If you live in the state of Rhode Island you may file an application for disability benefits in that state. Most states offer disability benefits to applicants who are eligible and fit certain criteria. There are several requirements that need to be met including the disability being listed in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book listings.
If your disability doesn’t match an exact listing the SSA may ask you to take part in a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment performed by your physician. The results of this help a decision to be made which determines if you are physically and mentally capable of going out to work and earning a living.
Social Security Disability Benefits in Rhode Island
The Disability Determination Services (DDS) office in Rhode Island is the entity responsible for arriving at a decision for your disability benefits claim. The following facts are used:
- the ongoing review of your disability status;
- your present status assessed through current medical records;
- your personal statement concerning how you are limited by the disability;
- medical and mental reports provided by your physician.
In Rhode Island, as in other US states, to be eligible to qualify for a Social Security Disability benefit (SSDI program), you need to have been employed for a certain number of years where you paid Social Security taxes (FICA) and built up adequate work credits. If you haven't worked for the right length of time when you became disabled and your income and assets fall below a certain threshold, you may be told you are entitled to lodge an application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which is means tested.
When lodging a social security disability benefits claim in Rhode Island your claim is the responsibility of the federal government through the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Disability Determination Service (DDS) is allocated the job of making the initial decision about your disability benefits claim in Rhode Island. You may file for disability benefits at one of the field offices found throughout the state.
The Cities Where Social Security Field Offices Are in Rhode Island
In the state of Rhode Island, there are 5 Social Security Field offices, 1 Office of Disability Determination Services which help residents with disability claims.
The offices are found in these cities:
- Providence,
- Woonsocket,
- Pawtucket,
- Warwick,
- Newport.
Rhode Island Disability Statistics
Filing for Social Security disability benefits in Rhode Island is typically much the same as in other states and you dealing with the Rhode Island Disability Determination Services office in Providence. At the first application 38 percent of claims are approved compared to a national average of 35 percent.
At the reconsideration phase 14 percent are approved compared to 13 percent nationally while at the hearing stage 50 percent are approved compared to the national average of 46 percent. In addition, the wait time for an appeal hearing in Rhode Island is shorter at 11 months than the national average of 18 months.
Appealing Denied Social Security in Rhode Island
If you were recently denied Social Security disability benefits (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Rhode Island you may request an appeals hearing. Typically, you are given 60 days after receiving the decision notice to submit this appeal.
The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is responsible for conducting Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) appeals hearings in one office in Rhode Island. It will provide you with the date of the appeals hearing. The average processing time per case in Rhode Island is 352 days. The Rhode Island average for winning a disability appeals hearing is 37%.
Help Filing for Disability Benefits in Rhode Island
It is never that easy filing for disability benefits in Rhode Island as there are so many factors that need to be considered and need to be approved before being granted any disability benefits.
A disability lawyer can help you win your disability benefits in Rhode Island and can try to win a disability claim on your behalf so that an appeals hearing can be avoided. However, if your claim is denied at the earliest stage and you file an appeal the disability lawyer can work tirelessly to win the appeal on your behalf in this often long process so that you get your disability benefits entitlements. If you have the right representation, your appeal has a 40 percent higher chance of being approved.
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