How To Apply for Disability in Massachusetts

Even though Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are federally run programs by the Social Security Administration (SSA), every state has slight variations in the way they handle the application process. This page will review the differences for the state of Massachusetts.

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

Chances of Approval at a Hearing

The chances of being approved for Social Security Disability benefits at an appeals hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is just about the same as the national average with a difference of 1%. Claimants in Massachusetts don't have to wait nearly as long, almost by 2 months, for a hearing date compared to the national average. Listed below are some statistics about Massachusetts's hearing offices.
 

Massachusetts National
Avg. Hearing Wait Time 13.0 Months 14.9 Months
Average Processing Time 409 Days 461 Days
Cases Approved 43% 44%
Cases Denied 37% 38%
Cases Dismissed 20% 18%

 

Massachusetts State Supplements for SSI

After an applicant is awarded Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration, they become potentially eligible for Massachusetts’s state supplemental benefits. This benefit program is called the State Supplement Program (SSP). Massachusetts sends the state supplemental payments to claimants directly while the SSA sends the SSI payment separately.

How much an individual will receive depends on their living situation. A single claimant living alone can receive an additional $114.39 while a married claimant can receive an additional $90.03. There are several other living situations that are eligible to additional benefits. To learn more, contact Massachusetts's SSP Customer Service at 1-877-863-1128. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm.

 

State Statistics

Listed below are statistics from the Social Security Administration's most recent state annual report, which was last conducted in 2013. Due to the amount of time and effort it takes to collect and organize all this information from all 50 states, the SSA hasn't released an updated version since then. Even though these numbers are from a couple years ago, they closely resemble today's actual numbers.

 

Resident Population 4,309,566
Percentage of Population on SSI 2.8%
Percentage of Population on SSDI 5.1%
Average Monthly SSI Payment $509.68
Average Monthly SSDI Payment $1,088.31

 

Massachusetts Vocational Rehabilitation Services

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) is the division responsible for offering Vocational Rehabilitation Services to the public. The MRC helps recipients find and retain jobs in the work force that accommodate for their disability. A recipient already receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is already eligible for VR services.

There are several VR offices located throughout Massachusetts. To find your local office, view our Massachusetts Vocational Rehabilitation Services page or contact the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission listed below.

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission

600 Washington Street 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02111
617-204-3600

Social Security Field Offices, DDS & ODAR

Massachusetts is home to 32 Social Security Field Offices, 2 Office of Disability Determination Services and 3 Offices of Disability Adjudication and review. These offices provide assistance to the residents who are looking to receive Social Security disability benefits.

Please contact one of the offices below if you need assistance in filing for disability, checking your application status, or have any questions regarding the Social Security Disability process.

Massachusetts Social Security Field Offices

Attleboro Office

106 Pleasant St
Attleboro MA 02703
(508) 226-2710

Boston Office

10 Causeway Street
Boston MA 02222
1-800-772-1213

Brockton Office

30 Christys Drive
Brockton MA 02301
(508) 427-5386

Chelsea Office

80 Everett Avenue
Chelsea MA 02150
1-800-772-1213

Dorchester Office

115 Freeport St
Dorchester MA 02122
1-800-772-1213

East Falmouth Office

48 Research Rd
East Falmouth MA 02536
(508) 548-8150

Fall River Office

400 North Main Street
Fall River MA 02720
(508) 674-2453

Fitchburg Office

881 Main St
Fitchburg MA 01420
1-877-319-0728

Framingham Office

100 Concord Street
Framingham MA 01702
(866) 964-7589

Gardner Office

55 Lake St
Gardner MA 01440
(978) 632-1004

Greenfield Office

1 Arch Place
Greenfield MA 01301
(413) 774-6031

Hanover Office

198 Columbia Road
Hanover MA 02339
(781) 826-7506

Haverhill Office

367 Main St
Haverhill MA 01830
1-866-964-4324

Holyoke Office

200 High Street
Holyoke MA 01040
(413) 536-3649

Hyannis Office

259 North St
Hyannis MA 02601
(508) 775-7501

Lawrence Office

439 S Union St
Lawrence MA 01843
(978) 686-6171

Lowell Office

151 Warren St
Lowell MA 01852
(978) 452-5509

Lynn Office

140 Union Street
Lynn MA 01901
1-800-325-0778

Malden Office

192 Commercial Street
Malden MA 02148
1-800-772-1213

New Bedford Office

53 North 6th Street
New Bedford MA 02740
(508) 999-3101

North Adams Office

37 Main St
North Adams MA 01247
(413) 664-7951

Norwood Office

One Edgewater Drive
Norwood MA 02062
1-800-325-0778

Pittsfield Office

78 Center St
Pittsfield MA 01201
(413) 445-7958

Quincy Office

1250 Hancock St
Quincy MA 02169
1-800-325-0778

Roslindale Office

4200 Washington St
Roslindale MA 02131
1-800-325-0778

Roxbury Office

10 Malcolm X Blvd
Roxbury MA 02119
1-800-325-0778

Salem Office

10 Federal St
Salem MA 01970
1-800-325-0778

Somerville Office

240 Elm Street
Somerville MA 02144
1-800-325-0778

Springfield Office

70 Bond Street
Springfield MA 01104
(866) 964-5061

Taunton Office

104 Dean St
Taunton MA 02780
(508) 823-5117

Waltham Office

135 Beaver Street
Waltham MA 2453
1-800-325-0778

Worcester Office

51 Myrtle St
Worcester MA 1608
(866) 331-9069

Disability Determination Services

Massachusetts Office of Disability Determination Services

Disability Determination Services
22 Front St.
P.O. Box 8009
Worcester, MA 01614-9981
Phone:508-752-5001

110 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Phone:617-727-1600

Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review

Massachusetts Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
4th Floor
One Bowdoin Square
Boston, MA 02114
Telephone: (888) 870-7573
Fax: (617) 248-0978
eFile Fax: (877) 787-5236
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices

MASSACHUSETTS: Attleboro, Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Dorchester, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Framingham, Gardner, Hanover, Hyannis, Lynn, Malden, Norwood, Quincy Roslindale, Salem, Somerville, Taunton, Waltham

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
Suite 301
439 South Union Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
Telephone: (877) 405-9189
Fax: (978) 687-1918
eFile Fax: (877) 312-6172
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices

MASSACHUSETTS: Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and NEW HAMPSHIRE: Portsmouth

SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
Suite 450
1441 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Telephone: (866) 964-5058
Fax: (413) 734-2347
eFile Fax: (877) 787-5232
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Servicing the following Social Security Field Offices

MASSACHUSETTS: Greenfield, Holyoke, North Adams, Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester