Filing for Disability in Utah

If you're a Utah resident who is unable to work, you can apply for federal Social Security and SSI disability benefits. Although the application process is the same throughout the country for these disability benefits, there are differences between the states as far as approval rates, state supplement payments, available vocational rehabilitation services, and local offices. The differences in Utah are discussed below.

How Likely Am I to Be Approved for Disability in Utah?

In Utah, the success rate for being approved for disability benefits depends on where you are in the application/appeals process. At the initial application stage, 38% of applicants from Utah are approved for benefits, which is slightly higher than the national average of 36%. At the reconsideration stage (the first level of appeal), the chance of being approved for benefits is only about 10% in Utah, less than the national average of 13%.

At the hearing stage of appeal, 51% of applicants are approved for benefits in Utah, which is the same as the national average. In the 2021/2022 year, the waiting period for a Social Security hearing was only 8 months, on average, in Utah, compared to 10 months nationally.

How Much Is the SSI Supplement in Utah?

Utah pays a tiny monthly supplement of $15 to Utah residents who receive SSI benefits and live in a Medicaid-paid nursing home or other facility. This monthly supplement is paid in addition to the monthly payment by the federal government. The federal government pays $841 per month to individuals that qualify and $1,261 per month to couples (though this amount may be decreased if you receive additional income).

Contact Information for Utah Disability Offices

In each state, local offices handle the Social Security disability application and appeal process. The Division of Disability Determination Services (DDS) in Utah is the state agency that makes the initial decision as to whether you're disabled based on your medical record. There is one DDS office in Utah to serve all residents of the state. The contact information for that office is:

DDS
1595 W 500 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84104-5238
Phone: (800) 772-1213
Fax: (800) 325-0778

The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO), which was formerly called the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), is the Social Security office that processes all appeals. In Utah, there is one hearing office that provides services to all applicants in Utah, from the field offices of Ogden, Provo, Salt Lake City, and South Jordan. The contact information for that office is:

OHO
125 South State Street, Suite 3102
Salt Lake City, Utah 84138
Phone: (877) 628-6579
Fax: (833) 748-0029

Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Utah

The State of Utah offers services if you're having difficulty keeping a job or returning to work due to your disability. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), through the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), under the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR), provides specialized services to help with job evaluation, training, and placement. To apply for services, you should fill out an application and either mail or bring it to your local office.

For further assistance with Vocational Rehabilitation, you can contact the USOR Administration Office:

Olene S. Walker Building
140 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (866) 435-7414
TTY: (801) 526-9675
Fax: (801) 526-9500

_{Updated August 12, 2022}