Social Security disability
Disability benefits in Montana
Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Montana: 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 Montana?
Montana Disability Determination Services (DDS) - Disability Determination Bureau
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 looks at your medical records, medical and psychological evidence, and your own statement. It also does continuing disability reviews.
- Part of
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Disability Employment and Transitions Division
- Phone
- 800-545-3054
- Fax for records
- 1-866-683-2367 (with the DDS bar-coded cover sheet); 406-444-3564 (without a bar code)
- Disability Determination Bureau, P.O. Box 4189, Helena, MT 59604-4189
The Montana DDS page says Montana has 9 Social Security field offices: Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Glasgow, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula. Find a Social Security office
Does Montana add money to SSI?
Montana optional state supplement (state-certified group homes, personal care and foster care)
Montana adds money to SSI only for people who live in certain state-certified homes: personal care homes, group homes for people with disabilities, child and adult foster care, and transitional living for people with developmental disabilities. People living on their own do not get a state supplement.
Paid by: Social Security, together with your SSI payment
| Who | State part | Total per month with SSI | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual in state-certified personal care (code G) | $94 | $1,088 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in a state-certified group home for people with mental or physical/developmental disabilities (codes H, I) | $94 | $1,088 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in state-certified child or adult foster care (code J) | $52.75 | $1,046.75 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in state-certified transitional living for people with developmental disabilities (code K) | $26 | $1,020 | January 1, 2026 |
| Couple in state-certified personal care or group home (codes G, H, I) | $193 | $1,684 | January 1, 2026 |
| Everyone else, including people living on their own (code Z) | $0 | $994 | 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. Your SSI application also counts as an application for the supplement. A local state social worker certifies your placement and sends the form to Social Security. Social Security pays SSI and the supplement together.
- Contact
- Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
https://www.ssa.gov/apply/ssi
Medicaid in Montana
If you get SSI in Montana, you get Montana Medicaid. You do not need a separate Medicaid application.
- Program
- Montana Medicaid
- Medicaid agency
- Montana DPHHS, Human and Community Services Division
https://dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/
406-444-1788
Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Montana Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities (MWD)
This program lets people with disabilities who work get Medicaid by paying a monthly cost share fee. You must be 16 or older, have a disability under Social Security rules (or be 65 or older), and work for pay with Social Security and Medicare taxes taken out (or pay self-employment tax). Your countable income must be at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, and you must be within the resource limits. Your parents' or spouse's income is not counted. The fee is based only on your own income. People who are enrolled in a tribe do not pay the fee.
State disability and paid leave in Montana
Montana has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.
Hearing offices and federal court in Montana
1 hearing office serves Montana. Hearing office locator (Social Security)
Billings, MT Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 500, 2900 Fourth Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266
- Phone
- (877) 545-5512
- Fax
- (833) 311-0102
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 Montana
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (1)
- All counties in Montana (the whole state is one district; cases from Yellowstone National Park go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming)
Free help in Montana
Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)
Disability Rights Montana
- Phone
- 406-449-2344 (toll-free 800-245-4743)
Legal aid
- Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) · 1-800-666-6899
https://www.mtlsa.org/
Benefits counseling and work (WIPA)
- Montana State University Billings - WIPA Project · 406-657-2098 (toll-free 1-888-866-3822)
https://www.msubillings.edu/socialsecurity/
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services (VRBS), DPHHS
- Phone
- 1-877-296-1197 (toll-free), 406-444-1710 (voice/TTY)
Good to know in Montana
- Montana's state supplement goes only to people in state-certified group homes, personal care, foster care or transitional living. In 2026 it is $94 a month for one person in personal care or a group home ($1,088 with SSI). (POMS SI 01415.058H)
- Montana Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities has a cost share fee instead of a spend down. People enrolled in a tribe do not pay the fee. (DPHHS manual ABD 201-6)
Recent changes
January 1, 2026: new SSP payment levels (POMS SI 01415.058H). May 1, 2025: updated MWD policy (ABD 201-6).
More RobinClaim guides for Montana → · All states
Sources
- SSA POMS SI 01715.010 - Medicaid and the SSI Program
- SSA POMS SI 01415.000 - Elements of State Supplementary Payments (table of contents, 10/21/2026)
- SSA hearing office locator
- NDRN - Member Agencies (Montana)
- SSA Ticket to Work - Find Help (WIPA search by ZIP)
- SSA POMS SI 01415.058 - Federally Administered Optional Supplementary Payment Programs for January 2026 (Montana, section H)
- SSA POMS SI DEN01415.010 - Supplementary Payments in Montana
- DPHHS - Montana Disability Determination Services
- DPHHS - Medicaid manual ABD 201-6, Montana Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities
- DPHHS - Human and Community Services Division
- DPHHS - Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services
- Montana ABLE
- Montana Legal Services Association
- U.S. District Court, District of Montana - Representing Yourself (Pro Se)
- 28 U.S.C. 106 - Montana
Last checked: November 2026