How to Get Disability Benefits in Florida

According to recent data from the Social Security Administration, about 651,872 Florida residents aged 18-64 receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—4.9% of the state's population. While applying for these federal benefits doesn't change depending on where in the country you live, each state varies in how many claims are approved at the initial, reconsideration, and hearing stages of review.

Floridians with health conditions that keep them from working full-time should be aware of the disability agencies and offices specific to the Sunshine State. Knowing how Florida handles applications at the state level and beyond can help you increase your chances of a successful claim through any necessary appeals.

How to File for Disability in Florida

Applying for SSDI or SSI benefits is a fairly straightforward process, and the methods are the same whether you live in Florida or elsewhere. You can submit your application in several ways:

• Use the application tool provided on Social Security's secure website. Before you start, you may first want to read our article with tips for applying online.
• Call Social Security's national number at 800-772-1213 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to speak with a representative. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• File in person at one of the 54 Social Security field offices in Florida. Offices are typically open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but you may need to make an appointment.

For more comprehensive details, including what personal information you should have on hand when you apply, check out our article on filing a disability claim with Social Security.

Which Disability Program Should I Apply For?

SSDI and SSI—also referred to as Title II and Title XVI—are the two types of disability benefits provided by Social Security. Although the agency's definition of disability is the same for both programs, each benefit has its own preliminary eligibility criteria ("technical qualifications") that you must satisfy in order to legally receive payment.

For SSDI, this means having enough work credits to be insured under the program on the date you became disabled. (Work credits are earned by paying into the program through payroll or self-employment taxes.) SSI, on the other hand, is a needs-based benefit available to people with limited income and resources, regardless of work history. You can file for both programs and let Social Security figure out which ones you qualify for, but you must be financially eligible to receive at least one of the two benefits.

Who Makes Disability Determinations in Florida?

Once Social Security receives your application, they'll first make sure that you meet the technical qualifications for receiving benefits. Your file is then passed on to the Florida Division of Disability Determinations (DDD) where a claims examiner, with help from a medical consultant, will review your records and decide whether you're disabled.

There are eight DDD offices throughout the state of Florida. You can find the contact information for each office below:

At the initial application stage, the DDD approves about 36.6% of claims in Florida. This approval rating is slightly lower than the national average disability approval rate for initial applications, which is around 38%. If you're not satisfied with the determination that is made by the Florida DDD, you have 60 days to appeal the decision.

What Is the Disability Appeals Process?

The first step in appealing a disability denial is to request reconsideration. At the reconsideration stage, a new reviewer at DDD who didn't take part in the initial decision will look at your entire application and any new evidence that you've submitted to make another disability determination. Florida's DDD approves about 15% of claims following reconsideration, so you'll most likely have to appeal again by asking for a hearing with an administrative law judge.

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. For fiscal year 2025, judges heard 18,981 disability hearings in Florida and issued fully or partially favorable decisions in 11,742 of those cases, resulting in an approval rating of about 60%.

If you get an unfavorable decision from the judge at your hearing, you can ask the Appeals Council to review the decision. However, the council only reviews decisions where the judge made a reversible error, meaning the decision wasn't supported by evidence in your medical record or contained procedural problems. If you're denied again, you can file a lawsuit in a Florida federal district court. You can take this step only after you've tried all other appeals.

How Can I Contact the Disability Hearing Office in Florida?

Once you request a disability hearing, your claim passes from examiners at the Florida DDS office to Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations, or "OHO", where your case will be assigned to a judge at one of the eight branches serving Florida. (When checking your application status, you should contact the office that is handling your claim at that stage of appeal, either DDD or OHO.) You can find contact information for each OHO below.

As of August 2025, the average wait time from when you request your hearing until the date your hearing is held in Florida OHOs is approximately 8 months.

What Conditions Qualify for Disability in Florida?

Any severe impairment may qualify you for disability benefits, provided that you have enough medical evidence to show that you either meet a listing or are unable to work at any job. In Florida, some of the most commonly awarded impairments are mental illnesses (such as anxiety or depression), musculoskeletal conditions (like back pain), and nervous system disorders (for example, diabetic neuropathy).

The chart below illustrates the percentage of SSDI recipients in Florida who were found disabled based on the most commonly awarded medical conditions.

_{Source: Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2023}

For more information, check out our article on what conditions qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

How Much Does Florida Pay in Disability Benefits?

Because SSDI and SSI are federal benefits, the amount you'll receive doesn't change from state to state. SSDI payments are particularly tailored to each beneficiary since they're calculated based on your individual earnings record, which can vary significantly between each person. SSI payments are set annually by the federal government at a flat monthly rate that's decreased if you have additional income.

_{Source: Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2023}

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. In Florida, this program is called Optional State Supplementation (OSS). Depending on whether you're residing in an adult family care home, assisted living, Medicaid facility, or mental health residential facility, you may receive up to several hundred dollars per month in addition to the federal benefit rate. You can contact the Florida Department of Children and Families for information on applying for OSS.

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 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:

Florida Department of Education
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (800) 451-4327
Website: www.rehabworks.org

Some workers with disabilities can benefit from their legally protected right to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. These accommodations can include time off work or schedule changes as long as they don't impose an "undue burden" on your employer.

Short-Term Disability in Florida

The Social Security Administration doesn't award temporary disability benefits for medical conditions that last for less than one year. If you're expecting to return to work within the year and you have private short-term disability coverage, you might consider filing a claim with your insurer instead of applying for Social Security benefits. Most employer-provided short-term disability insurance will pay you a certain percentage of your average wages for a time (typically weeks or months) due to an illness or injury you incurred off the job. For more information, check out our article on preparing and filing your short-term disability claim.

Do I Need a Florida Lawyer to Help Get Disability?

You aren't obligated to hire an attorney at any stage of the disability determination process, but it's generally a good idea, especially if you've been denied benefits by the Florida DDD and want to appeal the decision. Your chances of winning are much higher if you're represented by an experienced lawyer who can help you strengthen your case and represent you at a hearing.

If you're worried about the cost of hiring a lawyer (as many disability claimants are), it may help to know that disability attorneys typically work on contingency, meaning they don't get paid unless and until you win your claim. Many also offer free consultations, so it doesn't hurt to ask around until you find a lawyer who's a good fit for you.