Filing for Disability Benefits in Washington State

Residents of Washington state who are out of work for at least one year due to illness or injury may qualify for benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). According to the most recent available data from the Social Security Administration, almost 240,000 adults in Washington state receive SSDI or SSI benefits, comprising about 5% of the resident population.

SSDI and SSI are federal benefits, so the application process is the same across all states. But before you start your application, it's important to be aware of some information of particular interest to Washington residents—such as approval rates, wait times, and state-specific programs (like paid short-term medical leave or other temporary disability benefits).

Who Can Qualify for Social Security Disability in Washington?

Social Security awards disability benefits to people who have a medically determinable impairment that keeps them from earning at or above the level of substantial gainful activity for at least twelve months. In plain English, this means you'll need to have medical evidence of a health condition that prevents you from working full-time for longer than one year. This condition could be physical (like a back injury or heart disorder), mental (such as anxiety or depression), or a combination of both.

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

You'll also need to meet some preliminary legal requirements to receive the particular disability benefit you're applying for (SSDI or SSI). SSDI eligibility is determined by your work history and how much you've contributed to the program in payroll or self-employment taxes over the years. SSI is a needs-based program available to disabled people with limited income and assets, regardless of their past employment record. If you don't meet eligibility criteria for at least one of the programs, you won't be able to receive Social Security disability benefits, no matter how serious your medical condition is.

How to Apply for SSDI or SSI Disability in Washington State

Filing for disability benefits is a fairly straightforward process—one that is fundamentally the same no matter what state you live in. Many SSDI applicants ("claimants") choose to complete the process online using Social Security's electronic filing tool. If you're filing for SSI as an adult and you've never been married or applied for SSI before, you can also complete your application online. (Otherwise, you can start your claim online, but you'll need to speak with a Social Security representative to complete the process.)

You can also apply by calling the agency's national hotline at 800-772-1213 (TTY: 800-325-0778) between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, but the wait can be several hours during busy times. Lastly, you can file in person at one of the over 20 Social Security field offices in Washington state. Field offices are typically open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., subject to inclement weather or other closures. Your nearest office may require you to make an appointment before you show up, so it's a smart idea to call ahead first.

What Happens After I Apply for Benefits?

Once you've submitted your application through Social Security's website, phone number, or field office, your case is sent to Washington Disability Determination Services (DDS), the state agency responsible for making decisions on Social Security disability applications filed in Washington. Claims examiners at DDS—with help from medical consultants—gather and review doctors' records before making the initial disability determination.

There are three DDS offices in the state of Washington. If you need to get in touch with the claims examiner handling your file, you can reach them at the office that serves your region. The location of the office should be included in any correspondence you've received from DDS.

Federal Way Regional DDS

33810 Weyerhaeuser Way S
Suite 200
Federal Way, WA 98001-9624

Tel: (800) 562-6074
Fax: (253) 661-5033

Olympia Regional DDS

PO Box 9303
MS 45550
Olympia WA 98507-9303

Tel: (800) 562-6074
Fax: (360) 586-0851

Spokane Regional DDS

RockPointe III Building
1330 N. Washington Street
Suite 2080
Spokane, WA 99201

Tel: (800) 562-6074
Fax: (509) 329-3793

Approximately three to five months after your application is submitted, you'll be notified via mail whether your claim has been approved or denied. Most people aren't awarded the first time—but if your SSDI or SSI claim is denied, you can appeal this decision.

How Washington Residents Can Appeal an SSDI or SSI Denial

The first level of appeal is called a "reconsideration." You have 60 days from the date you receive your disability denial letter to start a reconsideration appeal, which you can do online. At the reconsideration stage, another DDS claims examiner will review your file and decide whether the original denial was made in error. Reconsideration reviews take slightly less time than initial reviews—about three to four months.

If you're denied again after reconsideration, you can then ask for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. Similar to requesting reconsideration, you have 60 days after you've received your second denial to submit a hearing request (Form HA-501). As of May 2025, the average wait time in Washington state between the date a disability hearing is requested and when it takes place is 8-9 months.

There are three offices in Washington state where judges hold disability hearings—Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. (Residents of southwestern Washington may have their cases handled by a judge in the Portland, OR hearing office.) After you submit your hearing request form, your case will be transferred from DDS to one of the Office of Hearing Operations (OHO) locations below.

