Social Security disability
Disability benefits in Michigan
Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Michigan: 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 Michigan?
Disability Determination Service (DDS)
This state office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability claim. Social Security checks the other rules, like work credits and income. DDS reviews medical records about your disability or blindness.
- Part of
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
Offices
- Lansing DDS · 1-800-366-3404
- Kalamazoo DDS · 1-800-829-7763
- Traverse City DDS · 1-800-632-1097
- Detroit DDS · 1-800-383-7155
Does Michigan add money to SSI?
State SSI Payment (SSP)
If you get SSI in Michigan and live on your own or in someone else's household, the state adds a small amount. If you live in a licensed adult foster care home or a home for the aged, you get a larger amount. The state must certify that you need that level of care.
Paid by: Social Security and the state
| Who | State part | Total per month with SSI | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual living independently (paid by the state every 3 months) | $14 | $1,008 | January 1, 2026 |
| Couple living independently (paid by the state every 3 months) | $21 | $1,512 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual living in the household of another (paid by the state every 3 months) | $9.33 | $672 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in domiciliary care (licensed adult foster care) | $87 | $1,081 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in personal care (licensed adult foster care) | $157.50 | $1,151.50 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in a home for the aged | $179.30 | $1,173.30 | 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. For people living on their own or in another's household, MDHHS pays the state amount every three months, at the end of each quarter. For people in adult foster care or homes for the aged, Social Security pays the state amount with your monthly SSI.
- Contact
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
https://mdhhs-pres-prod.michigan.gov/olmweb/ex/BP/Public/BEM/660.pdf
Medicaid in Michigan
If you get SSI in Michigan, 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
- Michigan Medicaid
- Medicaid agency
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/medicaid
1-800-642-3195 (Beneficiary Help Line; TTY 1-866-501-5656)
Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Freedom to Work (FTW)
Freedom to Work gives Medicaid to people with disabilities ages 16 through 64 who have a job. Self-employment counts, and there is no minimum number of hours. You must meet Social Security's disability rules, but your work and earnings are not counted against you. To start, your countable income must be no more than 250% of the federal poverty level. There is no premium if your income is under 138% of the poverty level. If your income is between 138% of the poverty level and $75,000 a year, the premium is 2.5% of your income. If your income is over $75,000 a year, you pay the full average cost.
https://mdhhs-pres-prod.michigan.gov/olmweb/ex/BP/Public/BEM/174.pdf
State disability and paid leave in Michigan
Michigan has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.
Hearing offices and federal court in Michigan
7 hearing offices serve Michigan. Hearing office locator (Social Security)
Detroit, MI Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Avenue, Room 900, Detroit, MI 48226
- Phone
- (888) 748-7696
- Fax
- (833) 942-2185
Flint, MI Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 300 West Second Street, Flint, MI 48502-2047
- Phone
- (877) 607-9526
- Fax
- (833) 694-0063
Grand Rapids, MI Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 200, 1925 Breton Road, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
- Phone
- (866) 613-2860
- Fax
- (833) 619-0613
Lansing, MI Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 200, 4202 Collins Road, Lansing, MI 48910
- Phone
- (877) 691-6144
- Fax
- (833) 510-0098
Livonia, MI Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 3rd Floor, 19575 Victor Parkway, Livonia, MI 48152
- Phone
- (866) 530-7806
- Fax
- (833) 676-0113
Mt. Pleasant, MI Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 4035 Sweeney Road, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
