Nearly 30% of South Carolina’s population has a disability. The largest group of people have mobility and cognitive-related conditions.
Of these disabled residents, 40% are more likely to be overweight, while 27% are likely to smoke. These numbers exceed the national averages of 33% and 15%, respectively.
South Carolina spends up to $12 billion annually on disability-related healthcare costs. That accounts for 36% of the state’s overall healthcare expenditure.
The state provides such federal programs as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to support residents with disabilities to afford independent living.
This post will focus only on SSDI. Read on to find out everything about Social Security local to South Carolina.
How Do I Qualify for Social Security Benefits in South Carolina
Disabled residents in South Carolina must meet the Social Security Administration (SSA) eligibility criteria. These federal requirements apply to all states, but applications are reviewed at the state level to determine whether you qualify.
There are two key benchmarks that you must meet to be considered for disability benefits.
First, you must prove to have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Generally, this means ten years of employment or self-employment, but a waiver can be granted if your disability hinders you from working.
Second, your disability must be classified as “severe.” The SSA has a comprehensive list of conditions that it considers severe enough to affect your ability to work for at least 12 months or result in death.
If your disability does not appear on this list, your chances of being approved for benefits are low.
How Do I Apply for Social Security Benefits in South Carolina?
There are three main ways of applying for South Carolina Social Services.
The first option is to visit your local South Carolina Social Security office to fill out the disability application forms in person. You can find the nearest office by using the SSA Field Office Locator.
It may not be possible for some South Carolina disability applicants, such as those with mobility issues, to apply to the Social Security office in person. They can apply via telephone by calling the SSA at (800) 772-1213. Remember, you need this number to schedule an appointment when applying for benefits in person.
Lastly, those who want to apply for SSDI benefits in the comfort of their homes can do so online at www.ssa.gov. This is the quickest method since you fill out the forms and submit them electronically.
Before applying, take time to compile supporting documentation and evidence of your disability. These include medical records and the contact information of your doctor.
You also need to provide personal information about yourself, your spouse, and minor children- including date of birth, South Carolina Social Security number, and employment history.
What Happens After I Apply for Social Security Benefits in South Carolina?
When you submit your application, the South Carolina Social Security Administration will send it to the Disability Determination Service (DDS). The DDS is the state agency that makes disability determinations on behalf of the SSA.
The agency will start by assigning a claims examiner to establish whether you are medically disabled. To do this, the claims examiner will schedule you for a medical examination with an independent doctor.
The doctor will provide a detailed report regarding your condition and how it affects or may affect you in the future.
The claims examiner will also seek the opinion of a vocational expert. This professional will look at your disability and determine the kind of jobs that you can comfortably do with your condition.
When finished with the assessments, the DDS will return your application to the SSA, which will contact you with the final results of the determination.
You will receive the payments within a few months if they approve your application. If denied, you can appeal the decision to get a second opinion.
Appealing a Denial for Social Security Benefits in South Carolina
South Carolina’s initial approval rate has been increasing for the last ten years. The state approves about 37% of all first-time applications, much higher than the national average of 35%.
While this acceptance rate looks impressive, most applicants are left with no benefits. Those applying for SSDI benefits should expect to go through one or two stages of the appeals process to be approved.
Here are the stages of appeals:
Reconsideration
This is where you request a new disability examiner to review your initial application and see whether an error was made. You have 60 days from denial to file an application for reconsideration.
The reconsideration stage is usually quick and does not require legal representation. About 11% of appeals are approved at this stage.
Disability Hearing
If your reconsideration does not result in a favorable outcome, you can request a disability hearing (called a disability adjudication).
The case will be presided over by an administrative law judge and heard at any of the three Hearing and Appeals offices in South Carolina: Columbia, North Charleston, or Mauldin.
Appeals Council
Only a few people get into this stage of appeal. If you do, you should file an appeal online with the Social Security Appeals Council.
The council’s purpose is to examine the previous junior determinations to establish whether they made a mistake in their decision-making.
Federal Court
Your final recourse is to file a lawsuit at the federal district court in South Carolina. At this point, you will need to hire an experienced Social Security Disability attorney.
South Carolina SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Average Approval Rate
South Carolina’s applicants with irrefutable disabilities get approved for benefits during their initial application phase. Those whose SSD applications are rejected can appeal the decision.
At the hearing level in South Carolina, the average approval rate is 60%, above the national average of 51%.
The average hearing wait time is ten months, much lower than the national average. That means a South Carolina resident completes the application process earlier than residents in other states.
These approval rates and wait times reveal the importance of having an experienced South Carolina SSDI attorney throughout the process.
A study by the Government Accountability Office reported that a claimant with a lawyer has a 73% chance of being approved for benefits. Those who go through the process alone have a 37% chance of success.
How Do I Contact the South Carolina Social Security Office Near Me?
South Carolina has 17 Social Security Field Offices that help residents with their SSI and SSDI needs.
Contact the field office near you from the list below to get help with your SSD application process.
You can call or visit your local Social Security office if you have any questions regarding your eligibility or any other kind of assistance.
SSA Field Office |
Physical Address |
Phone Number |
| Columbia SSA Office | 1835 Assembly St 11th Floor Columbia, SC 29201 |
(866) 964-7594 |
| Spartanburg SSA Office | 145 N Church St 3rd Floor Spartanburg, SC 29306 |
(866) 701-6620 |
| Charleston SSA Office | 1463 Tobias Gadson Blv Charleston, SC 29407 |
(866) 495-0111 |
| Greenville SSA Office | 319 Pelham Rd Greenville, SC 29615 |
(877) 274-5423 |
| Florence SSA Office | 181 Dozier Blvd Florence, SC 29501 |
(888) 385-1173 |
| Rock Hill SSA Office | 499 Lakeshore Pkwy Rock Hill, SC 29730 |
(877) 626-9589 |
| Greenwood SSA Office | 115 Enterprise Court Ste C Greenwood, SC 29649 |
(866) 739-4803 |
| Anderson SSA Office | 4 Civic Ctr Blvd Ext Anderson, SC 29625 |
(877) 505-4549 |
| Bennettsville SSA Office | 1028 Cheraw St Bennettsville, SC 29512 |
(888) 810-7617 |
| Myrtle Beach SSA Office | 611 Burroughs and Chapin Blvd Ste 301 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 |
(888) 577-6601 |
| Georgetown SSA Office | 413 King St Georgetown, SC 29440 |
(866) 593-1584 |
| Orangeburg SSA Office | 1379 Sims St Orangeburg, SC 29115 |
(866) 716-8602 |
| Sumter SSA Office | 240 Bultman Dr Sumter, SC 29150 |
(877) 445-0840 |
| Aiken SSA Office | 151 Corporate Pkwy Aiken, SC 29803 |
(866) 275-8271 |
| Beaufort SSA Office | 646 Robert Smalls Pkwy Beaufort, SC 29906 |
(866) 254-3316 |
| Clinton SSA Office | 292 Professional Park Rd Clinton, SC 29325 |
(866) 526-9854 |
| Walterboro SSA Office | 502 Robertson Blvd Walterboro, SC 29488 |
(866) 708-2810 |
Get Legal Help Applying for Social Security Benefits in South Carolina
The process of applying for SSD benefits is a complicated one. It is critical to ensure you fill out all the forms on time and gather the medical evidence to support your claim.
A skilled SSD lawyer can guide and help you through the application and appeals process. A lawyer can help you collect enough evidence and also represent you before an administrative law judge at your hearing.
At Legal Giant, we have links to the best local lawyers in South Carolina who can help with your claim. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation today to learn more about how we can help.
