If you live in the state of Vermont you may file an application for disability benefits in that state. Most states provide disability benefits to applicants who are eligible. There are several requirements that need to be met, including the disability being in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book listings.
If your disability doesn’t match an exact listing the SSA you may request you take part in a Residual Functional Capacity assessment performed by your doctor. The results of this help a decision to be made whether your physical and mental abilities are suitable for you to be employed.
Social Security Disability Benefits in Vermont
The Disability Determination Services office in Vermont is responsible for reaching a decision in relation to disability benefits claims. The following information is used:
- the applicant’s current status and medical records,
- the applicant’s personal statement concerning the limitations of their disability;
- medical and psychological reports provided by the applicant’s doctor;
- a continuing review of the disability.
There are almost 405,000 residents who live in the State of Vermont and about five percent receive a monthly disability benefit from the Social Security Administration (SSA) averaging about $997.50 monthly. Obtaining a disability benefit does not come easily and the first application takes 3 to 4 months before a decision is reached. The SSA denies 50 percent of the initial claims each year in Vermont. This is lower than the 70 percent national average.
In Vermont, as in other US states, to be able to qualify for the social security disability benefits (SSDI program), you need to have been employed for a precise number of years where you paid Social Security taxes (FICA) and accumulated adequate work credits. If you haven't worked for enough time when being inflicted with the disability and your income and assets fall below a threshold you may be told you are entitled to put in an application for supplemental security income (SSI).
After your disability application has been assessed by your local Social Security Administration office it will be forwarded to the office of the Disability Determination Services (DDS). DDS is an office that comes under the Vermont Agency of Human Services, Department for Children and Families. DDS is responsible for deciding whether you are disabled or not, based on the medical information provided in your disability application and medical records.
Vermont Social Security Field Office Locations
In the state of Vermont, there are 3 Social Security Field offices, 1 Office of Disability Determination Services (DDS) and 1 Office of Disability Adjudication and review which help residents with disability claims.
The following is a list of all the Social Security Offices in the state of Vermont:
- Burlington,
- Montpelier,
- Rutland.
The Office of Disability Determination Services (DDS) is located in Waterbury.
Vermont Disability Statistics
In Vermont, 23.7 percent of the adult population have some kind of disability compared to the nationwide average of 25.6 percent. The average Social Security disability paid in Vermont is $1,296 per month, while the average SSI payment is just $559 per month.
Claims assessors at the Waterbury DDS approve 44 percent of disability claims at the initial application and another 21 percent at the reconsideration level, so your chances of having your claim approved in Vermont is higher than other states. At the hearing level 56 percent are approved. The wait time for a hearing date is 14 months compared to the national average of 18 months.
Appealing a Denied Social Security Decision in Vermont
The office that is responsible for scheduling a disability hearing for the SSA is the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). The ODAR office in Manchester, Massachusetts takes the responsibility for scheduling disability hearings for the Vermont Social Security field offices in Burlington, Montpelier and Rutland.
It takes this office 412 days to schedule a hearing for a Vermont applicant for social security disability benefits. It will take between 45 and 90 days from the hearing date to find out if the judge hearing your case has decided to award disability benefits.
Help Filing for Disability Benefits in Vermont
It is never easy filing for disability benefits in Vermont as there are so many features of your disability claim that need assessment and approval before you are granted any disability benefits. A disability lawyer can help you file your initial application to try and avoid a denial. If your claim is denied at the initial stage and you file an appeal, the disability lawyer can work hard to win an appeal by negotiating with the ALJ at the hearing.
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