Social Security disability
Disability benefits in New Jersey
Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in New Jersey: 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 New Jersey?
Division of Disability Determination Services (DDS)
This state office handles New Jersey residents' claims for Social Security disability (SSDI) and SSI. It decides the medical part of your claim. Social Security checks the other rules, like work credits and income.
- Part of
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Phone
- 833-833-2269 (then dial the extension on the letter you got from DDS)
- Division of Disability Determination Services, P.O. Box 649, Newark, NJ 07101 (regional offices use other P.O. boxes; use the address on your DDS letter)
Offices
- Upper Northern New Jersey Region (P.O. Box 649) (Newark)
- Lower Northern New Jersey Region (P.O. Box 649) (Newark)
- Central New Jersey Region (P.O. Box 2671) (New Brunswick)
- Southern New Jersey Region (P.O. Box 378) (Trenton)
How long a decision takes depends partly on how fast your doctors send records and whether DDS needs to send you for a medical exam.
Does New Jersey add money to SSI?
State Supplementary Payment (SSP)
If you get SSI in New Jersey, you also get a state supplement in most living situations. The amount depends on where you live and who you live with. The state amounts include a Lifeline utility payment.
Paid by: Social Security, together with your SSI payment
| Who | State part | Total per month with SSI | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual living alone or with others | $31.25 | $1,025.25 | January 1, 2026 |
| Couple living alone or with others | $25.35 | $1,516.35 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual living alone with an ineligible spouse only | $152.99 | $1,146.99 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual living in the household of another (federal one-third reduction) | $44.31 | $706.98 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in congregate care (residential facility supervised by NJ Human Services, assisted living or comprehensive personal care home) | $150.05 | $1,144.05 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in a licensed residential health care facility | $210.05 | $1,204.05 | 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. Social Security checks you for the state supplement when you apply for SSI and pays it with your SSI.
- Contact
- Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
https://www.ssa.gov/apply/ssi
Medicaid in New Jersey
New Jersey's Medicaid program is called NJ FamilyCare. If you get SSI, 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
- NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid)
- Medicaid agency
- NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS)
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/individuals-families/familycare/aged-disabled
1-800-356-1561 (help with the Aged, Blind, Disabled application)
Medicaid for working people with disabilities: NJ WorkAbility
NJ WorkAbility gives full Medicaid to people with disabilities who work, even if their income or savings would be too high for other Medicaid. You must be 16 or older, live in New Jersey, have a job (full-time or part-time) and proof of it, and be found disabled by Social Security or the state Medical Review Team before age 65. Since February 1, 2024, there is no asset limit and no income limit, and your spouse's income does not count. If your countable income is over 250% of the federal poverty level, you must pay a monthly premium. Apply with the NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled Programs Application.
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dds/programs/njworkability/
State disability and paid leave in New Jersey
Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
- Run by
- NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance
- Who it covers
- New Jersey workers who must stop working because of a physical or mental health condition or other disability that is not work-related. In 2026 you must have worked 20 weeks earning at least $310 a week, or earned at least $15,500 in total in your base year.
- Benefit
- 85% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,119 a week in 2026. Your health care provider certifies how long you need to recover, up to 26 weeks. The first week is an unpaid waiting week set by law.
- How to file
- If your employer uses the state plan, apply online, by mail or by fax. You and your medical provider must both send your parts. If your employer uses a private plan, your employer will tell you how to file.
- Filing deadline
- You can apply on or after your first day of disability. You have 30 days after the start of your leave to file.
- Phone
- 609-292-7060
Family Leave Insurance (FLI)
- Run by
- NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance
- Who it covers
- New Jersey workers who need time off to bond with a new child or care for a family member with a serious health condition. It is not for your own illness. For your own illness, see Temporary Disability Insurance.
- Benefit
- 85% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,119 a week in 2026. Up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period when taken as one continuous leave.
- How to file
- Apply online through the NJ Department of Labor if your employer uses the state plan.
Hearing offices and federal court in New Jersey
3 hearing offices serve New Jersey. Hearing office locator (Social Security)
Jersey City, NJ Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Second Floor, 325 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305
- Phone
- (877) 773-7451
- Fax
- (833) 721-0877
Newark, NJ Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 3rd Floor, 1100 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102
- Phone
- (877) 405-9798
- Fax
- (833) 779-0460
South Jersey, NJ Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 2475 McClellan Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ 08109
- Phone
- (866) 964-5769
- Fax
- (833) 942-2183
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 New Jersey
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (21)
- Atlantic
- Bergen
- Burlington
- Camden
- Cape May
- Cumberland
- Essex
- Gloucester
- Hudson
- Hunterdon
- Mercer
- Middlesex
- Monmouth
- Morris
- Ocean
- Passaic
- Salem
- Somerset
- Sussex
- Union
- Warren
Free help in New Jersey
Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)
Disability Rights New Jersey
- Phone
- 609-292-9742 (toll-free 800-922-7233, TTY 609-633-7106)
Legal aid
- Legal Services of New Jersey - LSNJLAW Statewide Hotline · 1-888-576-5529
https://www.lsnj.org/get-legal-help/free-lsnjlaw-hotline - Northeast New Jersey Legal Services · 201-792-6363
https://www.nnjls.org/ - Legal Services of Northwest Jersey
https://www.lsnwj.org/
Benefits counseling and work (WIPA)
- Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ
https://www.goodwillnynj.org/
Serves: Newark and Jersey City areas - Epilepsy Services of New Jersey / FRN
Serves: Rest of the state
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Phone
- 1-866-871-7867
Good to know in New Jersey
- New Jersey's state supplement is paid by Social Security with your SSI. Since January 2026, a person living alone or with others gets up to $1,025.25 a month in SSI and state money combined. (POMS SI 01415.058J)
- Since February 1, 2024, NJ WorkAbility has no income or asset limit. People with countable income over 250% of the poverty level pay a premium. (NJ DHS)
- New Jersey pays short-term disability (TDI) for illness or injury that is not work-related: 85% of wages up to $1,119 a week in 2026. (NJ DLWD)
Recent changes
NJ WorkAbility has no asset or income limit and does not count a spouse's income (since February 1, 2024). Premiums apply above 250% of the federal poverty level. In 2026 the TDI/FLI maximum weekly benefit is $1,119. The base-week amount is $310, the alternative earnings test is $15,500, and the worker TDI contribution is 0.19%. New SSP amounts took effect January 1, 2026.
More RobinClaim guides for New Jersey → · All states
Sources
- SSA POMS SI 01415.058 - Federally Administered Optional Supplementary Payment Programs for January 2026 (New Jersey, section J)
- SSA POMS SI 01715.010 - Medicaid and the SSI Program
- NJ DLWD - Division of Disability Determination Services
- NJ DLWD - DDS Contact Us
- NJ DLWD - Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits (DDS)
- NJ DHS DMAHS - Aged, Blind and Disabled
- NJ DHS - NJ WorkAbility
- NJ DLWD - Temporary Disability Insurance
- NJ DLWD - Family Leave Insurance
- NJ DLWD - Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- NJ ABLE
- NDRN - Member Agencies (New Jersey)
- LSC - Our Grantees
- Legal Services of New Jersey - Statewide Hotline
- 28 U.S.C. §110 - New Jersey (govinfo)
- Social Security: office locator
- Social Security: hearing office locator
Last checked: November 2026