Illinois Disability Benefits

The Illinois Department of Human services’ Disability Determination Services administers the state’s Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. The program assists those who are unable to work due to a disability.

Illinois DDS is charged with issuing determinations about which citizens are eligible for SSDI benefits and Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The DDS will collect and review all of your medical records and information and may also schedule a consultative examination for you with a medical doctor the DDS retains.

If you live in Illinois and have a disability that keeps you from being able to work, one or both of these programs may be able to help. These disability programs offer financial benefits for disabled individuals but with much different financial eligibility requirements.

Facts About Illinois

Roughly one in four (23%) of all Illinois residents report suffering from some form of medical disability. These disabilities cost the state of Illinois approximately $32.8 billion per year in health care costs – equal to around 33% of the state’s total health care spending. This balances out to nearly $19,000 per disabled Illinois resident.

Residents of Illinois are most likely to report disabilities that deal with either mobility or cognition. Out of the estimated 8 million residents of the state of Illinois, roughly 3.5% receive some form of Social Security disability benefits.

How To Qualify for SSDI in Illinois

In the state of Illinois, qualified SSDI claimants must be currently disabled and have enough work credits. These work credits are earned by staying employed over the years and paying FICA taxes on each paycheck.

In addition to the work credits requirement, you must also meet the Social Security Administration’s strict definition of disability. Based on your medical records, background information, and other documentation, the Illinois DDS will determine whether the disability meets the criteria. The DDS must also determine if your medical condition is expected to last at least a year and/or for the duration of your life.

Please note that the SSA definition of disability sets a high bar and is often difficult to prove. Many applications for Social Security benefits in Illinois are denied during their first submission and must file an appeal.

Once a person is approved for Social Security benefits in Illinois, their local Social Security office will determine the monthly disability benefit amount and will advise the recipient when to expect the first monthly benefit check.

SSDI services are administered through 56 local offices located throughout the state of Illinois. To find your nearest Social Security office, you may call 800-772-1213. A service representative will be able to tell you your nearest SSA office based on your city, state, and zip code.

How To Apply for SSDI in Illinois

The easiest way to apply for SSDI benefits is online at ssa.gov/benefits/disability.

You also may apply at your local SSA office, though some offices require you to make an appointment in advance. The third option for submitting your disability application is over the phone by calling 800-772-1213.

It’s important to provide thorough and complete information. You will be asked to provide information about your education, medical condition, medical treatments for that condition, and your comprehensive work history for up to 15 years.

Many initial claims are denied because the application response is incomplete or does not provide sufficient medical records, appropriate documentation, and thorough information.

Once your application is submitted, it generally takes around 90 days to receive a determination notice.

How To Appeal a Denial in Illinois

In Illinois, nearly 60% of all initial SSDI claims are denied. But after your initial application remains two additional stages of review – reconsideration and disability hearing with an administrative law judge.

If your initial disability claim is denied, don’t lose hope. You can request that it be reviewed by an SSA representative who was not involved in your first review. At this point, it may be helpful to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable disability attorney. An experienced lawyer can help you understand your chances of being approved, and chart your path through the appeal process.

More Illinois Benefits

In addition to the SSDI program, the state of Illinois offers the following programs to eligible Illinois residents.

SSI

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program designed to provide monthly financial benefits to low-income residents who are age 65 or older, are blind, or disabled.

In Illinois, you can expect to receive up to $771 per month in federal SSI payments as a single individual or $1,157 for couples. If you have documentation to show that your expenses exceed the total amount of your SSI benefits, the Illinois Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled program may help supplement your federal SSI check. If you have questions about whether you qualify for either of these programs, a disability attorney may be able to help you.

Illinois Medicaid

You also may be eligible for the Illinois Medicaid program if you meet income and asset requirements. Also, if you are blind or disabled, you may qualify for Medicaid if your income is at or below the federal poverty level.

To be eligible for Medicaid in Illinois, you must be a resident of the state of Illinois, a U.S. citizen, or legally authorized to live and work in the United States. Your financial situation should be considered as low income or very low income, as determined by its relationship to the federal poverty level.

Eligible candidates must also be one of the following:

• Pregnant
• Responsible for a child 18 years old or younger
• Blind
• Disabled or have a family member in the household with a documented disability
• 65 years old or older

Illinois Unemployment

Unemployment insurance in Illinois is a state-operated program designed to partially compensate Illinois residents for loss of wages when they lose employment through no fault of their own.

Illinois unemployment benefits help ensure that those who meet eligibility requirements will receive some level of income while looking for work. This, in turn, helps provide economic stability to individual families, local communities, and the state of Illinois at large.

