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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 Office1118 N Academy St |
Albemarle Office1925 E Main St |
Asheboro Office157 K Dublin Square Rd |
Asheville Office800 Centre Park Drive |
Burlington Office2010 S. Church Street |
Charlotte Office5800 Executive Ctr Dr |
Concord Office830 Florence St Nw |
Durham Office3004 Tower Blvd |
Elizabeth City Office124 Rich Blvd |
Fayetteville Office145 Rowan St |
Franklin Office2123 Lakeside Dr |
Gastonia Office609 Cotton Blossom Cir |
Goldsboro Office2605 Medical Office Pl |
Greensboro Office6005 Landmark Cntr Bld |
Greenville Office2805 S Charles Blvd |
Henderson Office858 S Beckford Dr |
Hendersonville Office205 S Grove Street |
Kinston Office2559 N Queen Street |
Lumberton Office4430 Kahn Drive |
Mount Airy Office1187 North Andy Griffith Parkway |
New Bern Office1420 Mccarthy Blvd |
Raleigh Office4701 Old Wake Forest |
Reidsville Office1624 Way St |
Rockingham Office220 East Greene St |
Rocky Mount Office2723 Sunset Avenue |
Salisbury Office1816 E Innes Street |
Sanford Office1013 Spring Lane |
Shelby Office707 Schenck Street |
Smithfield Office633 Venture Dr |
Statesville Office2038 Davie Ave |
Washington Office1633 John Small Ave |
Whiteville Office204 South Lee Street |
Wilkesboro Office1517 River St |
Wilmington Office1528 S 16th St |
Wilson Office2111 Forest Hills Rd W |
Winston Salem Office1370 Lockland Ave |
Roanoke Rapids Office833 Gregory Drive |
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: