Filing for Disability in Florida: Social Security and SSI

Filing for disability in Florida is much like filing in any state because Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are federal programs. But there are variations between the states on how they handle the application process and payment of disability benefits, as well as how many claims they approve.

Here is some information on Florida's state supplemental payment for SSI, vocational rehabilitation services in Florida, and contact information for the disability determination and hearing offices in Florida outlined below.

What Is the Disability Application Process in Florida?

You can apply for SSDI and SSI by contacting any of the 54 Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices in Florida or by filling out an online disability application at the Social Security website.

Once Social Security receives the application, they send it to the Division of Disability Determinations (DDD) agency, which is under the Florida Department of Health. A claims examiner and medical consultant (doctor) at DDD will review the application and make a decision regarding whether or not you'll receive disability benefits.

At the initial application stage, the DDD approves only 34% of individuals in Florida. This approval rating is slightly lower than the national average disability approval rate for initial applications, which was recently 36%. Here are some statistics for the approval rates at the initial application stage and each level of appeal.

Stage of Application	Florida	Nationally
Approval After Initial Application	34%	36%
Approval After Reconsideration Review	11%	13%
Approval After Appeal Hearing	57%	51%
Hearing Wait Time	16 months	10 months

What Is the Appeals Process in Florida?

If you're not satisfied with the determination that is made by the Florida DDD, you have the right to appeal the decision. In Florida, there are four parts to the appeal process.

What Is Reconsideration?

At the reconsideration stage, a new reviewer at DDD who did not take part in the initial decision on your case will look at your entire application and any new evidence that you've submitted.

At the reconsideration stage in Florida, the DDD approves only 11% of the initially denied claims. This is slightly below the national average for approvals at the reconsideration level.

Will I Win My Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing?

If you're not satisfied with the decision after reconsideration, you have the right to a disability hearing before an ALJ. The ALJ will review your application and any new evidence that you've submitted. (Learn more about the disability hearing.)

Many cases are won at the hearing stage, as it's usually the first opportunity for the person making the decision regarding your case to see and speak with you. In Florida, the approval rating at the disability hearing stage is 57%. This is above the national average approval rating of 51%. The chance of approval increases if you hire a disability attorney to represent you at the hearing.

What Is the Appeals Council?

If you get an "unfavorable" decision (a denial) from the ALJ, you have the right to appeal to the Social Security Appeals Council. The Appeals Council (AC) makes a decision on your case only if the AC judges believe that your case was decided incorrectly, meaning the decision made was not supported by evidence in your medical record or there were procedural problems.

Can I Sue in Federal Court If I Lose at the Appeals Council?

If your case isn't reviewed by the Appeals Council, or the AC doesn't overturn the ALJ's decision, you may choose to file a lawsuit in federal court in Florida district court. You can take this step only after you've tried all other appeals steps.

What Are the Supplemental Payments for SSI in Florida?

In 2022, the federal government provides the following monthly benefits to SSI disability recipients who live on their own and have no other income:

	Federal Monthly SSI Benefit
Individual	$841
Couple	$1,261

While the federal government pays the bulk of the monthly benefit, states have the option to pay additional monthly benefits to individuals in their state. This program is called Optional State Supplementation (OSS).

Florida has chosen to pay additional monies only to individuals living in community care programs (also known as family care homes) or Medicaid facilities (nursing facilities for which Medicaid pays more than 50% of the cost).

The 2022 payments from Florida are outlined below.

Type of Living Arrangement	Florida Monthly Supplemental Payments
Adult Family Care Home
Individual	$78.40
Couple	$156.80
Assisted Living
Individual	$78.40
Couple	$156.80
Medicaid Facility
Individual	$5
Couple	$10
Mental Health Residential Facility
Individual	$239
Couple	$487

Contact Florida's Department of Children and Families for information on applying for Florida's Optional State Supplementation.

How Can I Receive Vocational Rehabilitation Services?

Often individuals with impairments want to attempt to return to work but are in need of job retraining to return to work successfully. In Florida, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) under the Florida Department of Education is the government office that helps individuals to prepare for, get, and keep jobs.

You can apply at your local VR office to receive services. Below is the contact information for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation:

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Florida Department of Education
Tallahassee, FL 323201
Phone: (800) 451-4327
Website: www.rehabworks.org

How Do I Contact the DDD in Florida?

The Division of Disability Determinations is the office that will initially review your application and determine whether you will receive benefits. In Florida, the DDD is divided into eight offices throughout the state. Below are the telephone numbers for each area office in case you want to check the status of your claim.

Central Area 1

(850) 487-1363

Central Area 2

(850) 488-9150

Central Area 3

(850) 487-0625

Jacksonville Area

(904) 390-4600

Miami Area

(305) 596-3020

Orlando Area

(407) 897-2970

Pensacola Area

(850) 475-5440

Tampa Area

(813) 806-8950

How Can I Contact the Disability Hearing Office in Florida?

The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO), formerly known as the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), has eight locations in Florida. Here is their contact information:

Fort Lauderdale

500 East Broward Blvd.
Suite 1000, 10th Floor
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33394
Phone: (888) 436-2637
Fax: (954) 789-0409

Services the following Social Security field offices: Belle Glade, Delray Beach, Ft. Lauderdale (East & West), Melbourne, North Broward, Pembroke Pines, Port St. Lucie, South Broward, Sunrise, Vero Beach, and W. Palm Beach

Fort Myers

3650 Colonial Blvd.
Suite 210, 2nd Floor
Ft. Myers, FL 33966
Phone: (888) 462-1109
Fax: (833) 702-0721

Services the following field offices: Ft Myers, Naples, and Port Charlotte

Jacksonville

DeSoto Building, Suite 400
8880 Freedom Crossing Trail
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
Phone: (866) 931-0124
Fax: (833) 659-0423

Services the following field offices: Deland, Gainesville, Jacksonville North and South, Lake City, Port Orange, and St. Augustine

Miami

One Riverview Square
333 S. Miami Avenue, 8th Floor
Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (866) 964-5052
Fax: (833) 968-1652

Services the following field offices: Allapattah, Hialeah, Key West, Little Havanna, Little River, Miami Beach, Miami North, Miami South, Perrine, and the office at Jackson Memorial Hospital

Orlando

Glenridge Building, Suite 300
3505 Lake Lynda Drive
Orlando, Florida 32817-9801
Phone: (877) 833-2730
Fax: (833) 616-0130

Services the following field offices: Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Leesburg, Ocala, and Orlando

St. Petersburg

830 Central Ave, 2nd Floor
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (877) 452-4193
Fax: (833) 956-1138

Services the following field offices: Bradenton, Clearwater, New Port Richey, Sarasota, St Petersburg, and Venice

Tallahassee

1961 Quail Grove Lane, 2nd floor
Tallahassee, Florida 32311
Phone: (888) 472-5996
Fax: (833) 953-2166

Services the following field offices: Marianna, Panama City, and Tallahassee

Tampa

Fountain Square II, Suite 200
4925 Independence Parkway
Tampa, Florida 33634
Phone: (855) 248-0239
Fax: (833) 789-0407

Services the following field offices: Carrollwood, Dade City, Lakeland, Sebring, Seffner, Tampa, and Winter Haven

Mobile, Alabama

550 Government St., Suite 200
Mobile, Alabama 36602
Phone: (866) 563-4698
Fax: (833) 968-1656

Services the Ft. Walton Beach and Pensacola field offices (in addition to Alabama field offices).

_{Updated June 29, 2022}