Applying for Disability

How to file

You may file by phone, internet, mail, or by visiting the nearest Social Security field office. To file by phone or to schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213 . If you prefer to file by the internet, click on the link below

Apply Online 

When completing the form online, you can save your application and go back and finish it at any time. This is a great help if you need to stop and find information needed on the form.

How to speed the processing of your claim

It generally takes longer to process claims for disability benefits than other types of Social Security claims—from sixty to ninety days and sometimes longer. You can help speed the processing of your claim by having the following information ready when you file. You don’t have to delay filing your claim just because you don’t have all the documents. Social Security will help you get them.

Have the following information ready when you apply:

  • Your name, gender and social security number
  • Your name at birth (if different)
  • Your date of birth and place of birth (State or foreign country)
  • If a public or religious record was made of your birth before age 5
  • Whether you or anyone else has ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income on your behalf
  • Whether you were ever in the active military service before 1968; if so, the dates of service and whether you have ever been eligible to receive a monthly benefit from a military or Federal civilian agency 
  • Whether you or your spouse have ever worked for the railroad industry
  • Whether you have earned social security credits under another country's social security system
  • Whether you qualified for or expect to receive a pension or annuity based on your own employment with the Federal government of the United States or one of its States or local subdivisions
  • Whether you are currently married and, if so, your spouse's name, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known)
  • Whether you have filed or intend to file for workers' compensation or any public disability benefits
  • The names, dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of your current and former spouses (if any)
  • The dates and places of each of your marriages, and, for marriages that have ended, how and when they ended
  • Names of any unmarried children under 18, 18 - 19 and in secondary school, or disabled before age 22
  • Whether you have had earnings in all years since 1978
  • The name(s) of your employer(s) or information about your self-employment and the amount of your earnings for this year and last year
  • Whether you received or expect to receive any money from an employer since the date you became unable to work
  • Whether you have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries, or conditions at any time within the past 14 months
  • Names, addresses, and phone numbers of doctors, hospitals, clinics; and institutions that treated you and dates of treatment
  • Names of all medications you are taking
  • Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics, and caseworkers, if you have them available
  • Laboratory and test results, if you have them available

Social Security field office

The worker at your local Social Security field office is called a Claims Representative. If you apply for benefits through your local Social Security field office, you will have relatively limited contact with this worker. He or she will help you fill out application forms, and will assess the non-medical issues of your claim. Non-medical issues include your work status, income, assets, and resources. Once this worker has taken your claim, he or she will send your file to another office in the state where you live. There, another person takes over and manages your claim.