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Social Security disability

Disability benefits in Louisiana

Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Louisiana: 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.

How to appeal a denialAppeal deadline calculator

Who decides your claim in Louisiana?

Disability Determination Services (DDS)

This state office decides if you are disabled under Social Security's medical rules. It does this for Social Security disability (SSDI) and SSI claims. Only Social Security decides who gets benefits. DDS does not take applications or send checks.

Part of
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)
Phone
Baton Rouge 800-256-2288; New Orleans 800-256-2299; Shreveport 800-256-2266

Offices

If your medical records are missing or do not give enough information, DDS may send you to a consultative exam (CE). DDS pays the doctor. There is no charge to you. The CE doctor does not decide if you are disabled. The doctor only collects information for DDS.

Find a Social Security office

Does Louisiana add money to SSI?

Louisiana has no state supplement for people who apply for SSI now. Social Security still adds a small state amount for a few people who got state aid before 1974.

Medicaid in Louisiana

If you get SSI in Louisiana, you also get Medicaid. You do not need a separate Medicaid application. Social Security sends your information to the state.

Program
Louisiana Medicaid
Medicaid agency
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Medicaid
https://ldh.la.gov/medicaid
1-888-342-6207 (Medicaid Customer Service)

Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Medicaid Purchase Plan (MPP)

The Medicaid Purchase Plan gives health coverage to people with disabilities who work. You must have a severe disability that meets Social Security's rules, have a job, and be at least 16 but not yet 65. Your countable income must be under the program limits, and your countable assets must be less than $25,000. You must take other health insurance if you can get it at no cost. If you earn more than 150% of the federal poverty level, you may have to pay a monthly premium.

https://ldh.la.gov/medicaid/medicaid-purchase-plan

State disability and paid leave in Louisiana

Louisiana has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.

Hearing offices and federal court in Louisiana

4 hearing offices serve Louisiana. Hearing office locator (Social Security)

Alexandria, LA Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
3403 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302
Fax
(833) 561-0425

Metairie, LA Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Galleria Building, Suite 2000, 1 Galleria Boulevard, Metairie, LA 70001
Fax
(833) 320-0689

New Orleans, LA Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Suite 800, 1515 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
Fax
(833) 635-0632

Shreveport, LA Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Louisiana Tower, Suite 700, 401 Edwards Street, Shreveport, LA 71101-6129
Fax
(833) 311-0095

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 Eastern District of Louisiana

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (13)
  • Assumption
  • Jefferson
  • Lafourche
  • Orleans
  • Plaquemines
  • Saint Bernard
  • Saint Charles
  • Saint James
  • Saint John the Baptist
  • Saint Tammany
  • Tangipahoa
  • Terrebonne
  • Washington

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (9)
  • Ascension
  • East Baton Rouge
  • East Feliciana
  • Iberville
  • Livingston
  • Pointe Coupee
  • Saint Helena
  • West Baton Rouge
  • West Feliciana

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (42)
  • Acadia
  • Allen
  • Avoyelles
  • Beauregard
  • Bienville
  • Bossier
  • Caddo
  • Calcasieu
  • Caldwell
  • Cameron
  • Catahoula
  • Claiborne
  • Concordia
  • Jefferson Davis
  • De Soto
  • East Carroll
  • Evangeline
  • Franklin
  • Grant
  • Iberia
  • Jackson
  • Lafayette
  • La Salle
  • Lincoln
  • Madison
  • Morehouse
  • Natchitoches
  • Ouachita
  • Rapides
  • Red River
  • Richland
  • Sabine
  • Saint Landry
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Mary
  • Tensas
  • Union
  • Vermilion
  • Vernon
  • Webster
  • West Carroll
  • Winn

Free help in Louisiana

Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)

Disability Rights Louisiana

Phone
504-522-2337 (toll-free 800-960-7705)

Legal aid

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (Louisiana Workforce Commission)

ABLE savings account

LA ABLE

More free help across the country →

Good to know in Louisiana

  • Louisiana's Disability Determination Services is part of the Louisiana Department of Health. You can call DDS offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans or Shreveport. (LDH)
  • Louisiana's Medicaid Purchase Plan lets people with disabilities who work get Medicaid with assets under $25,000. (LDH)
  • The LA ABLE savings program has moved to a new website run with the Louisiana Board of Regents. (LOSFA)

More RobinClaim guides for Louisiana → · All states

Sources

Last checked: November 2026