Social Security disability
Disability benefits in Pennsylvania
Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Pennsylvania: 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 Pennsylvania?
Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD)
Social Security sends disability claims to this state office. It checks if you meet the medical rules for disability. Then the claim goes back to Social Security for the final decision. It only handles Social Security disability claims, not short-term disability.
- Part of
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (Office of Disability Determination)
- Phone
- 1-855-302-6143
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Does Pennsylvania add money to SSI?
State Supplement (SSI State Supplementary Payment)
Pennsylvania adds money to SSI. If you get SSI and live on your own or in someone else's home, the state pays a small supplement itself. Adults the state certifies to live in a domiciliary care home or a personal care home get a larger supplement, which Social Security pays with SSI.
Paid by: Social Security and the state
| Who | State part | Total per month with SSI | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual living independently (state-paid supplement) | $22.10 | $1,016.10 | July 1, 2011 |
| Couple living independently (state-paid supplement) | $33.30 | $1,524.30 | July 1, 2011 |
| Individual living in the household of another (state-paid supplement; federal one-third reduction) | $25.53 | $688.20 | July 1, 2011 |
| Individual in a state-certified domiciliary care facility | $634.30 | $1,628.30 | January 1, 2026 |
| Individual in a state-certified personal care boarding home | $639.30 | $1,633.30 | January 1, 2026 |
| Couple in a domiciliary care facility | $1,347.40 | $2,838.40 | 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
- State rules say the state pays the basic supplement to people who are eligible for SSI. It is paid by the state, not with your SSI payment. For the care-home supplement, the state must certify your placement, and Social Security adds the supplement to your SSI.
- Contact
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS)
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs
Medicaid in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is called Medical Assistance. If you get SSI, you get Medical Assistance. You do not need a separate application. Your SSI award letter will say you will hear from the state about Medicaid.
- Program
- Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
- Medicaid agency
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS)
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid
1-866-550-4355 (Consumer Service Center for Health Care Coverage)
Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD)
MAWD lets people with disabilities have a job and keep Medicaid, including waiver services. You must be 16 to 64 years old, have a disability, and have a paying job. Your countable income must be below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines and your countable resources below $10,000. There is a small monthly premium, usually about 5% of your monthly income. If you have had MAWD for more than a year and your income goes over the limit, you can stay on MAWD under Workers with Job Success while you make less than 600% of the poverty guidelines. To apply, contact your county assistance office or say you want MAWD on your COMPASS application.
https://www.pa.gov/services/dhs/apply-for-medical-assistance-for-workers-with-disabilities-mawd
State disability and paid leave in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.
Hearing offices and federal court in Pennsylvania
8 hearing offices serve Pennsylvania. Hearing office locator (Social Security)
Elkins Park, PA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 250, 8380 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027
- Phone
- (866) 964-7369
- Fax
- (833) 719-0410
Harrisburg, PA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Keystone Plaza, 100 Market Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101
- Phone
- (888) 352-3691
- Fax
- (833) 574-0714
Johnstown, PA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 200, 334 Washington Street, Johnstown, PA 15901-9954
- Phone
- (866) 331-7134
- Fax
- (833) 563-0491
Philadelphia, PA (East) Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 502, 833 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Phone
- (866) 572-9721
- Fax
- (833) 320-0687
Philadelphia, PA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 21st Floor, 1601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-9299
- Phone
- (866) 964-6288
- Fax
- (833) 574-0716
Pittsburgh, PA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 2308, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Phone
- (866) 331-2291
- Fax
- (833) 574-0718
Seven Fields, PA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- One Adams Place, Suite 200, 300 Seven Fields Boulevard, Mars, PA 16046
- Phone
- (855) 278-4199
- Fax
- (833) 796-0377
Wilkes-Barre, PA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Stegmaier Building, Suite 201, 7 North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702-5242
- Phone
- (866) 895-1594
- Fax
- (833) 779-0464
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 Pennsylvania
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (9)
- Berks
- Bucks
- Chester
- Delaware
- Lancaster
- Lehigh
- Montgomery
- Northampton
- Philadelphia
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (33)
- Adams
- Bradford
- Cameron
- Carbon
- Centre
- Clinton
- Columbia
- Cumberland
- Dauphin
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Huntingdon
- Juniata
- Lackawanna
- Lebanon
- Luzerne
- Lycoming
- Mifflin
- Monroe
- Montour
- Northumberland
- Perry
- Pike
- Potter
- Schuylkill
- Snyder
- Sullivan
- Susquehanna
- Tioga
- Union
- Wayne
- Wyoming
- York
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Court help for people without a lawyer
Counties covered (25)
- Allegheny
- Armstrong
- Beaver
- Bedford
- Blair
- Butler
- Cambria
- Clarion
- Clearfield
- Crawford
- Elk
- Erie
- Fayette
- Forest
- Greene
- Indiana
- Jefferson
- Lawrence
- McKean
- Mercer
- Somerset
- Venango
- Warren
- Washington
- Westmoreland
Free help in Pennsylvania
Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)
Disability Rights Pennsylvania
- Phone
- 800-692-7443 (TDD 717-346-0293)
Legal aid
- Philadelphia Legal Assistance · (215) 981-3800
https://philalegal.org/
Serves: Philadelphia - Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania · 877-429-5994
https://www.lasp.org/ - MidPenn Legal Services · 1-800-326-9177
https://www.midpenn.org/ - North Penn Legal Services · 877-953-4250
https://www.nplspa.org/ - Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) · 1-866-761-6572
https://nlsa.us/ - Northwestern Legal Services · (814) 452-6957
https://www.nwls.org/
Benefits counseling and work (WIPA)
- AHEDD · 1-866-902-4333
https://www.ahedd.org/
Serves: Central and Western Pennsylvania - Disability Rights Pennsylvania (WIPA) · 1-800-692-7443 ext. 309
https://www.disabilityrightspa.org/
Serves: Northeast and South Central Pennsylvania - Full Circle Employment Solutions LLC · 1-888-466-2942 ext. 20
https://www.fullcircledc.com/
Serves: Philadelphia and Chester County area
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), PA Department of Labor and Industry
- Phone
- 800-442-6351 (TTY 866-830-7327)
Good to know in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania splits its SSI supplement: Social Security pays the care-home supplement, and the state pays the basic supplement itself (since January 2005). (POMS SI PHI01415.010)
- MAWD Workers with Job Success lets long-time MAWD members keep Medicaid with income up to 600% of the federal poverty guidelines. (PA DHS)
Recent changes
January 1, 2026: new federally administered care-home supplement totals (domiciliary care $1,628.30, personal care boarding home $1,633.30) with the 2026 federal SSI increase; the state part did not change (POMS SI 01415.058K). The state-paid basic supplement ($22.10 / $33.30) has not changed since July 1, 2011 (55 Pa. Code § 299.37).
More RobinClaim guides for Pennsylvania → · All states
Sources
- SSA POMS SI 01415.058 - Federally Administered Optional Supplementary Payment Programs for January 2026 (Pennsylvania, section K)
- SSA POMS SI PHI01415.010 - Administration of State Supplementary Programs - Pennsylvania
- SSA POMS SI 01715.010 - Medicaid and the SSI Program
- PA L&I - Office of Disability Determination / Bureau of Disability Determination
- PA L&I - Apply for a Social Security Disability Determination
- PA DHS - Apply for Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD)
- PA L&I - Vocational Rehabilitation
- PA ABLE
- NDRN - Member Agencies (Pennsylvania)
- LSC - Our Grantees
- 28 U.S.C. §118 - Pennsylvania judicial districts (govinfo)
- Social Security: office locator
- Social Security: hearing office locator
Last checked: November 2026