Social Security Disability Benefits Resources: Utah

According to the Utah Department of Public health, there are nearly 1 out of 5 Utah residents that live with a disability. 

If you live in Utah and you have a disability that will force you to be out of work for at least 12 months, then you could qualify for Social Security disability benefits. When you are approved for Social Security disability benefits, that money can be used to cover expenses related to your treatments, such as prescribed medicine you take for it, as well as basic day-to-day needs. To apply for Social Security disability benefits in Utah, you can contact your Utah Social Security office

Below are charts for the maximum monthly amounts for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) then you may be entitled to.

Utah Social Security Offices

The are 5 Social Security offices in Utah. 1 Office of Disability Determination Service and 1 Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. These Social Security offices in Utah can answer all of your questions regarding your Social Security disability application.

Office of Disability Determination Services

This office is responsible for making decisions on the disability benefits in Utah claims made by individuals. They make decisions based on the following information provided by the claimant:

• Medical Records
• Medical and Psychological Evidence
• Continuing Disability review
• The applicant’s own Statement

Utah Office of Disability Determination Services

Disability Determination Services
P.O. Box 144032
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-4032
Telephone: 801-321-6500
Fax: 800-221-3493

Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review in Utah

The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review sets hearings for people who appeal their disability Utah claim denial and releases the decisions regarding the appeals.

Utah Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review

SSA, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
125 South State Street, Suite 3102
Salt Lake City, Utah 84138
Telephone: (801) 524-5315
Fax: (801) 524-3348
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

IDAHO:
Idaho Falls, Pocatello
UTAH:
Cedar City, Moab, Murray, Ogden, Provo, St. George, Salt Lake City

How to Qualify for Disability Benefits in Utah

If you live in Utah and have a serious disability that is preventing you from participating in gainful employment, you may be able to qualify for disability benefits payments through the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) pathway. The SSA is a federal agency so the criteria for qualification for disability benefits are the same in Utah as they are in any other state in the United States. The SSA only approves these benefits for those applicants who have a serious or severe disability(s) which match the criteria set by the SSA—a.k.a., the Blue Book. In addition to medical criteria, a Utah disability applicant must also meet other requirements before the SSA will approve an application to receive disability payments.

The main criteria for obtaining benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) scheme are as follows:

• The symptoms of your disability must be serious enough to match the criteria in the SSA’s Blue Book listings. The Blue Book’s listings describe the symptoms (in detail) that the SSA considers serious enough to receive disability benefit payments, as well as the medical evidence necessary to support an applicant’s disability claim.
• Medical evidence in the form of medical records, history of the development of the disability, results of relevant tests, scans and x-rays, surgery performed, prognosis of future development.
• Evidence that the applicant cannot work for at least the next 12 months. A Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment may help disability benefit applicants to establish this inability to work requirement if their disability symptoms do not match the Blue Book listing exactly.
• Sufficient work credits accumulated during previous employment to qualify for SSDI benefits, or proof that assets and income are less than the threshold for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits.

How to Apply for Disability in Utah

Knowing how to apply for disability in Utah can help you receive the financial assistance that you deserve. You can go online at sss.gov and complete the claim form.

Make sure to scan and upload any supporting documents, such as copies of medical records. You can apply by calling the toll-free customer service line monitored by the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 800-772-1213.

Applying in-person at the closest Utah Social Security office is also an option. Just remember to check to determine whether the SSA has reopened the Utah office during COVID-19. You can also contact your local Social Security office in Utah with any questions regarding the application process. 

Qualifying for SSI and SSDI requires you to demonstrate that you suffer from a disability. You also have to have earned enough work credits to qualify for the SSDI program.

The SSA has established a waiting period of five months for compensation, which means that you will not receive financial assistance for the first five months after receiving approval for a claim.

If your income and assets qualify you for SSI and you have worked long enough to get SSDI, you might be able to receive both types of compensation at the same time.

The SSA includes the amount of your SSDI payments when determining eligibility for SSI assistance. For many cases, the SSDI payment is too high for a claimant to qualify for SSI assistance.

After you submit your Utah disability claim, it moves on to a disability examiner who works at a Utah Social Security disability office. Complete an evaluation form if you need help going through the disability claim process.