What disability programs are available in Virginia

Virginia offers two main paths to cash benefits and health coverage for people with disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is federal and available everywhere, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), also federal but with different rules about how much money and property you can have. Both are run by the Social Security Administration. Virginia also runs its own programs—Virginia Medicaid for health coverage and ABLE accounts for saving money without losing benefits—but these work alongside the federal programs, not instead of them.

The program you can use depends on your work history, current income, and assets. If you worked and paid Social Security taxes before your disability began, SSDI is usually your route. If you have little or no work history, or if your assets are very limited, SSI may be the better fit. Many people may have access to for both at the same time.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI is based on your own work history or a parent's work history; SSI is based on financial need and is much more restrictive about money and property you can own.
  • Virginia Medicaid covers health care for people on SSI and some people on SSDI, with different income and asset limits depending on which program you are on.
  • You file for SSDI and SSI through the Social Security Administration, either online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office.
  • The Social Security Administration has a field office in most Virginia cities; you can find yours on ssa.gov/locator.
  • Virginia has work incentive programs that let you earn money and keep some or all of your benefits, but the rules are strict and you must report your earnings.

SSDI in Virginia: Based on your work history

SSDI pays monthly cash benefits to you if you have a medical condition that prevents substantial work and you have worked long enough under Social Security. The amount you receive is based on your own earnings record—how much you earned and how long you paid into Social Security. Your spouse and children may also receive benefits on your record.

To may have access to, you must have worked in jobs where you paid Social Security taxes (FICA taxes) for a certain number of quarters—usually 40 quarters total, with at least 20 of those in the 10 years before your disability began. The exact requirement depends on your age when the disability started. You do not have to be retired to receive SSDI; you can be any age.

SSDI has no asset limit—you can own a house, a car, savings, and investments without affecting your benefits. There is no income limit either, though if you work and earn above a certain amount ($1,550 per month in 2024, though this changes yearly), the Social Security Administration will review whether you are still disabled.

SSI in Virginia: Based on financial need

SSI is a needs-based program. You can receive it if you have a disability, are blind, or are 65 or older, and your income and assets fall below strict limits. In Virginia, the monthly SSI payment for an individual is set by the federal government and does not vary by state, but Virginia can add a small state supplement in some cases.

To may have access to for SSI, your countable income must be below the federal limit (roughly $943 per month for an individual in 2024, though this changes yearly), and your countable assets must be below $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. Many types of income and assets do not count—for example, your home does not count, and the first $65 of monthly earned income does not count. But savings, vehicles beyond one, and investment accounts do count.

SSI is harder to may have access to for than SSDI because of these strict limits, but it does not require a work history. If you have never worked, or worked very little, SSI may be your only option for federal cash benefits.

Virginia Medicaid and health coverage

Virginia Medicaid covers health care—doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, mental health services—for people on SSI and for some people on SSDI. The income and asset limits for Medicaid are different from the limits for cash benefits, and they vary depending on which program you are on.

If you are on SSI, you are usually covered by Virginia Medicaid automatically. If you are on SSDI, you become covered after you have received SSDI for 24 months. Virginia also covers some people with disabilities who earn too much for SSI but not enough to afford private insurance; this is called the Working Disabled Program. The income limit for the Working Disabled Program is higher than for SSI.

To enroll in Virginia Medicaid or to check your coverage, contact the Virginia Department of Medical information Services at 1-800-432-5924 or visit dmas.virginia.gov. You can also enroll through the federal healthcare marketplace at healthcare.gov during open enrollment.

How to file for SSDI or SSI in Virginia

You file for both SSDI and SSI through the Social Security Administration. You can start the process online at ssa.gov/applyfordisability, by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or by visiting a Social Security office in person. The online process takes about 15 minutes and you can save your progress and come back to it.

When you file, have ready: your Social Security number, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, medical records related to your condition, a list of doctors and hospitals you have visited, and information about your work history (dates, employers, job titles). If you are filing for SSI, you will also need to report your income, assets, and living situation.

After you file, the Social Security Administration sends your case to the Disability information Services (DDS) office in Virginia. This office reviews your medical evidence and decides whether you meet the definition of disability. This process usually takes 3 to 6 months. You will receive a letter telling you whether you were approved or denied.

What happens if you are denied

If the Social Security Administration denies your claim, you have the right to appeal. You have 60 days from the date on the denial letter to file an appeal. There are four levels of appeal: reconsideration, hearing before an administrative law judge, Appeals Council review, and federal court.

At the reconsideration stage, a different examiner at the Virginia DDS office reviews your case and any new medical evidence you submit. This takes another 3 to 6 months. If you are denied again, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge, which usually takes 6 to 12 months to schedule but gives you a chance to present your case in person or by phone.

Many people hire a disability representative or attorney to help with appeals. Representatives are paid only if you win, and their fee is capped by the Social Security Administration at 25% of your back pay, up to $7,200. You can find a representative through the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (nosscr.org) or ask your local Social Security office for a referral.

Work incentives and keeping benefits while you earn

Both SSDI and SSI have programs that let you work and keep some or all of your benefits. These are called work incentives, and they exist because the Social Security Administration recognizes that many people with disabilities can work part-time or with support.

Under SSDI, you can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) without affecting your benefits during a trial work period of nine months. After the trial work period, you enter an extended may be able to access period where you can earn more, but your benefits stop if you earn above the limit. If you stop working or your earnings drop, your benefits restart without a new process.

Under SSI, the first $65 of monthly earned income does not count, and half of earnings above that do not count either. This means you can earn more under SSI's rules than under SSDI's rules before your benefits are affected, but SSI's asset limits are much stricter. Both programs have a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and assets for a specific work goal without losing benefits.

Virginia also runs the Ticket to Work program, which gives you a ticket you can give to an employment service provider. The provider helps you find work, and while you are using the ticket, your benefits are protected even if you earn above the normal limit. You can learn more at choosework.ssa.gov.

Other Virginia disability resources

Beyond SSDI and SSI, Virginia offers other programs for people with disabilities. The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) provides vocational rehabilitation—job training, assistive technology, and job placement services—at no cost to people with disabilities who want to work. You can contact DARS at 1-800-552-3962 or visit dars.virginia.gov.

The Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS) helps people with disabilities get devices and services that increase independence—hearing aids, mobility equipment, communication devices, and more. VATS can sometimes help you pay for these items or connect you with funding sources. Contact VATS at 1-800-435-8490 or visit vats.org.

If you are a veteran with a disability, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers disability compensation, pension, and health care separate from Social Security. You can file at va.gov or at the VA regional office in Richmond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get both SSDI and SSI at the same time?

Yes. If you may have access to for SSDI but your SSDI payment is very low, the Social Security Administration may also pay you SSI to bring your total income up to the SSI federal benefit rate. This is called concurrent benefits. You must meet the rules for both programs—including SSI's strict asset limits—to receive both.

What counts as a disability under Social Security?

Social Security has a list of conditions that automatically may have access to—certain cancers, heart disease, and neurological conditions, among others—but you do not have to have a listed condition. You can also may have access to if your condition, in combination with your age and work history, prevents you from doing any substantial work. The Social Security Administration compares your condition to what jobs exist in the national economy, not just jobs in Virginia.

How long does it take to get approved for SSDI or SSI?

Initial decisions usually take 3 to 6 months. If you are denied and appeal, a reconsideration takes another 3 to 6 months, and a hearing before a judge can take 6 to 12 months or longer depending on the judge's caseload. You can receive back pay going back to the month you filed, so the longer the process takes, the larger your back payment may be.

What if I move out of Virginia?

Your SSDI or SSI benefits follow you. The Social Security Administration is federal, so your case stays active no matter where you live. If you move to another state, notify your local Social Security office so your address is updated. Your Medicaid coverage may change depending on the state you move to, so contact that state's Medicaid office.

Can I work and still receive SSDI or SSI?

Yes, but the rules are strict and you must report your earnings. Under SSDI, you have a nine-month trial work period where you can earn any amount without losing benefits. Under SSI, the first $65 per month of earnings does not count. Both programs have work incentive programs like PASS and Ticket to Work that protect your benefits while you work toward a goal. You must report all earnings to the Social Security Administration.