Social Security disability
Disability benefits in District of Columbia
Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in District of Columbia: who decides your claim, state money added to SSI, Medicaid, hearings and free help.
You have 60 days to appeal each decision, plus 5 days for mail.
Who decides your claim in District of Columbia?
Disability Determination Division (DDD)
This District office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability claim. Social Security sends your application to it. The office may ask your doctors for records and ask you to fill out forms about your daily activities and past jobs. A team with a disability examiner, a doctor and a psychologist makes the decision. Then the claim goes back to Social Security, which sends you a letter.
- Part of
- DC Department on Disability Services (DDS)
- Phone
- (202) 730-1700 (Department on Disability Services main line)
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (agency office hours)
- Department on Disability Services, 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024
If more medical information is needed, you may be scheduled for an exam with a local doctor or psychologist. The District pays for it.
Does District of Columbia add money to SSI?
Optional State Supplement (adult foster care homes)
The District adds money to SSI only for people who live in an adult foster care home certified by the DC Department of Health, and for people in a Medicaid facility. People who live on their own or in someone else's home get no District supplement.
Paid by: Social Security, together with your SSI payment
| Who | State part | Total per month with SSI | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual in an adult foster care home with 50 or fewer residents (certified by the DC Department of Health) | $681 | $1,675 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in an adult foster care home with more than 50 residents | $791 | $1,785 | January 1, 2026 |
| Couple in an adult foster care home with 50 or fewer residents | $1,717 | $3,208 | January 1, 2026 |
| Couple in an adult foster care home with more than 50 residents | $1,937 | $3,428 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in a Medicaid (Title XIX) facility | $79 | $109 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual living on their own (no District supplement) | $0 | $994 | January 1, 2026 |
The total uses the federal SSI amount for that living arrangement. For people living on their own, the federal SSI part is $994 a month for one person or $1,491 for a couple in 2026. In another person's household or in a medical facility it is less.
- How to apply
- You do not need a separate application. Social Security pays the supplement with your SSI. Social Security needs proof from the DC Department of Health that you live in a certified adult foster care home.
- Contact
- Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
https://www.ssa.gov/apply/ssi
Medicaid in District of Columbia
If you get SSI in the District, you also get DC Medicaid. You do not need a separate Medicaid application.
- Program
- DC Medicaid
- Medicaid agency
- DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)
https://dhcf.dc.gov/service/medicaid
(202) 442-5988
State disability and paid leave in District of Columbia
DC Paid Family Leave - Medical Leave
- Run by
- DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), Office of Paid Family Leave
- Who it covers
- Private-sector workers who work mostly in the District and whose employer reports their wages to DC, and self-employed people who opted in. You must be employed when you apply and not be getting unemployment benefits. It covers your own serious health condition, such as a hospital stay, a long illness that needs treatment, a chronic or incurable condition, surgery, or pregnancy complications.
- Benefit
- Up to 10 weeks of Medical Leave a year (since October 1, 2026; it was 12 weeks before). You get 90% of your wages up to 1.5 times DC's minimum wage, plus 50% of wages above that. The maximum is $1,100 a week.
- How to file
- Apply online at the DC Paid Family Leave benefits portal (does.pflbas.dc.gov). If you cannot apply online, call 202-899-3700. Tell your employer at least 10 days before planned leave.
- Filing deadline
- File as soon as you can. In general you have 30 days after your qualifying event to ask for benefits for all of your leave, including past days. After 30 days, you can only get benefits for future leave, unless an exception applies.
- Phone
- 202-899-3700
DC Paid Family Leave - Family, Parental and Prenatal Leave
- Run by
- DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), Office of Paid Family Leave
- Who it covers
- The same workers. This leave is to care for a family member with a serious health condition, bond with a new child, or get prenatal care. It is not for your own illness. For your own illness, see Medical Leave.
- Benefit
- Since October 1, 2026: up to 6 weeks of Family Leave, 12 weeks of Parental Leave and 2 weeks of Prenatal Leave. Maximum $1,100 a week.
- How to file
- Apply online at the DC Paid Family Leave benefits portal.
- Phone
- 202-899-3700
Hearing offices and federal court in District of Columbia
1 hearing office serves District of Columbia. Hearing office locator (Social Security)
Washington, DC Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 3rd Floor, 1227 25th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037
- Phone
- (866) 414-6259
- Fax
- (833) 949-2152
Federal district court
If you appeal to federal court, you file in the district court that covers your county.
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (1)
- District of Columbia (all)
Free help in District of Columbia
Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)
University Legal Services (Disability Rights DC)
- Phone
- 202-547-0198
- Website
- https://www.uls-dc.org/
Legal aid
- Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) · (202) 832-6577
https://www.nlsp.org/
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
DC Department on Disability Services - Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Rehabilitation Services Administration)
- Phone
- (202) 730-1700 (TTY (202) 730-1516)
Good to know in District of Columbia
- Since October 1, 2026, DC Paid Family Leave gives up to 10 weeks of Medical Leave (was 12) and 6 weeks of Family Leave. The maximum weekly benefit is $1,100. (DC Office of Paid Family Leave)
- Starting January 1, 2027, DC Paid Family Leave Medical Leave benefits are treated as sick pay under IRS rules, so Social Security and Medicare taxes apply to them. (DC Office of Paid Family Leave)
- The District's SSI supplement is only for people in certified adult foster care homes: up to $1,675 or $1,785 a month in SSI and District money combined in 2026. (POMS SI 01415.058D)
Recent changes
Since October 1, 2026, DC PFL Medical Leave is up to 10 weeks and Family Leave is up to 6 weeks. The maximum weekly benefit is $1,100 for all claim types. The Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act of 2026 (Bill 26-661) made these changes. Starting January 1, 2027, PFL Medical Leave benefits are third-party sick pay subject to FICA under IRS Revenue Ruling 2025-4. New SSP payment levels took effect January 1, 2026.
More RobinClaim guides for District of Columbia → · All states
Sources
- DC DDS - Social Security Disability Determination
- DC DDS - The Disability Determination Process
- SSA POMS SI 01415.058 - Federally Administered Optional Supplementary Payment Programs for January 2026 (District of Columbia, section D)
- SSA POMS SI 01715.010 - Medicaid and the SSI Program
- DHCF - Medicaid
- DOES - DC Paid Family Leave
- DC Paid Family Leave - Medical Leave
- DC Paid Family Leave - Workers
- DC Paid Family Leave - Apply
- DC Paid Family Leave - 2026 Program Changes
- DC DDS - Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- NDRN - Member Agencies (District of Columbia)
- LSC - Our Grantees
- Neighborhood Legal Services Program
- 28 U.S.C. §88 - District of Columbia (govinfo)
- Social Security: office locator
- Social Security: hearing office locator
Last checked: November 2026