Filing for Disability in West Virginia

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the office that administers Social Security and SSI disability benefits throughout the country. But West Virginia plays a part in the disability process for its residents, through its Disability Determination Section (DDS), which falls under West Virginia's Division of Rehabilitation Services.

Here is some information specific to West Virginia about applying for disability benefits.

Who Makes Disability Determinations in West Virginia?

West Virginia's Disability Determination Section (DDS) is the agency that makes the decision regarding whether or not you are disabled, based on your medical record. West Virginia has two DDS offices that make all disability decisions for West Virginians.

The contact information for the offices is below.

Charleston Disability Determination Section
500 Quarrier Street, Suite 500
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: 304-343-5055 or 800-344-5033

Clarksburg Disability Determination Section
320 West Pike St., Suite 120
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Phone: 304-624-0200 or 800-344-7813

After you apply for benefits, you'll be contacted by a claims examiner from DDS. The claims examiner will also contact your doctors to obtain your medical records.

Disability Benefits Statistics in West Virginia

In West Virginia, DDS approves only 33% of individuals for disability benefits at the initial application stage. This is lower than the national average approval rate of 38%. And at the reconsideration stage, West Virginia approves another 12% of previously denied individuals for benefits, compared to 15% nationally.

And at the hearing stage, West Virginia has lower approval rates (53%) than the national average (57%). This makes it more difficult in West Virginia for disability claims to be approved compared to other states.

The wait time for a disability appeal hearing in West Virginia is 12 months.

No SSI State Supplement in West Virginia

Unlike most other states, West Virginia does not offer a state supplementary payment to SSI (additional money over and above the monthly payment from the federal government).

How Much Do Medical Records Cost in West Virginia?

To receive a copy of your medical records to provide to Social Security with your disability application, health care providers can charge you up to $0.75 per page, along with a search fee of no more than $10. There is no limit on how much your total charge can be.

But if you meet certain low-income requirements, you may be eligible to receive a free copy of your medical records for your Social Security claim.

You must provide reasonable proof of your financial inability to pay for the records due to unemployment, disability, having income below the federal poverty level, or receiving state or federal income assistance. Provide this proof to the doctor's office or hospital with your Release of Information form for your medical records. If you meet the above requirements, you are entitled to one free copy of your medical records.

West Virginia Hearing Offices

Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) is the office that processes all Social Security appeals, including SSI disability appeals. If you request a hearing, it will be held at an OHO office.

Once you make your hearing request, contact your hearing office for any questions regarding your appeal. The contact information for the local hearing offices is below.

Charleston Hearing Office

500 Quarrier Street
Suite 100
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Telephone: (888) 527-9325

Covers the following local field offices: Beckley, Charleston, Logan, Martinsburg, Parkersburg, St. Albans, Welch, and Williamson

Huntington Hearing Office

Chase Bank Building
1000 5th Avenue, Suite 300
Huntington, WV 25701
Telephone: (866) 592-1607

Covers the Huntington Social Security field office

Morgantown Hearing Office

5000 Greenbag Road
Suite FS1
Morgantown, WV 26501-7236
Telephone: (877) 405-9197

Covers the following local field offices: Clarksburg, Elkins, Fairmont, Morgantown, and Wheeling

Charlottesville, VA Hearing Office

1470 Pantops Mountain Place, 2nd Floor
Charlottesville, Virginia 22911
Telephone: (866) 613-2969

Covers the Petersburg, West Virginia Social Security field office

Roanoke, VA Hearing Office

Second Floor, Suite 200
612 South Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Telephone: (866) 592-3548

Covers the Bluefield, West Virginia field office

Vocational Rehabilitation

The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) provides services for those who are disabled to help them prepare to get a job, find a job, and help them to keep that job.

To apply for vocational rehabilitation, you should contact DRS. To contact DRS, you may call the statewide contact number or visit the DRS website. The contact information is below.

Phone number: 800-642-8207
Website: www.wvdrs.org