Illinois Social Security Offices

SSA Field Office Locations in Illinois
Chicago Loop SSA Office	605 W Washington Blvd Chicago, IL 60661	(866) 563-3899
East St Louis SSA Office	650 Missouri Ave Room 104 Federal Bldg East St Louis, IL 62201	(877) 700-4849
Peoria SSA Office	815 W Pioneer Parkway Peoria, IL 61615	(877) 319-6039
Springfield SSA Office	3112 Constitution Dr Springfield, IL 62704	(877) 279-9504
Rock Island SSA Office	2350 4Th Ave Rock Island, IL 61201	(866) 414-9166
Quincy SSA Office	2401 Lind Street Quincy, IL 62301	(888) 279-5999
Waukegan SSA Office	1930 N Lewis Ave Waukegan, IL 60087	(888) 320-0960
Mt Vernon SSA Office	105 S 6th Street Federal Building Mount Vernon, IL 62864	(866) 931-2549
Danville SSA Office	400 N. Vermilion St. Danville, IL 61832	(866) 331-5394
Joliet SSA Office	552 Houbolt Rd Joliet, IL 60431	(866) 783-7302
Harrisburg SSA Office	18 Veterans Drive Harrisburg, IL 62946	(866) 366-3980
Rockford SSA Office	502 E Jefferson St Rockford, IL 61107	(877) 628-6570
Chicago-East SSA Office	6338 S Cottage Grove Chicago, IL 60637	(877) 402-0824
Chicago-West SSA Office	5130 West North Avenue Chicago, IL 60639	(866) 614-4761
Chicago North SSA Office	2127 W Lawrence Ave Chicago, IL 60625	(877) 409-8426
Chicago South	8658 S Sacramento Ave Chicago, IL 60652	(877) 409-8427
Champaign SSA Office	101 S Country Fair Dr Champaign, IL 61821	(877) 819-2593
North Riverside SSA Office	7222 W Cermak Rd Room 600 North Riverside, IL 60546	(888) 518-0226
Hillside SSA Office	230 North Mannheim Rd Hillside, IL 60162	(866) 964-6290
Evanston SSA Office	2116 Green Bay Rd Evanston, IL 60201	(888) 371-0791
Galesburg SSA Office	2060 Windish Drive Galesburg, IL 61401	(877) 405-7659
Decatur SSA Office	606 W Pershing Rd Decatur, IL 62526	(888) 619-4773
Bloomington SSA Office	207 N Williamsburg Dr Bloomington, IL 61704	(877) 405-4640
Aurora SSA Office	1325 N. Lake Street Aurora, IL 60506	(877) 274-5412
Chicago Heights SSA Office	104 S Halsted Street Chicago Heights, IL 60411	(877) 274-5413
Chicago-NW SSA Office	3260 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647	(888) 456-9540
Alton SSA Office	501 Belle St Room 103 Federal Bldg Alton, IL 62002	(855) 285-6006
Chicago-NW SSA Office	4849 N Milwaukee Ave Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60630	(888) 748-7667
Chicago-SE SSA Office	9715 S Cottage Grove Chicago, IL 60628	(888) 397-3107
Elgin SSA Office	790 Fletcher Dr Suite 100 Elgin, IL 60123	(877) 405-0435
Kankakee SSA Office	630 E. Oak St. Kankakee, IL 60901	(855) 807-8801
Carbondale SSA Office	250 W Cherry St Rm 104 Carbondale, IL 62901	(877) 714-0377
Sterling SSA Office	3512 E Lincolnway Suite C Sterling, IL 61081	(866) 789-1093
Peru SSA Office	915 Wenzel Rd Peru, IL 61354	(855) 245-0640
Freeport SSA Office	4 E Linden St Freeport, IL 61032	(855) 628-1591
Effingham SSA Office	1207 Network Centre Dr Suite 2 Effingham, IL 62401	(855) 213-5288
Bloomingdale SSA Office	230 West Lake Street Bloomingdale, IL 60108	(877) 845-1577
Mount Prospect SSA Office	705 North Wheeling Rd Mount Prospect, IL 60056	(866) 931-8350
Chicago Lawndale SSA Office	2416 S Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60623	(877) 531-4698
Woodridge SSA Office	7440 Providence Dr Woodridge, IL 60517	(866) 303-2724
Litchfield SSA Office	1107 W Ferdon Litchfield, IL 62056	(877) 319-3077
Chicago SW SSA Office	10718 S Roberts Rd Palos Hills, IL 60465	(877) 405-4568
Pekin SSA Office	2801 Broadway Pekin, IL 61554	(877) 405-0499
Woodstock SSA Office	2450 Lake Shore Dr Woodstock, IL 60098	(877) 405-7828
West Frankfort SSA Office	1005 Factory Outlet Dr West Frankfort, IL 62896	(888) 223-8869
Belleville SSA Office	1670 Lebanon Ave Lake Christine Center Belleville, IL 62221	(877) 405-0471
Back of The Yards SSA Office	4631 S Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60609	(877) 897-0608

Illinois Hearing and Appeal Offices

Illinois is in Region 5 (Chicago), which services Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Region 5 – SSA Office of Hearing Operations in Illinois
SSA Hearing Office – Chicago	600 West Madison St 5th Floor Chicago, IL 60661	(877) 800-7576
SSA Hearing Office – Chicago	131 S. Dearborn Citadel Building 19th Floor Chicago, IL 60603	(866) 964-1719
SSA Hearing Office – Chicago	600 West Madison St 6th Floor Chicago, IL 60661-2406	(877) 768-5681
SSA Hearing Office – Evanston	1033 University Place Ste 200 Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60201	(866) 336-6051
SSA Hearing Office – Oak Brook	2301 West 22nd St Ste 201 Oak Brook, IL 60523	(866) 964-7344
SSA Hearing Office – Orland Park	15401 South 94th Avenue Orland Park, IL 60462	(877) 490-9530
SSA Hearing Office – Peoria	3328 W. Willow Knolls Drive Peoria, IL 61614	(866) 726-8293