Kansas SSDI and SSI Benefits

If you live in Kansas and can no longer work full-time due to a physical or mental disorder, you may be able to qualify for disability benefits. Kansans who aren't able to work for at least one year due to a health condition may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), while workers' compensation benefits are available to residents who've experienced a job-related injury or illness.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability in Kansas

You can begin your application ("claim") for disability benefits online using the Social Security Administration's web portal. For most SSDI claimants, this is the most convenient filing option, as it allows you to complete the application at your leisure and submit the entire claim online.

If you're filing for SSI, you won't be able to complete the entire application online. Instead, you can call the national Social Security disability hotline at 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to speak with a representative. (SSDI claimants who aren't comfortable applying online can use this option as well.) Deaf and hard of hearing applicants can call theTTY number at 800-325-0778.

All claimants can make an appointment at their local Social Security office to apply for benefits. You can find the office nearest you with Social Security's office locator tool. There are 11 field offices in Kansas. Contact information for each office can be found below.

Dodge City
2204 Summerlon Cir.
Dodge City, KS 67801

Telephone: 877-694-5494
Fax: 833-950-2334

Hays
1212 E. 27th St.
Hays, KS 67601

Telephone: 888-552-7176
Fax: 833-950-2632

Hutchinson
811 E. 30th Ave.
Suite A
Hutchinson, KS 67502

Telephone: 877-846-8333
Fax: 833-950-2338

Independence
2125 N. Penn Ave.
Suite A
Independence, KS 67301

Telephone: 877-512-3855
Fax: 833-950-2340

Kansas City
850 Nebraska Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101

Telephone: 866-331-2197
Fax: 833-436-4147

Lawrence
1400 Wakarusa
Suite 200
Lawrence, KS

Telephone: 866-698-2561
Fax: 833-950-2946

Lenexa
15375 W. 95th St.
Lenexa, KS 66219

Telephone: 877-445-9978
Fax: 833-950-2638

Manhattan
1121 Hudson Ave.
Manhattan, KS 66503

Telephone: 877-840-5741
Fax: 833-950-2636

Salina
1410 E. Iron Ave.
Salina, KS 67401

Telephone: 877-405-3494
Fax: 833-950-2332

Topeka
600 SW Commerce Pl.
Topeka, KS 66615

Telephone: 888-327-1271
Fax: 833-950-2328

Wichita
3216 N. Cypress St.
Wichita, KS 67226

Telephone: 866-931-9173
Fax: 833-950-2330

All of the above offices are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kansas Disability Determination Services

Your local Social Security field office reviews your application to make sure you meet the preliminary technical requirements to qualify for SSDI, SSI, or both. If so, your file is then sent to Kansas Disability Determination Services (DDS), a part of the Department for Children and Families, to determine whether you meet the medical requirements for disability.

Claims examiners at DDS review your records to determine whether you have functional limitations from your medical condition that keep you from working. At this stage, you should direct any questions you have about your application to your claims examiner at DDS. The address and phone number for the office are as follows:

Disability Determination Services
2820 SW Fairlawn Road
Suite 100
Topeka, KS 66614

Telephone: 785-267-4440

In fiscal year 2023, claims examiners in Kansas approved around 46% of initial disability applications, above the national average. If you're one of the Kansans who aren't approved the first time you apply, you can appeal by asking that DDS reconsider their original denial and come to a different decision. Only about 16% of reconsideration appeals are approved, but you'll need to request reconsideration before you can get a hearing with a disability judge.

Disability Appeals in Kansas

You have 60 days to appeal a reconsideration denial by submitting a request for a hearing with an administrative law judge. When you request a hearing, DDS sends your file to the Social Security Office of Hearing Operations (OHO), who will put your case on the docket. Keep in mind that it can take a while to get your hearing scheduled—recently (as of April 2024), the average wait time for Kansas hearings is about 7.5 months.

OHO has two offices in Kansas. If you have an in-person hearing, you'll need to show up at one of the locations below at the date and time printed on your Notice of Hearing.

Topeka OHO
Suite A
3712 SW Burlingame
Topeka, KS 66609

Telephone: 888-436-2615
Fax: 833-964-2263
eFile Fax: 877-847-1602

Recent (April 2024) statistics show that judges at the Topeka OHO issued favorable decisions awarding benefits in about 35% of hearings.

Wichita OHO
3207 N. Cypress Street
Wichita, KS 67226

Telephone: 866-964-3421
Fax: 833-748-0027
eFile Fax: 877-389-4212

Judges at the Wichita OHO issued favorable decisions in about 37% of hearings, as of April 2024.

State Supplements for Medicaid Facilities in Kansas

The State of Kansas automatically provides Medicaid coverage, called KanCare, to everybody who qualifies for SSI. Furthermore, in addition to the SSI federal benefit ($943 per month in 2024), Kansas provides a small ($32-$64) state supplement to disabled adults who qualify for SSI and live in Medicaid nursing homes or other Medicaid facilities. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Healthcare Finances, administers the state supplement.

Disability Advocacy Resources in Kansas

In the 1970s, following growing awareness of injustices against disabled people, Congress established the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) program. State organizations that are part of the federal P&A system are empowered to investigate violations of the rights of disabled people and provide legal assistance when needed.

The official protection and advocacy organization in Kansas is:

Disability Rights Center of Kansas
214 SW 6th Ave.
Suite 100
Topeka, KS 66603

Telephone: 785-273-9661 or 877-776-1541
Fax: 785-273-9414

https://www.drckansas.org/

The Disability Rights Center is a valuable resource for disabled Kansans. However, keep in mind that they don't provide legal representation for workers' compensation or disability claims.

Kansas Workers' Compensation Benefits

If your disability was the result of a job-related injury or illness that had lasting consequences to your ability to work, you may be able to get permanent or temporary disability benefits. In Kansas, most employers are legally required to carry worker's compensation insurance for their employees. Workers' comp benefits are usually easier to get than Social Security disability or SSI, because the workers' comp program covers partial disabilities.

Getting Legal Help

You aren't required to have an attorney at any stage of the disability process but it's a good idea to consult one, especially if you've already received a denial. While Kansas has a higher percentage of DDS approvals than the national average, the percentage of favorable hearing decisions is significantly lower than average.

Having an experienced disability attorney represent you in front of a judge can increase your chances of winning. Even during the earlier stages of the process, your lawyer can help take some of the pressure off by keeping on top of appeal deadlines, gathering all the necessary medical evidence, and maintaining communications with Social Security.