Social Security disability
Disability benefits in Iowa
Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Iowa: 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 Iowa?
Iowa Disability Determination Services (DDS)
This state office decides if you are disabled under Social Security's rules, for SSDI and SSI. You apply with Social Security, not with DDS. Social Security sends your application to DDS, and only Social Security decides who gets benefits.
- Part of
- Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), Vocational Rehabilitation
- Phone
- (800) 532-1223
- Fax for records
- (866) 536-9702 (fax to submit evidence of disability); (515) 725-0900 for fax inquiries
- Iowa Disability Determination Services, 475 SW 5th Street, Suite D, Des Moines, IA 50309
DDS gets evidence from your medical sources. If more information is needed, DDS staff arrange a consultative medical examination.
Does Iowa add money to SSI?
State Supplementary Assistance (SSA)
Iowa's supplement is not for everyone on SSI. It is for special needs. It helps blind people, people who support a dependent relative living with them, and people in a licensed family life home. It also helps people who need in-home health care or live in a residential care facility. Aged or disabled people living on their own with no dependent do not get an Iowa supplement. Your resources must be $2,000 or less ($3,000 for a married couple).
Paid by: Social Security and the state
| Who | State part | Total per month with SSI | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blind person living in own household | $22 | $1,016 | January 1, 2026 |
| Aged or disabled person living with a dependent relative | $518 | $1,512 | January 1, 2026 |
| Blind person living with a dependent relative | $540 | $1,534 | January 1, 2026 |
| Aged or disabled couple living with a dependent relative | $518 | $2,009 | January 1, 2026 |
| Aged or disabled person in a licensed family life home | $142 | $1,136 | January 1, 2026 |
| Aged or disabled couple in a licensed family life home | $801 | $2,292 | 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
- For the blind, dependent person and family life home amounts, Social Security pays the state money with your SSI. For residential care, in-home health care and other parts, apply with Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) through the HHS benefits portal or a paper application.
- Contact
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
(800) 972-2017
https://hhs.iowa.gov/assistance-programs/state-supplementary-assistance
Medicaid in Iowa
If you get SSI in Iowa, you also get Medicaid. You do not need a separate Medicaid application. Your SSI award letter will say you will hear from the state about Medicaid.
- Program
- Iowa Medicaid
- Medicaid agency
- Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Iowa Medicaid
https://hhs.iowa.gov/medicaid/apply-medicaid
(800) 972-2017
Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD)
MEPD lets people with disabilities who work keep Medicaid. You must be under 65, meet SSI disability rules, have earned income from a job or self-employment, and have resources under $12,000 ($24,000 for a couple). Your net family income must be under 250% of the federal poverty level (in 2026, $3,325 a month for one person). If your gross monthly income is over 150% of the poverty level ($1,995 a month for one person), you pay a monthly premium. MEPD also pays your Medicare premiums. Apply with a Medicaid application to your local HHS office.
https://hhs.iowa.gov/medicaid/plans-programs/medicaid-employed-people-disabilities
Medicare Savings Programs
Iowa HHS runs the Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, E-SLMB/QI and QDWP) to help pay Medicare costs: https://hhs.iowa.gov/medicaid/plans-programs/fee-service/medicare-savings-program
State disability and paid leave in Iowa
Iowa has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.
Hearing offices and federal court in Iowa
1 hearing office serves Iowa. Hearing office locator (Social Security)
Des Moines, IA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Capitol Center 3, Suite 200, 400 E. Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309-9821
- Fax
- (833) 586-0158
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 Northern District of Iowa
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (52)
- Benton
- Cedar
- Grundy
- Hardin
- Iowa
- Jones
- Linn
- Tama
- Allamakee
- Black Hawk
- Bremer
- Buchanan
- Chickasaw
- Clayton
- Delaware
- Dubuque
- Fayette
- Floyd
- Howard
- Jackson
- Mitchell
- Winneshiek
- Buena Vista
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Crawford
- Dickinson
- Ida
- Lyon
- Monona
- O'Brien
- Osceola
- Plymouth
- Sac
- Sioux
- Woodbury
- Butler
- Calhoun
- Carroll
- Cerro Gordo
- Emmet
- Franklin
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Humboldt
- Kossuth
- Palo Alto
- Pocahontas
- Webster
- Winnebago
- Worth
- Wright
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (47)
- Boone
- Dallas
- Greene
- Guthrie
- Jasper
- Madison
- Marion
- Marshall
- Polk
- Poweshiek
- Story
- Warren
- Des Moines
- Henry
- Lee
- Louisa
- Van Buren
- Audubon
- Cass
- Fremont
- Harrison
- Mills
- Montgomery
- Page
- Pottawattamie
- Shelby
- Adair
- Adams
- Clarke
- Decatur
- Lucas
- Ringgold
- Taylor
- Union
- Wayne
- Clinton
- Johnson
- Muscatine
- Scott
- Washington
- Appanoose
- Davis
- Jefferson
- Keokuk
- Mahaska
- Monroe
- Wapello
Free help in Iowa
Legal aid
- Iowa Legal Aid · 1-800-532-1503
https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Benefits counseling and work (WIPA)
- Disability Rights Iowa - WIPA project · 515-278-2502 (toll-free 800-779-2502)
https://www.disabilityrightsiowa.org/
Serves: Iowa
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Workforce Development
Good to know in Iowa
- Iowa Disability Determination Services is part of Iowa Workforce Development. Send medical evidence by fax to (866) 536-9702. (IWD)
- Iowa's state supplement is only for special needs. A person on SSI who lives on their own with no dependent gets no Iowa supplement. A person who supports a dependent relative at home can get $518 a month from the state. (POMS SI 01415.058F)
- Iowa has no state short-term disability or paid medical leave insurance program.
Recent changes
January 1, 2026: new State Supplementary Assistance standards (Iowa HHS) and federally administered payment levels (POMS SI 01415.058F). August 1, 2026: new MEPD premium table (Iowa HHS). Disability Determination Services and Vocational Rehabilitation are now part of Iowa Workforce Development (IWD DDS page).
More RobinClaim guides for Iowa → · All states
Sources
- IWD - Disability Determination Services
- SSA POMS SI 01415.058 - Federally Administered Optional Supplementary Payment Programs for January 2026 (Iowa, section F)
- SSA POMS SI 01415.010 - Administration of State Supplementary Programs
- SSA POMS SI 01715.010 - Medicaid and the SSI Program
- Iowa HHS - State Supplementary Assistance
- Iowa HHS - Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities
- Iowa HHS - Medicare Savings Program
- Iowa HHS - Apply for Medicaid
- IWD - Vocational Rehabilitation
- IAble
- 28 U.S.C. §95 (Iowa districts and counties)
- Iowa Legal Aid
- LSC - Our Grantees
- NDRN - Member Agencies
- SSA Ticket to Work - Find Help
- SSA Choosework Find Help - WIPA results for IA
- Social Security: office locator
- Social Security: hearing office locator
Last checked: November 2026