- Phone
- (866) 873-6604
- Fax
- (833) 964-2265
Oak Park, MI Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Crown Pointe Building, Suite 500, 25900 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, MI 48237-1267
- Phone
- (877) 223-6060
- Fax
- (833) 302-0016
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 Michigan
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (34)
- Genesee
- Jackson
- Lapeer
- Lenawee
- Livingston
- Macomb
- Monroe
- Oakland
- St. Clair
- Sanilac
- Shiawassee
- Washtenaw
- Wayne
- Alcona
- Alpena
- Arenac
- Bay
- Cheboygan
- Clare
- Crawford
- Gladwin
- Gratiot
- Huron
- Iosco
- Isabella
- Midland
- Montmorency
- Ogemaw
- Oscoda
- Otsego
- Presque Isle
- Roscommon
- Saginaw
- Tuscola
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (49)
- Allegan
- Antrim
- Barry
- Benzie
- Berrien
- Branch
- Calhoun
- Cass
- Charlevoix
- Clinton
- Eaton
- Emmet
- Grand Traverse
- Hillsdale
- Ingham
- Ionia
- Kalamazoo
- Kalkaska
- Kent
- Lake
- Leelanau
- Manistee
- Mason
- Mecosta
- Missaukee
- Montcalm
- Muskegon
- Newaygo
- Oceana
- Osceola
- Ottawa
- St. Joseph
- Van Buren
- Wexford
- Alger
- Baraga
- Chippewa
- Delta
- Dickinson
- Gogebic
- Houghton
- Iron
- Keweenaw
- Luce
- Mackinac
- Marquette
- Menominee
- Ontonagon
- Schoolcraft
Free help in Michigan
Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)
Disability Rights Michigan
- Phone
- 517-487-1755 (toll-free 800-288-5923, TTY 517-374-4687)
- Website
- https://www.drmich.org/
Legal aid
- Michigan Legal Help (statewide legal information and referral)
https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ - Lakeshore Legal Aid · (888) 783-8190
https://lakeshorelegalaid.org/ - Legal Aid of Western Michigan
https://lawestmi.org/ - Legal Services of Eastern Michigan · 1-800-322-4512
https://lsem-mi.org/ - Legal Services of Northern Michigan
https://lsnm.org/
Benefits counseling and work (WIPA)
- United Cerebral Palsy Association of Metropolitan Detroit (WIPA) · (248) 557-5070 (toll-free 800-827-4843)
https://www.mi-ucp.org/
Serves: Detroit and Oakland County area - The Arc of Michigan (MI WIPA) · 517-487-5426 (toll-free 800-292-7851)
https://arcmi.org/miwipa/
Serves: Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Macomb County, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, St. Joseph and Saginaw/Bay City areas - Starr Benefits Planning · 616-363-4500 (toll-free 800-616-9202)
https://starrbenefitsplanning.com/
Serves: West and Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, also Saginaw/Bay City
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS), Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
- Phone
- 1-800-605-6722
Good to know in Michigan
- Michigan pays its state SSI money in two ways. MDHHS pays $14 a month to a person living on their own, sent every three months. Social Security pays the larger amounts for adult foster care and homes for the aged with your SSI. (MDHHS RFT 248 and BEM 660)
- Freedom to Work lets people with disabilities who work keep Medicaid. There is no premium if your income is under 138% of the poverty level. (MDHHS BEM 174)
Recent changes
January 1, 2026: new SSI and state payment amounts (MDHHS RFT 248; POMS SI 01415.058G). July 1, 2026: MDHHS updated its Freedom to Work policy (BEM 174, BPB 2026-016).
More RobinClaim guides for Michigan → · All states
Sources
- SSA POMS SI 01415.058 - Federally Administered Optional Supplementary Payment Programs for January 2026 (Michigan, section G)
- SSA POMS SI CHI01415.001 - (MI) Michigan State Supplementation
- SSA POMS SI 01415.000 - Elements of State Supplementary Payments, table of contents
- SSA POMS SI 01715.010 - Medicaid and the SSI Program
- MDHHS RFT 248 - SSI and State SSI Payment amounts (January 1, 2026)
- MDHHS BEM 660 - State SSI Payment
- MDHHS BAM 815 - Medical Determination and Disability Determination Service (DDS)
- MDHHS BEM 174 - Freedom to Work (FTW)
- MDHHS - Medicaid
- LEO - Michigan Rehabilitation Services
- NDRN - Member Agencies (Michigan)
- LSC - Our Grantees
- 28 U.S.C. §102 - Michigan (govinfo)
- SSA Choosework - Find Help (WIPA benefits counseling)
- Michigan Department of Treasury - MiABLE
- Social Security: office locator
- Social Security: hearing office locator
Last checked: November 2026