Disability benefits in Massachusetts

MassAbility Disability Determination Services (DDS)

This state office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability (SSDI) or SSI claim. Social Security checks the other rules, like work credits and income. You apply with Social Security, not with DDS. For an update on your case, call the disability examiner named in the first letter DDS sent you.

Part of

MassAbility (formerly the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, MRC)

Phone

1-866-778-5285 (DDS main number)

Fax for records

Boston office: 617-654-7544 or 617-654-7485. Worcester office: 508-797-1562.

Mail

MassAbility DDS, 135 Santilli Way, Everett, MA 02149 (Boston office); 18 Chestnut Street, Suite 300, Worcester, MA 01608 (Worcester office)

Website

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massability-disability-determination-services-dds

Medicaid for working people with disabilities: MassHealth CommonHealth

CommonHealth gives health coverage to people with disabilities whose income is too high for MassHealth Standard. You must be found disabled by Social Security, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, or MassHealth. You can have CommonHealth even if you have private insurance or Medicare. You may have to pay a monthly premium, based on your household's finances. If you are under 65, apply with the ACA-3 application online, by mail, by phone at (800) 841-2900, or in person.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/masshealth-commonhealth

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) - medical leave

Run by

Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML)

Who it covers

Massachusetts employees who meet the state's unemployment-insurance earnings rules, with all that work done for employers in Massachusetts. Some personal care attendants, family child care providers and self-employed people are also covered. Medical leave is for a serious health condition that makes you unable to do your job.

Benefit

80% of the part of your average weekly wage up to half of the state average weekly wage, plus 50% of the part above that. In 2026 the most you can get is $1,230.39 a week. You can get up to 20 weeks of medical leave in a benefit year (up to 26 weeks of family and medical leave combined). The first 7 calendar days are an unpaid waiting period.

How to file

Create an account on paidleave.mass.gov and apply online. If your employer has an approved private plan, apply through that plan instead. For military-related leave, or if you are unemployed, call (833) 344-7365.

Filing deadline

You can apply up to 60 days before your leave starts. Give your employer at least 30 days' notice when you can. If you apply more than 90 days after your leave began, your benefits may be reduced.

Phone

(833) 344-7365 (DFML Contact Center; English, Spanish and Portuguese)

Website

https://paidleave.mass.gov/

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) - family leave

Run by

Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML)

Who it covers

Covered workers who need time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to bond with a new child, or for certain military family reasons. It is not for your own illness. For your own illness, see medical leave.

Benefit

Same weekly benefit formula as medical leave. In 2026 the most you can get is $1,230.39 a week. Up to 12 weeks of family leave in a benefit year (26 weeks to care for a covered servicemember).

How to file

Create an account on paidleave.mass.gov and apply online. If your employer has an approved private plan, apply through that plan instead. For military-related leave, or if you are unemployed, call (833) 344-7365.

Filing deadline

You can apply up to 60 days before your leave starts. Give your employer at least 30 days' notice when you can. If you apply more than 90 days after your leave began, your benefits may be reduced.

Phone

(833) 344-7365 (DFML Contact Center; English, Spanish and Portuguese)

Website

https://paidleave.mass.gov/