If you are a Utah resident who is unable to work, you can apply for federal Social Security and SSI disability benefits. (Utah doesn't have a state disability insurance program.) 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.

Disability Approval and Denial Statistics for 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, 36.7% of those from Utah are approved for benefits, which is higher than the national average of 32.2%. At the reconsideration stage (the first levelof appeal), the chances of being approved for benefits is about the same in Utah as it is in the rest of the country, with 10.6% being approved in Utah and 11.5% being approved nationally. At the hearing stage, you have a significantly greater chance of being approved for benefits compared to the national average; 69.2% of applicants are approved for benefits in Utah while only 58.1% are approved nationally. The only downside to the hearing process in Utah is a slightly longer wait period on average, with wait times in Utah being 357 days on average compared to 349 days nationally.

Utah SSI Supplement

Utah pays a tiny monthly supplement to Utah residents who receive SSI benefits. This monthly supplement is paid in addition to the monthly payment by the federal government. The federal government pays $698 per month to individuals and $1,048 per month to couples (though this amount may be decreased based on additional income). Those who are living alone or with others, or are living in the household of another, are eligible for the state supplement. For individuals living alone, there is no state supplement.

For individuals living in the household of another, Utah will pay a state supplement of $3.13 (for a maximum monthly total of $701.13); for couples in the same situation, Utah pays $9.73 per month (for a total monthly maximum of $1,057.73). Social Security Administration administers these payments, so SSI recipients will receive only one check that includes both payments.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Utah

There are services available from the State of Utah if you are having difficulty finding or keeping a job due to your disability. In Utah, 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. Below is the contact information for the district offices for USOR.

DIVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

250 East 500 South

PO Box 144200

Salt Lake City, Utah 84114

Phone: (801) 538-7530/(800) 473-7530

NORTHERN UTAH DISTRICT

115 W. Golf Course Road, Suite D

Logan, Utah 84321

Phone: (435) 787-3480/(800) 560-9766

OGDEN DISTRICT

950 East 25th Street, #200

Ogden, Utah 84401

Phone: (801) 395-7020

DAVIS DISTRICT

2984 North 400 West, Suite A

Layton, Utah 84041

Phone: (801) 776-5951

SALT LAKE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

50 West Broadway, #800

Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Phone: (801) 238-4560

VALLEY WEST DISTRICT

5522 South 3200

West Taylorsville, Utah 84129

Phone: (801) 957-8200

SOUTH VALLEY DISTRICT

926 West Baxter Drive (10600 South)

South Jordan, Utah 84095

Phone: (801) 446-2560 /(800) 625-7519

PROVO DISTRICT

150 East Center, Suite 3300

Provo, Utah 84606

Phone: (801) 374-7724/(800) 662-6539

CENTRAL UTAH DISTRICT

910 East 100 North, #215

Payson, UT 84651

Phone: (801) 465-8384/(877) 509-8384

EASTERN UTAH DISTRICT

320 North Aggie Blvd. #105

Vernal, Utah 84078

Phone: (435) 789-0273/(800) 286-0273

SOUTHERN UTAH DISTRICT

965 East 700 South, #202

St. George, Utah 84790

Phone: (435) 673-5091/(800) 281-5091

Contact Information for Utah Disability Offices

In each state, there are local offices that 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 decision as to whether or not you are disabled based on your medical record. There is one DDS office in Utah to serve all of the residents of the state. The contact information for that office is:

P. O. Box 144032, 84114-4032

210 West Harris Avenue

Salt Lake City, UT 84115

Phone: (801) 321-6500/(800) 221-3493

The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is the office that processes all appeals. In Utah, there is one ODAR hearing office that provides services to all individuals in Utah. The contact information for that office is:

125 South State Street, Suite 3102

Salt Lake City, Utah 84138

Phone: (877) 628-6579

In addition, there is a regional office that oversees the Hearing Office. The contact information for the regional ODAR office is:

1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 600

Denver, Colorado 80204-3584

Phone: (888) 397-9803

Contacting a Disability Lawyer in Utah

If you've been denied disability benefits, you may want to hire a lawyer to represent you at your appeal hearing. To find a local lawyer, see our Utah disability attorney page.

by: Lorraine Netter, Contributing Author

Share on Google Plus

Share on Facebook