If you become unable to work because of a medical condition and you live in Wisconsin, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). While SSDI and SSI are federal programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), Wisconsin handles its own disability determinations and sets the amount paid to SSI recipients in Wisconsin. The State of Wisconsin does not offer short-term disability payments.
Wisconsin Disability Determination Bureau
Wisconsin’s Disability Determination Bureau (DDB) is the agency that handles disability determinations on Social Security and SSI claims in Wisconsin. DDB falls under the Wisconsin Division of Health Care Access and Accountability.
After Social Security checks your initial application for basic eligibility for Social Security or SSI, it forwards the application to DDB. Here is the main contact information for DDB, should you need to check on the status of your case.
Disability
Determination Bureau
P.O. Box 7886
Madison, WI 53707
800-423-1938
Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is the office that handles appeals for Social Security and SSI disability claims. ODAR has two hearing offices in Wisconsin, one in Madison and the other in Milwaukee. Below is their contact information.
Madison Hearing Office
2501 W. Beltline Highway, Ste. 305
Madison, WI, 53713
(877) 600-2854
Milwaukee Hearing Office
310 West Wisconsin Avenue, Rm. 300W
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(866) 495-0039
Wisconsin SSI Payments
If you are approved for SSI, you’ll receive up to $710 from the federal government (minus your countable income). In addition, Wisconsin also offers small additional payments for those receiving SSI. The amount Wisconsin pays depends on your living situation and is set out below.
|
Living Situation |
Supplement Amount |
|
Living alone or in another’s household |
$83.78 |
|
Living with a spouse who doesn’t receive SSI |
$130.43 |
|
Living in another’s household with a spouse who doesn’t receive SSI |
$135.05 |
|
Living in a private group home or residential setting with support |
$179.77 |
In addition, a monthly cash benefit of up to $95.99 is available to SSI recipients who can show that their expenses are higher than their SSI payment because of living in a group home or needing long-term support services. You apply for the supplement through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. For more information, visit its website at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ssi/benefits.htm.
Also, if you have dependent children living at home, ask your county’s department of social or human services about the caretaker supplement.
Wisconsin Disability Lawyers
When filing a Social Security disability claim or appealing a decision, being represented by a lawyer who is familiar with Social Security can really make a difference in whether you succeed in winning your claim. You can arrange a free consultation with a Wisconsin disability lawyer here.
