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How To Apply for Disability in North Carolina

 

Disabled residents of North Carolina can apply for and obtain disability benefits if his or her condition makes work extremely difficult, if at all possible. The state Disability Determinations agency makes the initial decision for approval for either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). North Carolina utilizes a different model for the initial application to speed up the process, which is discussed in more detail below. This article is about Social Security Disability information and resources in North Carolina.

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

Appeal Hearings in North Carolina

An applicant of Social Security Disability can get denied for several reasons such as not providing enough medical evidence or exceeding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). These individuals can file for an appeal in front of Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) if he or she believes they were wrongfully denied. North Carolina is known to have a higher percentage of cases approved at the hearing level than most other states in the nation. There are 55 ALJs who go to hearings at the 4 hearing offices throughout North Carolina. The statistics below are from North Carolina's hearing offices.

 

North Carolina National
Avg. Hearing Wait Time 18.5 Months 14.9 Months
Average Processing Time 564 Days 461 Days
Cases Approved 50% 44%
Cases Denied 36% 38%
Cases Dismissed 14% 18%

 

North Carolina’s Single Decision-Maker Model

Known as the Single Decision-Maker (SDM) model, North Carolina allows their Disability Determinations offices to use only the disability examiner to make a medical assessment about an individual’s physical ability to perform work. This model only can be used when evaluating an applicant’s physical conditions because federal law requires a psychologist or psychiatrist to be involved in the decision process for mental disabilities. This model was utilized to help speed up the application process and improve overall efficiency.

During an appeals hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) can’t consider the opinion of the disability examiner who completed the SDM when making his or her decision. If an applicant believes an ALJ wrongfully considered the disability examiner’s opinion during the hearing and was later denied, he or she can take that evidence to an appeal before the Appeals Council.

 

North Carolina State Supplements for SSI

The maximum amount any recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can receive from the Social Security Administration (SSA) on a monthly basis is $733 as of 2015. Although it is possible to receive more depending on the state the recipient is currently living in through what is called a state supplemental benefit. Most states provide a state supplement to compensate for the recipient’s cost of living.

North Carolina provides a state supplement that is known as State/County Special Assistance (SA) to SSI recipients who live in residential facilities. Residential facilities include the following:

  • Adult care homes
  • Family care homes
  • Group homes

 

State Statistics

Even though every state follows similar procedures throughout the application process for Social Security Disability benefits, every state is different in size, population, average monthly payments, etc. and this results in varying statistics for each state. Below are general statistics about North Carolina provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

 

Resident Population 6,155,356
Percentage of Population on SSI 2.4%
Percentage of Population on SSDI 5.7%
Average Monthly SSI Payment $490.82
Average Monthly SSDI Payment $1,091.24

 

North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Services

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR) of North Carolina offers career counseling, work training, job placement, and other support services to individuals with disabilities. All individuals who are currently receiving either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are eligible for VR services. Call ahead to schedule an appointment as the VR offices have limited resources and can only assistance so many individuals at a time. To find your local VR office, check out our North Carolina VR Offices page or contact the administrative office below.
 

North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Mailing Address
2801 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2801
Telephone
919-855-3500
1-800-689-9090
919-324-1500 (Videophone)
919-855-3579 (TTY)

Social Security Field Offices, DDS & ODAR

The following is a list of the Social Security offices that serve the disabled residents of North Carolina. Please contact these offices if you have any questions regarding the Social Security application process.

If you are applying benefits or have filed for disability already and need assistance for any reason, please contact your closest office below.

North Carolina Social Security Field Offices

Ahoskie Office

1118 N Academy St
Ahoskie NC 27910
(252) 332-3413

Albemarle Office

1925 E Main St
Albemarle NC 28001
(704) 982-9133

Asheboro Office

157 K Dublin Square Rd
Asheboro NC 27203
1-800-772-1213

Asheville Office

800 Centre Park Drive
Asheville NC 28805
(866) 572-8361

Burlington Office

2010 S. Church Street
Burlington NC 27215
(866) 613-2737

Charlotte Office

5800 Executive Ctr Dr
Charlotte NC 28212
1-800-772-1213

Concord Office

830 Florence St Nw
Concord NC 28027
(704) 788-3130

Durham Office

3004 Tower Blvd
Durham NC 27707
(919) 541-5442

Elizabeth City Office

124 Rich Blvd
Elizabeth City NC 27909
(866) 572-2819

Fayetteville Office

145 Rowan St
Fayetteville NC 28301
(866) 964-6485

Franklin Office

2123 Lakeside Dr
Franklin NC 28734
(866) 562-0738

Gastonia Office

609 Cotton Blossom Cir
Gastonia NC 28054
(866) 331-2193

Goldsboro Office

2605 Medical Office Pl
Goldsboro NC 27534
(866) 964-7372

Greensboro Office

6005 Landmark Cntr Bld
Greensboro NC 27407
(336) 854-1809

Greenville Office

2805 S Charles Blvd
Greenville NC 27858
(252) 758-1634

Henderson Office

858 S Beckford Dr
Henderson NC 27536
(252) 438-8977

Hendersonville Office

205 S Grove Street
Hendersonville NC 28792
(866) 964-5053

Kinston Office

2559 N Queen Street
Kinston NC 28501
(866) 593-5671

Lumberton Office

4430 Kahn Drive
Lumberton NC 28358
(866) 931-7099

Mount Airy Office

1187 North Andy Griffith Parkway
Mount Airy NC 27030
(336) 789-8179

New Bern Office

1420 Mccarthy Blvd
New Bern NC 28562
1-888-491-1885

Raleigh Office

4701 Old Wake Forest
Raleigh NC 27609
(877) 803-6311

Reidsville Office

1624 Way St
Reidsville NC 27320
(866) 748-2091

Rockingham Office

220 East Greene St
Rockingham NC 28379
(910) 895-9097

Rocky Mount Office

2723 Sunset Avenue
Rocky Mount NC 27804
(866) 964-0784

Salisbury Office

1816 E Innes Street
Salisbury NC 28146
(704) 633-9432

Sanford Office

1013 Spring Lane
Sanford NC 27330
(919) 775-1033

Shelby Office

707 Schenck Street
Shelby NC 28150
(704) 480-6202

Smithfield Office

633 Venture Dr
Smithfield NC 27577
(919) 934-5888

Statesville Office

2038 Davie Ave
Statesville NC 28625
(704) 872-8120

Washington Office

1633 John Small Ave
Washington NC 27889
1-866-574-2589

Whiteville Office

204 South Lee Street
Whiteville NC 28472
(910) 642-7182

Wilkesboro Office

1517 River St
Wilkesboro NC 28697
(866) 331-2298

Wilmington Office

1528 S 16th St
Wilmington NC 28401
(866) 964-6227

Wilson Office

2111 Forest Hills Rd W
Wilson NC 27893
(252) 291-5965

Winston Salem Office

1370 Lockland Ave
Winston Salem NC 27103
(336) 722-1132

Roanoke Rapids Office

833 Gregory Drive
Roanoke Rapids NC 27870
1-866-269-2010

 

North Carolina Disability Determination Services

Raleigh Office of Disability Determination Services

P.O. Box 243
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: 919-212-3222

North Carolina Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review

Charlotte Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 300
6701 Carmel Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
Telephone: (888) 397-4124
Fax: (704) 341-8949
eFile Fax: (877) 470-5101
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

NORTH CAROLINA: Albemarle, Charlotte, Concord, Hickory, Gastonia, Salisbury, Shelby, Statesville and SOUTH CAROLINA: Rock Hill

 

Fayetteville Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 200
150 Rowan Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
Telephone: (888) 552-7169
Fax: (910) 483-9542
eFile Fax: (877) 435-0336
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

NORTH CAROLINA: Fayetteville, Kinston, New Bern, Lumberton, Rockingham, Sanford

 

Greensboro Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 300
101 South Edgeworth Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
Telephone: (866) 690-2091
Fax: (336) 333-5435
eFile Fax: (877) 470-5092
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

NORTH CAROLINA: Asheboro, Mt. Airy, Reidsville, Wilkesboro, Winston Salem

 

Raleigh Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

Suite 200
4800 Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
Telephone: (866) 708-3174
Fax: (919) 790-2793
eFile Fax: (877) 470-5095
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services the following Social Security Field Offices:

NORTH CAROLINA: Ahoskie, Durham, Elizabeth City, Goldsboro, Greenville, Henderson, Raleigh, Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Washington, Wilson