer page to find a local lawyer with Social Security disability experience.

by: Lorraine Netter, Contributing Author