How to Get Disability Benefits in Maryland

Maryland residents who have a medical impairment that prevents them from working full-time for at least one year may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). While the rules and regulations governing who is eligible for disability benefits are made at the federal level, each state processes its own SSDI and SSI claims, meaning that approval rates and waiting times can vary between them.

So if you live in Maryland and are thinking about applying for SSDI or SSI, you should become familiar with state-specific aspects of the disability determination process that can impact how quickly you receive benefits and how much you'll receive if you're awarded. Knowing how to contact the correct offices with updated medical information can help speed up the process and increase your chances of a successful claim.

How to File for Social Security Disability in Maryland

Applying for disability is a fairly straightforward process. There are three different ways you can complete the application for SSDI or SSI benefits.

• Use Social Security's convenient online application tool. (Before you start, you may first want to read our article with tips for applying online.)
• Call the national hotline at (800) 772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 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.
• Visit your local Social Security field office to complete a paper disability application. There are over 20 field offices located throughout Maryland.

For more 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 Benefit Should I Apply For, SSDI or SSI?

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 ("non-medical 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 Decides Whether I'm Disabled in Maryland?

After your Social Security field office gets your application, they'll first make sure that you meet the technical qualifications to receive benefits. Your file is then passed on to a claims examiner at the Maryland Disability Determination Services (DDS), who reviews your records with help from a medical consultant and decide whether you're disabled.

In recent years, the average time it takes for examiners at Maryland's DDS to make an initial disability determination is 200 days, or about 6.5 months. (Source: Staffing, Productivity, and Processing Times at State Disability Determination Services, July 2025.) If you have questions about the status of your claim, you can call Maryland DDS at 800-492-4283, or visit the DDS webpage for information about the mailing address and physical location of the office.

What Are My Chances of Getting Disability in Maryland?

Individually, your chances of getting disability increase the more medical documents you have. You'll need to show that you have one or more severe impairments that either meet a listing or make you unable to work at any job. Any medical condition can be disabling with enough evidence. (For more information, check out our article on what conditions qualify for Social Security disability benefits.)

Below you can find a breakdown of the most commonly awarded (for SSDI) impairments in Maryland by body system:

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

Statistically, Maryland DDS approves 43.8% of disability applications at the initial level, above the national average of 38.3%. Maryland residents who aren't awarded benefits on their first try are approved following reconsideration (the next stage of review by a DDS examiner) 18.2% of the time, again higher than the national average of 15.9%.

Even though Maryland residents have a higher-than-average chance of getting their disability claim approved at the state level, that still means that 38% of applicants will need to request a disability hearing if they wish to continue seeking benefits. For the fiscal year ending July 2025, administrative law judges handling Maryland disability claims issued 6,579 decisions on disability claims. 4,003 of those decisions resulted in either fully or partially favorable outcomes, for an approval rate of about 60%.

Where Are the Social Security Hearing Offices in Maryland?

If you've been denied after reconsideration and you wish to continue with your claim, you have 60 days to request a disability hearing. Once you've submitted your hearing request, your file is transferred from Maryland's DDS over to one of the four Social Security Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) locations that serve the state. Each OHO office schedules and conducts the hearings for claims coming from its field offices. You can find the contact information for the OHOs below.

On average, it takes about seven months between the time that you request a hearing and the date your hearing is held. At the hearing, the judge will ask you questions about your medical condition and your daily activities to determine what functional limitations may keep you from working. The judge will likely take testimony from a vocational expert to determine whether any jobs exist that you can still do despite your limitations. Once the hearing is over, you should receive a written decision within six to eight weeks.

How Much Does Maryland Pay in SSDI or SSI?

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. Below is a chart showing the distribution of SSDI benefit amounts for Maryland residents:

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

SSI payments are set annually by the federal government at a flat monthly rate ($967 in 2025) that's decreased if you have additional income. For seniors (62 years of age and older) who qualify for SSI and require extra care, Maryland provides a state supplement of about $1,000 per month called the Senior Assisted Living Subsidy. SSI recipients in Maryland may also be eligible for Temporary Cash Assistance, Temporary Disability Assistance, or other state services. For more information or to apply online, visit Maryland's Department of Human Services website.

Short-Term Disability and Vocational Rehab in Maryland

Social Security doesn't award disability benefits for health conditions that last for less than one year. So if you're expecting to return to work within the year and you have private short-term disability insurance, you might consider filing a claim with your insurer instead. Most employer-provided short-term disability 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.

If you're coming off of short-term disability benefits and need help readjusting to employment or you're on Social Security benefits and want to re-enter the workforce, Maryland offers vocational rehabilitation services through its Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). DORS assists disabled individuals with training, job placement and life skills. For more information, visit the DORS website.

How Can I Get Help with My Disability Claim?

If you've been denied Social Security benefits in Maryland—or have questions about your current claim—you may want to consider contacting an experienced disability attorney for advice. Your chances of winning are much higher if you're represented by a 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.