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Social Security disability

Disability benefits in South Carolina

Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in South Carolina: 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.

How to appeal a denialAppeal deadline calculator

Who decides your claim in South Carolina?

South Carolina Disability Determination Services (SC DDS)

This state office decides the medical part of SSI and Social Security disability (SSDI) claims for people in South Carolina. Social Security pays its costs, but its workers are state employees. Social Security checks the other rules, like work credits and income.

Part of
South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD)

Offices

  • West Columbia office
  • Charleston office
  • Greenville office

Find a Social Security office

Does South Carolina add money to SSI?

Optional State Supplementation (OSS)

OSS is state money that helps people with low income pay for care in a licensed Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF). You must be 65 or older, blind, or disabled, live in South Carolina, and live in a facility that takes part in OSS. You must meet SSI rules except for income. Your monthly net income cannot be more than $1,804, and your resources cannot be more than $2,000. The state pays the money to the facility. You also get full Medicaid.

Paid by: the state

WhoMonthly net income limitEffective
Resident of a licensed Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF) with an OSS slot - monthly net income limit$1,804January 1, 2026
How to apply
Apply to the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS, Healthy Connections Medicaid). Apply online, by fax to 888-820-1204, by mail to SCDHHS-Central Mail, P.O. Box 100101, Columbia, SC 29202-3101, or at your county office. Use Form 3401 if you do not have Medicaid, Form 3400A if you already have Medicaid, or Form 1728 if you only get SSI.
Contact
SC Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS)
(888) 549-0820 (Member Help Center)
https://www.scdhhs.gov/resources/programs-and-initiatives/long-term-living/optional-state-supplementation-oss

Medicaid in South Carolina

South Carolina's Medicaid program is called Healthy Connections. If you get SSI, you also get Medicaid. You do not need a separate Medicaid application. Social Security makes the Medicaid decision for the state when it approves your SSI.

Program
Healthy Connections Medicaid
Medicaid agency
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS)
https://www.scdhhs.gov/
(888) 549-0820 (Member Help Center)

Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Working Disabled

This Medicaid program is for people with disabilities who work. You must be under 65, have earned income, and be disabled under SSI's rules. Your family's net income must be under 250% of the federal poverty level. For one person that is $3,325 a month (since March 1, 2026). Your own unearned income must be at or below 100% of the poverty level. Your countable resources must be below $9,950.

https://www.scdhhs.gov/members/program-eligibility-and-income-limits

Medicare Savings Programs

Healthy Connections can pay Medicare costs for people with low income through the QMB, SLMB and QI programs. QMB pays Medicare premiums, co-pays and deductibles. SLMB and QI pay only the Part B premium.

State disability and paid leave in South Carolina

South Carolina has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.

Hearing offices and federal court in South Carolina

3 hearing offices serve South Carolina. Hearing office locator (Social Security)

Charleston, SC Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Suite 300, 3875 Faber Place Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405
Fax
(833) 604-0730

Columbia, SC Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
Suite 215, 101 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC 29210
Fax
(833) 710-0401

Greenville, SC Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address
475 North Main Street, Mauldin, SC 29662
Fax
(833) 509-0823

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 South Carolina

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (46)
  • Abbeville
  • Aiken
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Bamberg
  • Barnwell
  • Beaufort
  • Berkeley
  • Calhoun
  • Charleston
  • Cherokee
  • Chester
  • Chesterfield
  • Clarendon
  • Colleton
  • Darlington
  • Dillon
  • Dorchester
  • Edgefield
  • Fairfield
  • Florence
  • Georgetown
  • Greenville
  • Greenwood
  • Hampton
  • Horry
  • Jasper
  • Kershaw
  • Lancaster
  • Laurens
  • Lee
  • Lexington
  • Marion
  • Marlboro
  • McCormick
  • Newberry
  • Oconee
  • Orangeburg
  • Pickens
  • Richland
  • Saluda
  • Spartanburg
  • Sumter
  • Union
  • Williamsburg
  • York

Free help in South Carolina

Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)

Disability Rights South Carolina

Phone
803-782-0639 (toll-free 866-275-7273, TTY 866-232-4525)

Legal aid

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD)

Phone
803-896-6500 (toll-free 800-832-7526)

ABLE savings account

SC ABLE Savings Program

More free help across the country →

Good to know in South Carolina

  • South Carolina's state supplement is called Optional State Supplementation (OSS). It helps pay for care in licensed Community Residential Care Facilities. Since January 1, 2026, your monthly net income can be up to $1,804. The state pays the facility, and you also get full Medicaid. (SCDHHS)
  • A September 2026 state audit found that South Carolina's DDS lost 35% of its disability examiners from January 2021 to June 2026. Average examiner processing time was 70 days in 2025. (SC Legislative Audit Council)
  • South Carolina's Working Disabled program lets some people with disabilities who work get Medicaid with family income under 250% of the poverty level. (SCDHHS)

Recent changes

January 1, 2026: OSS net income limit is $1,804 a month (SCDHHS). September 2026: SC Legislative Audit Council report on SC DDS (staffing losses, processing times). Earlier OSS rate changes: July 1, 2022 limit rose from $1,526 to $1,626 (SCDHHS bulletin MB# 22-013).

More RobinClaim guides for South Carolina → · All states

Sources

Last checked: November 2026