Filing for Social Security Disability in Nevada

If you become disabled in Nevada, you can apply for Social Security disability benefits through two federal programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Nevada doesn't have a state short-term disability program or a paid family and medical leave program.

While many of the processes for SSDI and SSI are standardized throughout the country, there are some differences among the states, including the amount of the SSI payment, the costs of getting medical records to support your disability claim, disability approval statistics, vocational rehabilitation services, and of course, contact information for disability-related offices.

Who Makes the Disability Decisions in Nevada?

In every state, medical determinations are made by a disability examiner (DE). In Nevada, these disability examiners work for the Bureau of Disability Adjudication (BDA), which is a state agency under the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR).

Note that most states call their disability determination agency "Disability Determination Services (DDS)," so that's the term we use elsewhere on this website to refer to this agency.

What Are My Chances of Being Approved for Disability Benefits in Nevada?

In Nevada, the approval rates for disability benefits are similar to national rates, both at the initial application stage and after administrative law judge (ALJ) hearings. The average hearing wait time is slightly longer in Nevada compared to the national average.

Below is a chart that compares Nevada's approval rates to the national average for disability benefit approvals (in 2024).

How Much SSDI or SSI Will I Receive in Nevada?

The average SSDI payment in Nevada is $1,765 per month, but some people receive up to $3,800, depending on their lifetime income. (Widows and disabled adult children receiving benefits based on someone else's earnings record get less.) Learn more about how Social Security calculates your SSDI payment.

The average federal SSI payment in Nevada is about $610 per month, but some people receive the federal maximum, $943 (in 2024). Most people receive less than the maximum because they receive free room and board from a friend or relative or have other countable income.

Does Nevada Pay an SSI Supplement?

While the federal government pays the monthly benefits for recipients of SSI (which might be reduced based on additional income), some states choose to additional monthly benefits. The State of Nevada pays a small supplement to blind people. The amount depends on the recipient's living situation, but the average state supplement in Nevada is about $40. The Social Security Administration administers this payment for Nevada.

Below is the chart that outlines the maximum amounts that individuals and couples in Nevada are eligible to receive monthly (in 2024).

How Can I Receive a Free Copy of My Medical Records in Nevada?

In Nevada, health care professionals are normally allowed to charge up to $0.60 per page for a photocopy of your medical records. Fortunately, those who are obtaining medical records to support a Social Security disability claim are entitled to one free copy of their medical records. To receive the free set of medical records, you should supply your Social Security application or appeals paperwork along with your request for your medical records.

How Do I Contact My Disability Claims Examiner in Nevada?

Here is the contact information for the Bureau of Disability Adjudication (BDA), the office in Nevada where claims examiners make the initial decision regarding your disability benefits.

Carson City BDA
500 East Third Street
Carson City, NV 89713
Telephone: (775) 885-3700

Las Vegas BDA
2800 E. St. Louis Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Telephone: (800) 882-4430

How Do I Contact My Hearing Office in Nevada?

Here is the contact information for the Offices of Hearings Operations (OHO), the offices that handle the appeal hearings in Nevada. There's one hearing office in Reno that serves the field offices of Elko and Reno and one hearing office in Las Vegas that serves the field offices in Henderson, Las Vegas, and Las Vegas (North).

Las Vegas OHO
333 Las Vegas Blvd South
Suite 4452
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Telephone: (888) 397-5623

Reno OHO
300 Booth Street
Suite 4000
Reno, Nevada 89509
Telephone: (877) 897-0607

How Do I Find Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Nevada?

In Nevada, the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, under the Nevada DETR, can help disabled individuals who want to return to work. The vocational rehabilitation program provides vocational services and individual counselors, who assess individuals' needs and create job plans for them. To contact the vocational rehabilitation bureau, call (702) 486-5230 if you're in southern Nevada and (775) 687-6860 if you're in northern Nevada.

How Do I Find a Disability Lawyer in Nevada?

You may want to consider hiring a disability attorney to represent you at your hearing. (Here's how a disability lawyer can help.)