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Social Security disability

Disability benefits in Maryland

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

Maryland Disability Determination Services (DDS)

This state office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability claim (SSDI and SSI). Social Security checks the other rules, like work credits and income. DDS gets your medical records from your doctors and hospitals.

Part of
Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
Mail
Maryland Disability Determination Services, PO Box 1810, Cockeysville, MD 21030-1810 (office: 211 Schilling Circle, Hunt Valley, MD)

If your medical records do not have enough information, DDS may ask you to go to a medical exam (a consultative examination).

Find a Social Security office

Does Maryland add money to SSI?

Public Assistance to Adults (PAA)

PAA is a state program. It helps pay for care for adults who live in an assisted living home licensed by the Maryland Department of Health, or in a Certified Adult Residential Environment (CARE) home, also called Project Home. It pays the cost of care that your income does not cover, plus a personal needs allowance. Since July 1, 2025, the personal needs allowance is $106 a month. People in an MDH Rehabilitative Residence get only the personal needs allowance. People who get PAA also get Medical Assistance (Medicaid).

Paid by: the state

How to apply
PAA is not automatic with SSI. You apply to the Maryland Department of Human Services, online at MarylandBenefits.gov or at your local department of social services. You must also apply for Social Security benefits.
Contact
Maryland Department of Human Services
1-800-332-6347 (TTY 1-800-735-2258)
https://dhs.maryland.gov/weathering-tough-times/public-assistance-adults/

Medicaid in Maryland

Maryland's Medicaid program is called Maryland Medicaid (Medical Assistance). If you get SSI, you also get Medicaid. You do not need a separate Medicaid application.

Program
Maryland Medicaid (Medical Assistance)
Medicaid agency
Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Medicaid
https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/Pages/home.aspx
410-767-6500 or 1-877-463-3464

Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) Program

EID is Medicaid for people with disabilities who work and earn too much for other Medicaid. You must be 16 to 64, work for pay (taxes must be taken out, or you pay estimated taxes if self-employed), have a disability that meets Social Security's medical rules, and live in Maryland. There is no minimum amount you must earn. The asset limit is $10,000. Assets that belong only to your spouse do not count. From January 1, 2026, the monthly premium is $0 if your yearly income is under $15,960 (couple: $21,640). Above that, it is $25, $40 or $55, or 4% to 7.5% of your monthly countable income at higher incomes. You mail the EID application to the Maryland Department of Health. Questions: 800-226-2142.

https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/eid/Pages/Home.aspx

Medicare Savings Programs

Maryland Medicare Savings Programs help pay Medicare premiums and sometimes deductibles and copays. Apply at your local department of social services. Call 1-800-638-3403. https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/eligibility/Pages/medicare-savings-programs.aspx

State disability and paid leave in Maryland

Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)

Run by
Maryland Department of Labor, FAMLI Division
Who it covers
People who work in Maryland. Benefits are not paid yet. Starting January 1, 2028, eligible workers will be able to take paid leave for their own serious health condition, to care for a family member, to bond with a new child, or for family needs related to military deployment.
Benefit
Up to 12 weeks of paid leave in a 12-month benefit year (up to 24 weeks in some cases, such as your own serious health condition and a new child in the same year). You will get up to 90% of your average weekly wage, and no more than $1,000 a week. There is no waiting period.
How to file
Claims cannot be filed yet. Benefits start January 1, 2028. Starting January 2027, your employer takes your share of the contribution (up to 0.45% of your wages) out of each paycheck.
Starts
January 1, 2028

Hearing offices and federal court in Maryland

1 hearing office serves Maryland. Hearing office locator (Social Security)

Baltimore, MD Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
The Symphony Center, Room 300, 1010 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201-5600
Fax
(833) 710-0399

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 Maryland

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (24)
  • Allegany
  • Anne Arundel
  • Baltimore County
  • Baltimore City
  • Calvert
  • Caroline
  • Carroll
  • Cecil
  • Charles
  • Dorchester
  • Frederick
  • Garrett
  • Harford
  • Howard
  • Kent
  • Montgomery
  • Prince George's
  • Queen Anne's
  • St. Mary's
  • Somerset
  • Talbot
  • Washington
  • Wicomico
  • Worcester

Free help in Maryland

Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)

Disability Rights Maryland

Phone
410-727-6352 (toll-free 800-233-7201, TTY 410-235-5387)

Legal aid

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), Maryland State Department of Education

Phone
410-554-9442 (videophone 443-798-2840)

ABLE savings account

Maryland ABLE

More free help across the country →

Good to know in Maryland

  • Maryland's paid family and medical leave program (FAMLI) starts paying benefits on January 1, 2028. Payroll contributions start in January 2027. (Maryland Department of Labor)
  • Maryland's state money for SSI recipients (Public Assistance to Adults) is only for people in assisted living or CARE homes. It is a separate application through the Department of Human Services. (Maryland DHS)
  • Maryland's Medicaid buy-in (EID) lets working people with disabilities keep Medicaid. The asset limit is $10,000, and premiums for 2026 are $0 to 7.5% of income. (MDH)

Recent changes

Maryland's FAMLI program starts collecting contributions in January 2027. It starts paying benefits on January 1, 2028. The Public Assistance to Adults (PAA) personal needs allowance is $106 (since July 1, 2025). The EID premium income ranges are new as of January 1, 2026.

More RobinClaim guides for Maryland → · All states

Sources

Last checked: November 2026