Filing for Disability in Idaho

Residents of Idaho who become disabled can apply for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The application process is the same as elsewhere, but the approval rates are unique to Idaho, as are its state supplemental payments for SSI recipients, vocational rehabilitation services, and the state agency that makes the initial disability determinations for Idahoans.

Below is a review of the aspects of the disability program that are specific to Idaho.

How Do I Apply for and Get Disability Benefits in Idaho?

You can apply for disability benefits online or through a local Social Security field office. At the field office (or over the phone), a claims representative will review your application to make sure you've met all of the technical requirements for benefits (such as the work history requirements for SSDI or the income limits for SSI).

If you meet the technical requirements, the claims rep will send your application to a claims examiner at Idaho's Disability Determinations Services (DDS), a state agency, for a medical decision to be made on your records.

Idaho has one DDS office. Here is the contact information for that office—you can call the office for an update on the status of your application.

Idaho DDS
317 W Main Street
Boise, Idaho 83735
Telephone: 208-327-7333

What Do I Need to File an SSDI or SSI Claim?

Here is some of the basic information you'll need to apply:

• your contact information, birth date, and Social Security number
• if married, your spouse's name, birth date, Social Security number, and the date of marriage
• the date of any divorces
• the name and age of your children, if any
• contact information for your doctors and any clinics or hospitals you've visited
• the date of the last day you worked
• your dates of employment over the last five years and your employers' names
• the type of work you performed over the last five years
• your total income for each of the last three years, and
• your bank account information (for direct deposit).

For more information, read our article on how to fill out a disability application for Social Security disability.

What Happens If My Claim Is Denied?

If the claims examiner at Idaho DDS denies your claim, you can ask that a different claims examiner reconsider it (this is the first level of appeal). You do this by filing a reconsideration request.

If your claim is denied again, you can request a hearing by filing a request for a hearing with an administrative law judge. The DDS will then send your file to the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO), a branch of Social Security where a judge will decide your case at a disability hearing.

Idaho has a small hearing office in Boise that is a "satellite" of the OHO in Billings, Montana. But since Idaho doesn't have its own main in-state hearing office, some Idaho cases are heard at the Billings, Montana hearing office and the Spokane, Washington hearing office.

Below is the contact information for the three OHOs that handle Idaho disability appeals.

Boise OHO (Satellite Office)
720 East Park Boulevard, Suite 275
Boise, ID 83712-9902
Telephone: (866) 826-3892

The Boise OHO services some claims from field offices in Boise, Caldwell, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Twin Falls.

Billings OHO
2900 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 500
Billings, MT 59101-1266
Telephone: (877) 545-5512

The Billings OHO services some claims from field offices in Boise, Caldwell, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Twin Falls.

Spokane OHO
714 N Iron Bridge Way, Ste 200
Spokane, Washington 99202
Telephone: (888) 253-3903

The Spokane OHO services the field offices in Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston.

Before your hearing, check for address and phone number changes with Social Security's hearing office locator.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Decision on a Disability Claim in Idaho?

It takes about four to six months to get an initial decision from Idaho's DDS. If your claim is denied, it will likely take another three to five months to get an answer on your request for reconsideration.

If you get turned down a second time and have to go to a disability hearing, you're less than halfway done. In 2023, it's taking an average of 18 months to get a hearing, from the time you file a request for hearing until the date the case is decided by an ALJ. (Hearing wait times are based on statistics from the Billings and Spokane hearing offices.)

What Are My Chances of Approval for Disability Benefits in Idaho?

In Idaho, the chances of being approved for benefits at the initial application stage (43%) and the reconsideration stage (17%) are higher than the national average (38% and 15%, respectively).

But at the hearing stage, the average rate of approval (52%) is slightly less than the national average (57%). This may be due to the fact that so many claims are approved at the initial application stage in Idaho (meaning that fewer claims have to be overturned on appeal).

Below is an overview of the approval rates and wait times in Idaho compared to the rest of the nation.

*Hearing approval rates and wait times are based on statistics from the Spokane and Billings hearing offices.

Source: ALJ Disposition Data Fiscal Year 2023 and Average Wait Time Until Hearing, June 2023 (Social Security).

How Much Are Disability Benefits in Idaho?

The average SSDI payment in Idaho is $1,540 per month, but some people receive up to $3,600, depending on their income. (And widows and disabled adult children receive less.) (Read more about how Social Security calculates your SSDI payment.)

For SSI, in 2023, the federal government provides the following monthly benefits to SSI disability recipients with no other income:

However, the average SSI payment in Idaho is only $564. Most people receive less than the maximum because the amount of SSI depends on whether the recipient receives free room and board or has other income.

Does Idaho Have an SSI State Supplement?

Idaho makes a small extra payment to some people who receive SSI, to supplement the monthly benefit paid by the federal government. The Idaho State Department of Health and Welfare administers the state supplement, under the Aid for Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) program.

Idaho pays a maximum of $53 in AABD payments to individuals who are living independently or in someone else's household (the amount can be adjusted if you have additional income). The amount of the supplement for a person living in a group or residential care facility is based on the living arrangement type and the cost, but the bulk of the payment must go to the facility.

Is Disability Income Taxable in Idaho?

Idaho exempts 100% of Social Security benefits and SSI benefits from a resident's tax liability. That means the state doesn't tax SSDI or SSI payments.

For people with higher incomes, the federal government will tax a portion of their SSDI benefits. But the IRS does not tax SSI benefits.

Are There Services in Idaho That Can Help Me Return to Work?

The Idaho Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR) can help with job evaluation, training, placement, and retention for people who want to and are able to return to some kind of work. People who are receiving Social Security disability benefits or SSI and are looking for employment services are automatically eligible for services through IDVR.

To apply, you should contact your local IDVR office to set up an appointment. Below is the contact information for the central IDVR office; IDVR also has offices in Boise, Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Pocatello, and Twin Falls.

Central Office
650 W. State Street
Room 150
Boise, Idaho 83720
Telephone: (208) 334-3390

Get More Information on Filing for Disability

If you'd like to find out more about getting disability and what to expect during the application process, check out these articles:

• Do You Qualify for Disability Benefits? (Take our quiz.)
• How to Get Financial Assistance While Waiting on Disability
• Can You Work While Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits?
• Who's Most Likely to Get Approved for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Other Sources:
_{Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2021
Annual Statistical Supplement, 2022}