Seattle OHO (Services the following field offices: Bellevue, Bellingham, Everett, Kitsap, Lynnwood, Mt. Vernon, Port Angeles, Renton, Seattle, Wenatchee, and Yakima)

300 5th Avenue
Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98104-3389

Tel: (888) 366-6144
Fax: (833) 656-0278

Spokane OHO (Services the Kennewick/Tri-Cities, Pullman, Spokane, and Walla Walla field offices)

714 N Iron Bridge Way
Suite 200
Spokane, WA 99202-4929

Tel: (888) 253-3903
Fax: (833) 769-0245

Tacoma OHO (Services the following field offices: Centralia, Grays Harbor, Kent, Olympia, Puyallup, and Tacoma)

2413 Pacific Avenue
Suite 200
Tacoma, WA 98402

Tel: (888) 208-4640
Fax: (833) 953-2162

Portland OHO (Services the Longview and Vancouver field offices)

825 NE Multnomah Street
Suite 400
Portland, OR 97232-2483

Tel: (866) 964-6291
Fax: (833) 719-0414

If your hearing is scheduled in person, you'll need to show up at the appropriate OHO on the time and date printed on your hearing notice. But you don't always have to attend your hearing "live." Social Security allows you to have your hearing conducted over the phone or via videoconference if you'd prefer. Each "manner of appearance" has its own pros and cons, but the method of determining disability is the same regardless of how you choose to attend.

After your hearing has concluded, you'll typically be notified of the judge's decision in writing within 30 to 60 days of your hearing. (Very rarely, you'll learn the outcome at the hearing itself—when that happens, it's known as a "bench decision.") If you receive an unfavorable decision, you can ask the Appeals Council to review the judge's reasoning and hopefully send back your claim for further development (and a different outcome).

How Hard Is It to Get Disability in Washington State?

Approximately 41% of Washington disability applicants are initially approved for benefits—slightly higher than the national average. 17% are approved after reconsideration review, while (for the fiscal year ending May 2025) around 63% of hearings held in Washington OHOs resulted in either a partially or fully favorable decision.

The table below sums up how Washington compares with the national as a whole when it comes to approval ratings and hearing wait times.

_{Source: ALJ Disposition Data Fiscal Year 2025 and Average Wait Time Until Hearing Held Report (May 2025)}

Based on this data, the good news for Washington residents who are applying for Social Security is that you're generally more likely to be approved for disability benefits and you won't have to wait a great deal longer to get a decision.

How Much Will I Get in SSDI or SSI If I'm Approved?

The main thing to know is that the exact amount of your disability check won't be determined by the type of medical condition you have. It doesn't matter whether you can't work because of macular degeneration or social anxiety, for example. Your monthly benefit will depend on your earnings history (if you're approved for SSDI) or will consist of a flat rate minus any countable income you have in that month (if you're receiving SSI).

For 2025, the maximum amount you can receive in SSDI is $4,018 per month, but the average amount is much less, at $1,580. That's because SSDI benefits are calculated on how much you earned before you became disabled, which varies significantly from person to person. SSI benefits are set by the federal government every year ($967 per month in 2025) and adjusted annually to account for increases in the cost of living.

The state of Washington does provide a small additional monthly payment to SSI recipients through the Supplementary Payment Program, administered by the Department of Social and Human Services. The exact amount of this SSI supplement varies depending on your living arrangements.

Short-Term or Temporary Duration Disability in Washington State

Not all Washington residents who apply for Social Security disability will meet the eligibility criteria for SSDI or SSI. If your medical condition improves to the point where you're able to return to full-time work within twelve months, for example, you won't qualify for Social Security disability—but you might qualify for short-term disability that can provide temporary wage replacement for the time you're off work.

Washington is one of a growing number of states that offers paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) benefits to eligible residents. Washington's paid FMLA law allows you to take between 12-16 weeks off of work to attend to your serious medical condition while receiving as much as 90% of your average weekly wages (capped at $1,000 per week).

Some employees have private short-term disability insurance policies as a benefit offered by their employers (or individually purchased, in the case of many independent contractors). If you're covered by a private insurer, you may want to file a short-term disability claim so that you can get help paying the bills while you recover from your illness or injury. And if it's taking longer than expected to get better, you can still apply for SSDI while on short-term disability.

Private long-term disability (LTD) insurance is another option available to people who are out of work for an extended period of time—whether temporarily or permanently. Many LTD policies do require that you apply for Social Security as a condition of receiving payments, and your monthly LTD payments may be "offset" by the amount of any Social Security benefits you receive.

Washington Disability Rights and Rehabilitation Services

Washington state has many resources available to address the needs of disabled residents. For example, if you have a disability but want to continue working or learn a new skill, you can contact the Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to access a variety of programs designed to help those with disabilities return to and maintain employment.

If your employer isn't providing you with reasonable accommodations or is otherwise discriminating against you because of your disability, the Washington Secretary of State maintains a website for disabled workers to report violations of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Nonprofit advocacy groups such as Disability Rights Washington can also help you stand up against unjust employment, housing, and accessibility practices.

Do I Need a Disability Lawyer?

You aren't required to get a lawyer to help you with your Social Security claim, but if you're feeling overwhelmed with the process of applying for benefits or navigating the appeals process, an experienced disability attorney can be a great help. Disability lawyers typically work on contingency—meaning they don't get paid unless you win your case—so there's little upfront risk in hiring one. Many also offer free consultations, allowing you to "shop around" for one who's a good fit for you.