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How To Apply for Disability in Pennsylvania

 

Filing for Social Security Disability benefits in Pennsylvania is just like applying in any other state. This is because Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are federal programs run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). There can be slight differences between some states such as Pennsylvania, where the state agency known as the Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) takes over the application process after the SSA reviews the initial application. This article covers information about Social Security Disability in Pennsylvania.

To find your local Social Security field office, Disability Determinations Services office, or an Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Pennsylvania, click here.
 

Appeals Hearings in Pennsylvania

The state of Pennsylvania is home to 8 hearing offices as well as 90 Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who attend Social Security Disability hearings. The chances that an applicant will be approved for disability benefits at the hearing level in Pennsylvania is less than the national average but an applicant also has less of a chance of being denied. The table below contains information about Pennsylvania's hearing offices.

 

Pennsylvania National
Avg. Hearing Wait Time 15.8 Months 14.9 Months
Average Processing Time 500 Days 461 Days
Cases Approved 41% 44%
Cases Denied 36% 38%
Cases Dismissed 23% 18%

 

Pennsylvania State Supplements for SSI

Most states provide eligible citizens who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with an additional state supplemental benefit. These additional benefits are to compensate people for the cost of living in a particular state. The total amount one can receive depends on his or her present living arrangement. Claimants who are living independently or in someone else's household will receive two separate checks, one payment for SSI from the SSA and another for state supplemental benefits from Pennsylvania. Claimants who reside in domiciliary care homes and personal care boarding homes will receive one combined check with both the federal SSI and state level benefits. Note: The amounts below include both federal and state benefits. Benefits could be lower if a claimant has other sources of countable income.

 

Category Monthly payment
Independent living status- Eligible person $733.00
Independent living status- Eligible couple $1,100.00
Living in someone else’s household- Eligible person $488.67
Living in someone else’s household- Eligible couple $733.34
Domiciliary care- Eligible person $1,167.30
Domiciliary care- Eligible couple $2,047.40
Personal care boarding home- Eligible person $1,172.30
Personal care boarding home- Eligible couple $2,057.40
Medicaid facility- Eligible person $30.00
Medicaid facility- Eligible couple $60.00

 

State Statistics

Pennsylvania has quite a large population where just under 9% of the population is considered disabled by the SSA's standards. The data below is from the 2013 state annual report conducted by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

 

Resident Population 7,966,826
Percentage of Population on SSI 3.0%
Percentage of Population on SSDI 5.6%
Average Monthly SSI Payment $540.53
Average Monthly SSDI Payment $1,098.05

 

Pennsylvania Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Many people who are suffering from disabilities may have difficultly finding and keeping employment. Fortunately, the Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR) of Pennsylvania provides services such as job placement and career development that can help disabled individuals. Anyone who is currently receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is eligible (depending on availability) for VR assistance. After signing up, the VR will assign the individual a career councilor who will help them find a job that accommodates for his or her disability.
 

Pennsylvania OVR CENTRAL OFFICE

1521 N. 6th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-787-5244 Voice
717-787-4885 TTY
800-442-6351* Voice
866-830-7327* TTY

Social Security Field Offices, DDS & ODAR

In the state of Pennsylvania, there are 61 Social Security Field offices, 3 Office of Disability Determination Services and 8 Office of Disability Adjudication and Review to provide assistance to the residents with their Social Security needs.

If you have any questions regarding the Social Security Disability application process or want to know the status of your application, please contact your relevant office below.

