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How to Apply for Disability Benefits in Maryland

Written by

Jackie Jakab

Lead Attorney

Published June 25, 2024

2 min read

Why trust us?

Atticus offers free, high-quality disability advice for Americans who can't work. Our team of Stanford and Harvard-trained lawyers has a combined 15+ years of legal experience and has helped over 50,000 Americans apply for disability benefits.

See if you qualify

If you’re a Maryland resident who can’t work due to an illness or disability, you might qualify for federal disability benefits programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), more than 130,000 Marylanders qualify for SSI, SSDI, or both. Learn more about the eligibility requirements in Maryland and how you can apply for these disability benefits programs.

What benefits are available in Maryland?

Maryland does not offer a statewide disability program. However, if you’re a sick or injured Marylander, you may qualify for Social Security benefits through the federal government or a private insurance company. As a Maryland resident, your options include:

Social Security Disability Insurance: SSDI is geared toward those who are unable to work due to a long-term disability and offers monthly payments and Medicare. To qualify, you must have previously worked and paid taxes.
Supplemental Security Income: If you have little to no work history, very little income, and few assets, you might be eligible for SSI, a similar federal program that pays monthly benefits and includes Medicaid.
Veterans disability benefits: If you’re a veteran with an injury related to your military service that prevents you from working, you can apply to receive benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Private disability insurance: If you were covered by long-term or short-term disability insurance through an employer or private insurance company before your injury or illness began, you might have access to disability benefits. Check with your provider.

We've helped 2,553 people apply for benefits in Maryland.

SSDI vs. SSI: What’s the difference?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are government programs that provide monthly payments and health insurance coverage if you can’t work because of an illness or injury that is unrelated to your work. Here are a few areas of difference between SSDI and SSI:

Work history: SSDI is for people who have worked at least five out of the last 10 years and have paid taxes into Social Security. Meanwhile, SSI is for people with little to no work history, very low income, and few assets.
Payment amounts: The amount of SSI benefits you can receive depends on your assets and income level, whereas SSDI payments depend on the amount you paid in Social Security taxes. Typically, monthly SSI payments are lower than monthly SSDI benefits.
Healthcare: Medicare goes to SSDI recipients, while Medicaid goes to SSI beneficiaries.

How to apply for disability in Maryland

There are three ways to apply for Social Security disability benefits in Maryland, including:

Online. Visit SSA.gov, click “Create Account,” and verify your identity. Before completing the application online, you can download the application and fill it out so you re familiar with the questions.
Over the phone. You can call the SSA national number at 1-800-772-1213 or contact an SSA office near you.
In person. An agent at your nearest SSA office can help you complete your application. However, the agent is not allowed to provide legal advice. For more support, call Atticus to connect with a disability lawyer who can navigate you every step of the way.

Keep in mind, it’s common to have your application rejected the first time you apply. Although some people are accepted right away, nearly 70% of applicants are denied and must file for reconsideration. Reconsiderations are often denied as well — about 91% of the time — requiring you to request a hearing with an administrative law judge.

At a hearing, about 50% of people win benefits — and your odds increase threefold if you work with a disability lawyer. We wrote at length about what to expect at a hearing and your chances of winning your appeal.

3 disability application tips

When you’re applying for disability benefits, the goal is to give honest, concise, and consistent answers across all your application forms. Consider these top three disability application tips from our disability lawyers:

Keep your answers honest and concise. Don’t volunteer extra information about your life, your disability, or your work unless it’s genuinely necessary for the SSA to understand your answer. The SSA is only concerned with your eligibility according to its rules.
Keep your answers consistent. Avoid contradicting yourself throughout the application package, including across the forms you submit. The SSA will potentially view conflicting answers as reasons to reject your application. As an example, saying that your arthritis restricts your range of motion but then later mentioning that you can cook or dress yourself without any issues will raise a red flag for the SSA.
Be detailed, but don’t exaggerate. Don’t include anything on your application that isn’t true. Also, be mindful of what could sound like an exaggeration to someone else. The person reading your application won’t be as familiar with your condition as you are.

Read more of our tips for filling out your disability application.

SSA offices in Maryland

The SSA recommends calling its national number or checking its website for up-to-date information. However, if you’d like to speak to someone in person, you can visit one of the 23 field offices in Maryland.

Abingdon

Corporate Center Dr 3435A Box Hill

Abingdon, MD 21009