Filing for Social Security Disability in Nebraska

Approval and denial rates and contact information for disability-related offices in Nebraska.

If you live in Nebraska and can't work for at least a year, you could be eligible for Social Security disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The average SSDI payment in Nebraska is $1,037 and the average SSI payment in Nebraska is $488 (more on this below).

Where Disability Claims Are Decided in Nebraska

When you apply for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI or SSI) in Nebraska, your claim will be sent to a state agency in Lincoln called Disability Determinations Services (DDS). The DDS comes under the Nebraska Department of Education's Vocational Rehabilitation department.

At the Lincoln DDS, a disability claims examiner will decide whether you are medically disabled. If the claims examiner denies your claim, you'll have to file a reconsideration review, which asks a different claims examiner at DDS to review the file. If the reconsideration is again denied (most are), you'll need to file a request for a hearing with Social Security. From then on, your claim will be handled by Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) in Omaha. You'll find contact information and approval statistics for these offices below.

Approvals and Denials by Nebraska DDS and OHO

In Nebraska, your chance of having DDS approve your initial disability application is 41%, which is higher than the national average. After attending a disability hearing, you have a 49% chance of having the administrative law judge (ALJ) approve your disability benefits, which is also higher than the national average.

Stage of Application

Nebraska

Nationally

Initial Application Approval

41%

35%

Reconsideration Approval

11%

13%

Hearing Approval

49%

45%

Hearing Wait Time

13 months

18 months

Nebraska Disability Determination Services

When you apply through the Grand Island, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha, or Scottsbluff Social Security field offices, your claim is sent to the Omaha DDS. Here is the contact information for that agency.

Nebraska Disability Determinations Services
P.O. Box 82530
Lincoln, Nebraska 68501-2530
800-331-5616

Nebraska Hearing Offices

If you request a hearing, it will be held at the hearing office in Omaha. The wait time for a hearing in Nebraska is 13 months, which is shorter than the national average.

Here is the contact information.

Omaha Hearing Office
Exec Center, Suite 500
1000 N 90th Street
Omaha, NE 68114
Telephone: (888) 881-4633
Fax: (402) 398-1557

Nebraska Supplement to SSI

The maximum federal monthly SSI payment is $771 in 2019, but not many SSI recipients in Nebraska receive this amount. Your monthly payment will be lowered if you have any income, from work or otherwise. And Nebraska pays a small state supplement payment to its residents who receive SSI. The payment ranges from $51 for those living independently (whose rent cost is above a certain amount) to $1,200 for those living in assisted living (depending on the cost of the facility). The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) administers the payment. To find out the amount of the payment you qualify for, ask a Health and Human Services caseworker at the DHHS or ACCESSNebraska.

Nebraska Rehabilitation Services

For Nebraskans who want to try to return to work but need help, Nebraska's Vocational Rehabilitation office offers vocational services such as counseling, job placement, and help with accommodations. For more information and contact information for your local office, visit the VR website at www.vr.nebraska.gov or call 800-472-3382.

Disability Lawyers in Nebraska

If you are denied benefits by Nebraska DDS and want to appeal, you should consider hiring a lawyer to represent you at your ALJ hearing. Most disability claimants bring a disability lawyer to their hearing because their chance of winning benefits at a hearing is significantly higher with an attorney. To find a local attorney, fill out our form below.

Updated August 29, 2019

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