Pennsylvania Social Security Field Offices

Philadelphia Office

1500 Jfk Blvd
Philadelphia PA 19102
1-800-772-1213

Allentown Office

41 N 4th St
Allentown PA 18102
(610) 433-3237

Altoona Office

303 Cayuga Ave
Altoona PA 16602
(866) 592-3622

Ambridge Office

120 Merchant Street
Ambridge PA 15003
1-800-772-1213

Beaver Falls Office

2105 9th Avenue
Beaver Falls PA 15010
1-800-772-1213

Belle Vernon Office

800 Plaza Dr Suite 320
Belle Vernon PA 15012
(866) 931-4826

Bethlehem Office

555 Main St
Bethlehem PA 18018
(610) 691-2451

Bloomsburg Office

700 Market St
Bloomsburg PA 17815
(570) 784-6224

Butler Office

102 Woody Drive
Butler PA 16001
1-800-772-1213

Carlisle Office

200 S Spring Garden St
Carlisle PA 17013
(717) 243-0085

Chambersburg Office

50 N Third Street
Chambersburg PA 17201
(717) 263-4138

Chester Office

807 Crosby Street
Chester PA 19013
1-800-772-1213

Cranberry Office

80 Regina Dr
Cranberry PA 16319
(814) 676-9293

Dubois Office

302 Liberty Blvd
Dubois PA 15801
(814) 372-1470

East Stroudsburg Office

9090 Franklin Hill Rd
East Stroudsburg PA 18301
1-888-835-6169

Easton Office

134 S Fourth St
Easton PA 18042
(866) 964-5056

Erie Office

717 State St
Suite 500 Erie PA 16501
(814) 452-6696

Fairless Hills Office

444 Lincoln Hwy
Fairless Hills PA 19030
1-800-772-1213

Greensburg Office

122 W 3rd Street
Greensburg PA 15601
(724) 837-9718

Harrisburg Office

555 Walnut Street
Harrisburg PA 17101
(888) 327-1176

Hazleton Office

88 South Laurel Street
Hazleton PA 18201
(570) 455-2139

Hermitage Office

295 N Kerrwood Drive
Hermitage PA 16148
1-800-772-1213

Indiana Office

1265 Wayne Ave
Indiana PA 15701
(724) 463-9122

Philadelphia Office

701 East Chelten Ave
Philadelphia PA 19144
1-800-772-1213

Johnstown Office

334 Washington St
Johnstown PA 15901
(866) 331-7128

Kittanning Office

159 Butler Rd St 1
Kittanning PA 16201
(724) 548-5666

Lancaster Office

1809 Olde Homestead Ln
Lancaster PA 17601
(717) 291-2168

Lebanon Office

924 Russell Drive
Lebanon PA 17042
(717) 272-5342

Lewistown Office

208 West 3rd Street
Lewistown PA 17044
(888) 306-4336

Mckeesport Office

520 5th Ave
Mckeesport PA 15132
1-800-772-1213

Meadville Office

19063 Park Ave Plaza
Meadville PA 16335
(814) 333-9040

Monroeville Office

322 Monroeville Mall
Monroeville PA 15146
1-800-772-1213

New Castle Office

1708 Wilmington Rd
New Castle PA 16105
1-800-772-1213

New Kensington Office

707 5th Ave
New Kensington PA 15068
1-800-772-1213

Norristown Office

1700 Markley Street
Norristown PA 19401
1-800-772-1213

Philadelphia Office

1234 Market St
Philadelphia PA 19107
1-800-772-1213

Philadelphia Office

4240 Market Street
Philadelphia PA 19104
1-800-772-1213

Philadelphia Office

2373 Welsh Road
Philadelphia PA 19114
1-800-772-1213

Philadelphia Office

3336 S Broad Street
Philadelphia PA 19145
1-800-772-1213

Philadelphia Office

1514 W Cecil B Moore
Philadelphia PA 19121
1-800-772-1213

Philadelphia Office

3400 Aramingo Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19134
1-800-772-1213

Philadelphia Office

2929 North Broad St
Philadelphia PA 19132
1-800-772-1213

Pittsburgh Office

921 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh PA 15222
1-800-772-1213

