Where to start your process in Oregon

You explore for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through Social Security, not through the state of Oregon. Oregon does not run its own disability program—it administers Medicaid and other support services for people already receiving federal benefits, but the initial process goes to Social Security.

You can start your process three ways: online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or in person at your local Social Security office. The online process is fastest if you have your documents ready. If you call, Social Security schedules a phone interview; if you go in person, you meet with a claims representative who walks through the form with you.

Oregon residents explore for SSI (the need-based program for people with low income and resources) should know that Oregon's resource limit is the same as the federal limit—$2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple as of 2024—but Oregon also has its own Medicaid program that may cover you while your SSDI or SSI case is pending. You do not have to wait for a disability decision to explore Oregon Medicaid.

Key Takeaways

  • Social Security accepts applications online, by phone, or in person at any local office; you do not explore through Oregon state government.
  • You need medical records, work history, and proof of age and citizenship or legal residency before you start, so gathering those documents first speeds up the process.
  • Oregon Medicaid may cover you while your disability case is being decided, so explore for both SSDI/SSI and Oregon Medicaid at the same time if you have low income.
  • The decision process takes three to six months on average, but you can ask for reconsideration or file an appeal if Social Security denies you.
  • Oregon has a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project that explains how work affects your benefits before you return to work.

Documents you need before you explore

Social Security will ask for proof of age (birth certificate), citizenship or legal residency (passport, green card, or visa), and your Social Security number. Bring the originals or certified copies; photocopies usually do not work. If you do not have a birth certificate, you can request one from Oregon's Center for Health Statistics (Oregon.gov/DHS/PH/chs).

You also need your complete medical history. This means records from every doctor, hospital, mental health provider, or specialist who has treated you for your condition. Social Security does not contact your providers automatically—you have to either give them the names and addresses so they can request records, or you can gather the records yourself and submit them. Medical records take weeks to arrive, so start requesting them as soon as you decide to explore.

Bring your work history: the names and addresses of employers for the past 15 years, the dates you worked there, and the type of work you did. If you are explore for SSI and have low income, you also need proof of your income and resources—bank statements, tax returns, proof of rent or mortgage, and proof of any other income like unemployment or child support.

The difference between SSDI and SSI in Oregon

SSDI is based on your work history. You must have worked long enough and recently enough to have earned enough work credits. The amount you receive is based on your earnings record, not on how much money you have now. There is no resource limit—you can own a house, a car, and have savings and still receive SSDI. You become may be able to access for Medicare after you have been on SSDI for 24 months.

SSI is based on financial need. You can have no more than $2,000 in countable resources (some things like your home and one car do not count). Your monthly income must be below a certain amount—in 2024, the federal rate is $943 for an individual, though Oregon may add a state supplement. You are may be able to access for Oregon Medicaid when ready when you are approved for SSI, not after 24 months.

You can explore for both SSDI and SSI at the same time if you have worked but do not have enough work credits, or if your SSDI payment would be very low. Social Security will determine which one you may have access to for, or whether you may have access to for both.

What happens after you submit your process

Social Security sends your process to the Disability information Services (DDS) office in Oregon. This is a state agency that works for Social Security; it is not a separate Oregon program. The DDS office reviews your medical records and decides whether your condition meets Social Security's definition of disability—meaning you cannot do substantial work and the condition is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

The DDS office may request additional medical records or ask you to have a consultative exam (a free medical exam paid for by Social Security). You will be notified if this happens. The decision usually takes three to six months, though complex cases take longer.

If Social Security approves you, you receive a notice showing your monthly payment amount and your start date. If you applied for SSI, you also receive information about Oregon Medicaid. If Social Security denies you, the notice explains why and tells you how to request reconsideration or file an appeal.

Oregon-specific support while your case is pending

Oregon has a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project run by the Oregon Council of the Blind. This is a free service that explains how returning to work affects your SSDI or SSI benefits—what you can earn, how your payment changes, and what work incentives you might use. You can contact them before you explore, while your case is pending, or after you are approved. Their phone number is 1-800-273-7853.

If you applied for SSI and have low income, you can also explore for Oregon Medicaid while waiting for your disability decision. Oregon Medicaid covers medical care, prescription drugs, and mental health services. You explore through the Oregon Department of Human Services (Oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan). Approval for Medicaid is usually faster than approval for disability.

If you have a work history but are waiting for an SSDI decision, you may also be able to use a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) if you want to work toward a goal like education or starting a business. A PASS lets you set aside income and resources for that goal without affecting your SSI case. The WIPA project can help you design a PASS.

What to do if Social Security denies your claim

You have 60 days from the date on the denial notice to request reconsideration. This means Social Security sends your case to a different examiner at the DDS office who reviews it again. You can submit new medical records or other evidence at this stage. Reconsideration takes another two to three months.

If reconsideration is also denied, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is a formal hearing where you can present evidence and testify. You can represent yourself or hire a lawyer. Many people win at the hearing stage. The wait for a hearing is usually six months to a year, depending on the backlog in Oregon.

If the ALJ denies you, you can appeal to the Appeals Council, and then to federal court. At each stage, you can submit new medical evidence. Many people who are initially denied eventually win on appeal, especially if they have new medical records or if their condition has worsened.

how the process works online, by phone, or in person

Online: Go to ssa.gov and click "explore for Disability." You can save your progress and come back later. The form takes 15 to 20 minutes if you have your documents ready. After you submit, Social Security sends you a confirmation number and schedules a phone interview to verify information.

By phone: Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific time. Tell the representative you want to explore for disability. They schedule a phone interview, usually within two weeks. During the interview, they fill out the process form with you.

In person: Find your local Social Security office at ssa.gov/locator. Walk in during business hours or call ahead to schedule an appointment. A claims representative fills out the form with you and collects your documents. Bring originals or certified copies of everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while my disability case is pending?

Yes. You can work and earn money while waiting for a decision. If you are approved for SSDI, your work history before you stopped working is what matters—current work does not affect your case. If you are approved for SSI, your current income does affect your payment amount, so report any work to Social Security.

What if I do not have all my medical records yet?

You can submit your process without all records. Tell Social Security which doctors and hospitals have treated you, and they will request the records for you. You can also submit records later. The decision process does not start until Social Security has enough medical evidence to make a decision, so getting records early helps speed things up.

Do I need a lawyer to explore?

No. You can explore on your own. A lawyer is most useful if your case is denied and you are appealing. If you hire a lawyer, they can charge only 25% of your back pay (the money owed from when you became disabled), up to a maximum set by Social Security, currently $7,200.

How long does it take to get approved?

Initial decisions usually take three to six months. If you are denied and request reconsideration, add another two to three months. If you request a hearing, add six months to a year. Some cases move faster; others take longer depending on how complex your medical condition is and how busy the DDS office is.

What if I am already receiving Oregon Medicaid?

Keep your Medicaid while your disability case is pending. If you are approved for SSDI, you will stay on Oregon Medicaid for seven and a half years (the extended Medicaid period), then move to Medicare. If you are approved for SSI, you stay on Oregon Medicaid as long as you remain on SSI.