Kansas Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability and SSI

Find out about Kansas' state supplemental payments, plus how to appeal a denial of Social Security disability or SSI and whether you qualify for Medicaid.

Updated By , Attorney · UC Law San Francisco

Kansas does not provide short-term disability benefits like some other states, but residents of Kansas who can no longer work due to medical conditions may qualify for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or workers' compensation (for on-the-job injuries).

Social Security Disability and SSI

SSDI and SSI, federal programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), can be very difficult to qualify for. Your disability must be expected to last for at least one year and prevent you from doing a significant amount of work.

In addition, SSDI is available only to those who have worked a good number of years paying taxes to Social Security, while SSI is available only to those with low income and low assets. Sometimes disability applicants can qualify for both SSDI and SSI.

After your local SSA office reviews your disability application to see whether you qualify for SSDI, SSI, or both, for technical requirements (such as amount of work credits or monthly income), the SSA sends it to Disability Determination Services (DDS), a state agency in charge of making disability determinations for the SSA. In a recent year, claims examiners at the Kansas DDS approved disability for 47% of the applications they see, a percentage that's well above the national average.

Contact information for DDS follows:

Kansas Disability Determination Services
2820 SW Fairlawn Road, Suite 100
Topeka, Kansas 66614
785-267-4440

Medicaid in Kansas

The State of Kansas provides Medicaid coverage (called KanCare) automatically to all disabled recipients of SSI.

Kansas pays an additional monthly amount (called a state supplement) to disabled adults who qualify for SSI and live in Medicaid nursing homes or other Medicaid facilities. Individuals receive an extra $32 per month; couples receive an extra $64 per month. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Healthcare Finances, administers the state supplement.

    Disability Advocacy Resources in Kansas

    Kansas's main advocacy and assistance organization for the disabled is:

    Kansas Advocacy & Protective Services, Inc.
    635 S.W. Harrison Street, Suite 100
    Topeka, KS 66603
    785-273-9661

    Kansas Workers' Comp

    If your disability was the result of a job-related injury or illness that had lasting consequences to your ability to work, you may be able to get permanent or temporary disability benefits. In Kansas, most employers are legally required to carry worker's compensation insurance for their employees. Workers' comp benefits are usually easier to get than Social Security disability or SSI, because the workers' comp program covers partial disabilities.

    Getting Legal Help

    If you've been denied SSDI or SSI benefits, consider contacting a disability lawyer to help you appeal. You can arrange a free consultation with a Kansas disability lawyer using our lawyer directory.

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