Pittsburgh Office

650 Washington Road
Pittsburgh PA 15228
1-800-772-1213

Pittsburgh Office

6117 Penn Circle
North Pittsburgh PA 15206
1-800-772-1213

Pittsburgh Office

4 Allegheny Center
Pittsburgh PA 15212
1-800-772-1213

Royersford Office

39 W Ridge Pike
Royersford PA 19468
1-866-964-7415

Pottsville Office

2221 W. Market Street
Pottsville PA 17901
(570) 622-7255

Reading Office

201 Penn St
Reading PA 19601
(610) 320-5235

Scranton Office

409 Lackawanna Avenue
Scranton PA 18503
(570) 342-8062

Somerset Office

451 Aberdeen Drive
Somerset PA 15501
(814) 443-9650

State College Office

901 University Dr
State College PA 16801
(814) 238-5035

Sunbury Office

300 Market St
Sunbury PA 17801
(866) 593-3796

Towanda Office

1 Progress Plaza
Towanda PA 18848
(570) 265-2137

Uniontown Office

942 Morgantown Street
Uniontown PA 15401
(724) 439-3544

Upper Darby Office

1570 Garrett Rd
Upper Darby PA 19082
1-800-772-1213

Washington Office

95 W Beau St
Washington PA 15301
(724) 228-4555

West Chester Office

1101 West Chester Pike
West Chester PA 19382
1-800-772-1213

Wilkes Barre Office

7 N Wilkes Barre Blvd
Wilkes Barre PA 18702
(570) 826-6372

Williamsport Office

240 West 3rd St
Williamsport PA 17701
(570) 323-9856

York Office

950 Borom Road
York PA 17404
(888) 329-5732

Pennsylvania Disability Determination Services

Office Of Disability Determination Services

47 South Washington Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Phone:    570-824-8971

Office Of Disability Determination Services

351 Harvey Avenue
P.O. Box 2500
Greensburg, PA 15605
Phone:    724-836-5100

Office Of Disability Determination Services

1171 S. Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2594
Phone:    717-783-3620

Pennsylvania Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 250
8380 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
Telephone: (866) 964-7369
Fax: (215) 887-0541
eFile Fax: (877) 548-8806
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Fairless Hills, Philadelphia (NE)

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

8th Floor
2 North 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Telephone: (888) 352-3691
Fax: (717) 236-3150
eFile Fax: (877) 548-8807
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Carlisle, Chambersburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lewistown, York

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 200
334 Washington Street
Johnstown, PA 15901-9954
Telephone: (866) 331-7134
Fax: (814) 535-4057
eFile Fax: (877) 548-8809
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Altoona, DuBois, Indiana, Johnstown, Limerick, Reading, State College

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

21st Floor
1601 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: (866) 964-6288
Fax: (215) 982-4734
eFile Fax: (877) 548-8810
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Norristown, Philadelphia (Aramingo), Philadelphia (Downtown), Philadelphia (South), Philadelphia (West), West Chester

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 502
833 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Telephone: (866) 572-9721
Fax: (215) 597-3480
eFile Fax: (877) 548-8811
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Chester, Philadelphia (Germantown), Philadelphia (Nicetown), Upper Darby

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 2308
1000 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Telephone: (866) 331-2291
Fax: (412) 644-4200
eFile Fax: (877) 560-5935
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Greensburg, McKeesport, Monroeville, New Kensington, Pittsburgh (Downtown), Pittsburgh (East), Pittsburgh (Mt. Lebanon), Rostraver, Washington

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

One Adams Place, Suite 200
300 Seven Fields Boulevard
Mars, PA 16046
Telephone: (855) 278-4199
Fax: (724) 742-4836
eFile Fax: (877) 560-5935
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Ambridge, Butler, Cranberry (formerly Oil City), Erie, Kittanning, Meadville, New Castle, Sharon

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Stegmaier Building, Suite 201
7 North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702-5242
Telephone: (866) 895-1594
Fax: (570) 821-4169
eFile Fax: (877) 560-5936
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices:

PENNSYLVANIA: Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Hazleton, Pottsville, Scranton, Selinsgrove, Towanda, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport