According to the CDC, one in four Michigan residents has a disability. About 14% of Michiganders have a developmental disability, while 13% have a physical disability. These disabilities include mobility, cognition, independent living, hearing and vision issues.
These disabled residents are at higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and smoking than their healthy counterparts.
Yet, only 4.8% of this disabled population currently receives Social Security Disability benefits. That leaves many disabled adults without financial aid.
So, what criteria are used to qualify or disqualify disabled individuals for disability benefits?
This post will discuss everything you need to know about Social Security local to Michigan and how to qualify for the benefits.
How Do I Qualify for Social Security Benefits in Michigan?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program, so eligibility criteria are the same regardless of the state where you reside, with the exception of a few states.
There are two main criteria that you must meet- (1) your disability must one that falls under the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability, and (2) you must have worked for an extended period to pay Social Security taxes.
On the first requirement, the SSA has a comprehensive list of conditions it considers ‘severe’ enough to qualify for disability insurance.
Look at this list before applying for disability benefits to ensure your condition is covered. Remember, your disability must have affected your ability to work for at least a year to qualify.
You must also have a good work history, meaning you have paid enough taxes into the Social Security program.
At a minimum, an individual must have worked for ten consecutive years. But this may vary depending on your age and disability.
Keep in mind that you will be automatically disqualified for benefits if you are currently working in some capacity. Instead, federal law protects you from disability discrimination.
You are entitled to reasonable accommodations from your employer to help you complete your duties.
How Do I Apply for Social Security Benefits in Michigan?
There are several ways of filing for Social Security disability in Michigan. You can file in person, over the phone, or online.
If you choose to apply in person, do so at your local Social Security office. Michigan has 45 field offices across the state. Look up the list below to find the one near you.
Online application at the Social Security Administration’s website is the easiest way to submit your claim. All you need to do is sign up and fill out all the required forms.
Lastly, you can apply by calling (800) 772-1213 to speak to a customer representative. Note that you must call this number even when applying in person to schedule an appointment before visiting.
It is essential to take the time to gather relevant documents and medical evidence to support your claim. Before you apply for Michigan Social Services, you should have:
- Personal information- Full name, date of birth, marriage or divorce records, details of minor children, and your Michigan Social Security Number.
- Medical records- This should include your medical history and contact information of doctors or clinics offering you treatment.
- Past and current employment information and earnings.
What Happens After I Apply for Social Security Benefits in Michigan?
Once you file your application, SSA will send it to Disability Determination Services (DDS) for a detailed review. DDS is a state agency working under the Michigan Department of Health Services.
To begin, a claims examiner at DDS will collect your medical records and send them to your treating physician.
Your doctor will complete a questionnaire highlighting the severity of your illness. It is crucial to follow up with the doctor to ensure they complete the questionnaire promptly.
The claims examiner will also ask for the input of vocational experts. These will analyze your work history and medical records to inform whether your disability can accommodate any jobs.
The claims examiner will use this information to make the determination. If they find you disabled, you will receive a mail notifying you how much you qualify for and when to receive your first payment.
If found not disabled, your application will be declined. But you will still receive a mail notice informing you of the reasons for the denial and how to appeal the decision.
Appealing a Denial for Social Security Benefits in Michigan
Michigan SSA denies up to 65% of initial applications. Do not give up if this happens to you. Most disabled people file at least one appeal before their claim is approved.
Michigan has a four-step appeals process for Social Security disability (after adding a ‘reconsideration’ level not so long ago).
Reconsideration: The first thing to do after a denial is to request to have a new claims examiner review your case. Reconsideration is the fastest level of the appeals, and you are not required to present additional documents. In Michigan, 30% of claims are approved at the reconsideration. You have 60 days to file an appeal for reconsideration.
Disability adjudication: If the reconsideration request was unsuccessful, you could request a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. You must provide more evidence or witnesses at the hearing to support your claim. Most applicants opt to hire a disability attorney during this stage.
Appeals Council: Any cases denied at the hearing can be taken to the Appeals Council to review the previous decisions. You will need a lawyer experienced in disability law to represent you at this point.
District court: The federal district court is the highest level of appeals that reviews Appeals Court decisions. Michigan has two federal district courts, one in Detroit and another in Grand Rapids.
Michigan SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Average Approval Rate
Michigan is in Region 5, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. There are seven official hearing offices in this region.
As of 2021, the average wait time for a disability hearing in Michigan was nine months, slightly lower than the national average of ten months.
The average approval rate at the hearing level during the same period was 56%, significantly higher than the 51% national average.
These wait times and approval rates emphasize the importance of having a disability attorney during the SSD application and appeals process.
An experienced lawyer can get you an on-the-record decision, so you won’t have to wait almost a year to have your hearing decided.
How Do I Contact the Michigan Social Security Office Near Me?
Michigan has 45 Social Security field offices offering SSD services to disabled adults. Any of these offices can help you, but it would be best if you contacted the one nearest to you.
Here is a list of all Michigan Social Security offices. You can call your local field office or visit them for help with SSD applications, checking your application status, or related issues.
SSA Field Office |
Physical Address |
Phone Number |
| Ludington SSA Office | 150 N Jebavy Dr Ludington, MI 49431 |
(866) 495-0075 |
| West Branch SSA Office | 2938 Hansen Rd West Branch, MI 48661 |
(877) 897-0602 |
| Detroit-D/T SSA Office | 477 Michigan Ave McNamara Bldg Rm 450 Detroit, MI 48226 |
(888) 748-7691 |
| Marquette SSA Office | 300 S Front St 1St Floor, Ste 1 Marquette, MI 49855 |
(855) 782-9154 |
| Grand Rapids SSA Office | 3045 Knapp St Ne Grand Rapids, MI 49525 |
(877) 319-5710 |
| Saginaw SSA Office | 611 E. Genesee Ave. Saginaw, MI 48607 |
(877) 405-5868 |
| Flint-Downtown | 1149 Robert T Longway Flint, MI 48503 |
(888) 318-7282 |
| Pontiac SSA Office | 1280 Pontiac Rd Pontiac, MI 48340 |
(866) 299-3777 |
| Jackson SSA Office | 234 W Louis Glick Hwy Ste 200 Jackson, MI 49201 |
(877) 405-0473 |
| Traverse City SSA Office | 1329 S Division St Traverse City, MI 49684 |
(866) 739-4802 |
| Kalamazoo SSA Office | 317 South Drake Road Kalamazoo, MI 49009 |
(866) 331-9088 |
| Lansing SSA Office | 5210 Perry Robinson Lansing, MI 48911 |
(877) 512-5944 |
| Escanaba SSA Office | 1013 1St Ave North Escanaba, MI 49829 |
(877) 545-5503 |
| Bay City SSA Office | 1115 Washington Ave Bay City, MI 48708 |
(866) 366-4924 |
| Detroit-East SSA Office | 19251 Mack Ave Suite 200 Detroit, MI 48236 |
(877) 845-0540 |
| Detroit-High Pk | 60 East Grand Avenue Highland Park, MI 48203 |
(877) 512-5945 |
| Battle Creek SSA Office | 5700 Beckley Rd Ste D1 Battle Creek, MI 49015 |
(877) 445-0829 |
| Muskegon SSA Office | 340 Morris Avenue Muskegon, MI 49440 |
(866) 763-2632 |
| Dearborn SSA Office | 19853 Outer Drive Suite 200 Dearborn, MI 48124 |
(877) 714-0392 |
| Fort Gratiot SSA Office | 2620 Krafft Rd Fort Gratiot, MI 48059 |
(877) 895-0042 |
| Detroit-NW SSA Office | 26840 W Seven Mile Rd Redford, MI 48240 |
(888) 329-5729 |
| Roseville SSA Office | 15250 E 12 Mile Rd Roseville, MI 48066 |
(877) 833-2541 |
| Bent Har-St Joe | 455 Bond St Benton Harbor, MI 49022 |
(877) 405-5457 |
| Ann Arbor SSA Office | 3971 Research Park Dr Suite A Ann Arbor, MI 48108 |
(877) 402-0825 |
| Mount Pleasant SSA Office | 1940 Sweeney St Mt Pleasant, MI 48858 |
(877) 405-7667 |
| Petoskey SSA Office | 308 State St Suite 8 Petoskey, MI 49770 |
(866) 574-2588 |
| Monroe SSA Office | 1300 S Telegraph Rd Monroe, MI 48161 |
(877) 274-5416 |
| Alpena SSA Office | 111 N 4th Ave Alpena, MI 49707 |
(877) 452-4195 |
| Grand River SSA Office | 9222 Grand River Ave Detroit, MI 48204 |
(866) 405-0043 |
| Detroit 7 Mile SSA Office | 10201 W Seven Mile Rd Detroit, MI 48221 |
(866) 365-6741 |
| Detroit Conner SSA Office | 3400 Conner St Detroit, MI 48215 |
(877) 405-7824 |
| Clawson SSA Office | 140 North Crooks Clawson, MI 48017 |
(888) 456-9559 |
| Sault St Marie SSA Office | 2861 Ashmun St Ste 1 Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 |
(855) 285-6007 |
| Wyandotte SSA Office | 3450 Biddle Ave Wyandotte, MI 48192 |
(866) 964-7407 |
| Holland SSA Office | 657 Hastings Ave Holland, MI 49423 |
(877) 223-6062 |
| Adrian SSA Office | 1040 S Winter St Suite 2401 Adrian, MI 49221 |
(877) 512-5943 |
| Owosso SSA Office | 306 North Gould Street Owosso, MI 48867 |
(855) 628-1592 |
| Farmington SSA Office | 27650 Farmington Rd Farmington Hills, MI 48334 |
(866) 331-2210 |
| Inkster SSA Office | 28657 Cherry Hill Rd Inkster, MI 48141 |
(866) 704-4860 |
| Chesterfield SSA Office | 26200 21 Mile Road Chesterfield, MI 48051 |
(866) 635-0788 |
| Detroit-SW SSA Office | 5715 Michigan Ave Detroit, MI 48210 |
(877) 319-0730 |
| Big Rapids SSA Office | 502 N State St Ste A Big Rapids, MI 49307 |
(855) 245-0641 |
| Livonia SSA Office | 34010 Plymouth Road Livonia, MI 48150 |
(866) 964-7371 |
| Sterling Heights | 7385 Triangle Drive Sterling Heights, MI 48314 |
(888) 619-4768 |
| North Flint SSA Office | 2021 W. Carpenter Rd Flint, MI 48505 |
(877) 748-9766 |
Get Legal Help Applying for Social Security Benefits in Michigan
Applying for SSD benefits is not an easy process. The process can be complicated and overwhelming, especially when dealing with a disabling condition.
An experienced Michigan Social Security disability attorney can help complete an error-free application and increase your odds of being approved for benefits.
Your attorney can also help you through the appeals process if your claim is denied. Contact us to speak to a local Michigan Social Security disability lawyer to help with your case.
