Start with the Social Security Administration, not the state

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA), not by South Carolina. You file your claim directly with SSA, either online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. South Carolina does not process SSDI claims, but the state does run a separate program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI) that you may be able to file for at the same time.

The SSA has three Social Security field offices in South Carolina: one in Charleston, one in Columbia, and one in Greenville. You can walk into any of them during business hours to begin your claim, though you can also complete the entire process by phone or online without visiting an office. Most people start online because it is faster and you can save your work and return to it later.

Before you start, gather the documents you will need: your Social Security card, birth certificate, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency, medical records from doctors who have treated you, a list of all medications you take, and names and dates of any hospitalizations or surgeries. You will also need information about your work history for the past 15 years, including job titles, employers, and the dates you worked.

Key Takeaways

  • File your SSDI claim with the Social Security Administration online, by phone, or at a local field office in Charleston, Columbia, or Greenville.
  • You must have worked long enough and recently enough to have earned enough work credits; the SSA will calculate this when you file.
  • Medical evidence is the most important part of your claim, so gather records from all doctors who have treated your condition before you start.
  • The SSA will send you a decision letter within three to five months in most cases, though some claims take longer if more information is needed.
  • If SSA denies your claim, you have 60 days to file an appeal, and most people who appeal with a lawyer win at the hearing stage.

File your claim online at ssa.gov

The fastest way to start is to go to ssa.gov and click "explore for Disability." You will create a my Social Security account if you do not already have one. The online form asks for your personal information, work history, medical conditions, and the names of doctors who have treated you. You can fill it out all at once or save your progress and come back to it later—the system will hold your answers for 30 days.

The online form takes about 20 to 30 minutes if you have all your information ready. You will be asked to list every job you have held in the past 15 years, the dates you worked, and how much you earned. You will also describe your medical condition, when it started, and what prevents you from working. At the end, you will upload or mail medical records and other supporting documents.

After you submit the form, the SSA will send you a confirmation letter with a claim number. Write this number down—you will use it every time you contact the SSA about your claim. The SSA will also tell you what documents they still need from you and when they need them by.

explore by phone or in person if you prefer

If you do not want to file online, you can call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. A representative will ask you the same questions as the online form and will take your answers over the phone. This takes about 30 to 45 minutes. The SSA will mail you a form to sign and return, and you will mail in your medical records and other documents.

You can also walk into the Social Security field office nearest you. In South Carolina, the offices are located in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. You do not need an appointment, but wait times can be long—call ahead to ask how busy the office is. Bring all your documents with you: Social Security card, birth certificate, proof of citizenship, medical records, and a list of your jobs and employers.

Whether you file online, by phone, or in person, the SSA will give you a claim number and tell you what documents they need. The process is the same from that point forward.

Gather medical records before you file

Your medical records are the most important part of your claim. The SSA needs to see that you have a condition that prevents you from working, and that the condition is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Medical records from your doctors are the best proof of this. Before you file, contact every doctor, hospital, and mental health provider who has treated you for your condition and ask for copies of your records.

Include records from the past three to five years if possible. The SSA wants to see notes from office visits, test results, imaging reports (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans), hospital discharge summaries, and any letters your doctor has written about your condition. If you have been hospitalized, ask the hospital for the discharge summary. If you take medications, bring a list of the names, doses, and how often you take them.

You do not have to submit all your records when you file. You can submit some now and send more later, as long as you meet the SSA's important date. The SSA will tell you in writing what documents they need and when they need them by—usually 30 days from the date they send the request.

Understand the timeline and what happens next

After you file, the SSA sends your claim to the Disability information Services (DDS) office in South Carolina. This office reviews your medical records and decides whether you meet the SSA's definition of disability. Most decisions take three to five months, but some take longer if the DDS needs more medical information or wants you to see a doctor for an examination.

The SSA will contact you if they need more information. They may ask you to see a doctor for a consultative examination—this is a free exam paid for by the SSA, not by you. You do not have to pay for this exam. If the SSA asks you to see a doctor, go to the appointment. Missing it can result in a denial of your claim.

You will receive a decision letter in the mail. The letter will say whether the SSA approved or denied your claim. If approved, the letter will tell you how much your monthly benefit will be and when payments will start. If denied, the letter will explain why and tell you how to appeal.

Know what to do if the SSA denies your claim

If the SSA denies your claim, you have 60 days from the date of the decision letter to file an appeal. Do not wait—if you miss the 60-day important date, you will have to start over with a new claim. The appeal is called a "Request for Reconsideration," and you can file it online, by phone, or in person at your local Social Security office.

At the reconsideration stage, a different examiner reviews your claim and your medical records. You can submit new medical records or new information that you did not have when you first filed. Many people hire a lawyer at this stage to help them gather evidence and prepare for the next step. You do not have to hire a lawyer, but most people who win their appeals at the hearing stage had a lawyer representing them.

If the SSA denies your reconsideration, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is where most people win. At the hearing, you can testify about your condition, and your lawyer can present medical evidence and question the SSA's medical informed. The hearing usually takes place in Columbia or another city in South Carolina, and you can attend in person or by video.

Learn about work incentives and other benefits you may receive

If you are approved for SSDI, you can work and still receive benefits under the SSA's work incentive programs. The most common one is called the Trial Work Period, which lets you work for nine months without losing any benefits. After the Trial Work Period ends, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period, where you can work and keep benefits as long as your earnings stay below a certain amount each month.

You may also be able to receive Medicare after you have been on SSDI for 24 months. Medicare covers hospital care, doctor visits, and prescription drugs. You do not have to wait to be approved for Medicare—the SSA will enroll you automatically once you have been on SSDI for 24 months.

If you live in South Carolina and your income is very low, you may also be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at the same time as SSDI. SSI is a needs-based program that provides additional monthly payments to people with disabilities who have little income or resources. You can file for SSI when you file for SSDI, or you can file later if your SSDI benefit is small.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to file in person at a Social Security office in South Carolina?

No. You can file online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at any Social Security office. Online is usually fastest because you can save your work and submit it whenever you are ready. Filing by phone or in person takes longer because you have to wait for a representative or an appointment.

What if I do not have all my medical records when I file?

You can file without all your records. Submit what you have, and the SSA will ask you for more if they need it. You have 30 days from the date the SSA asks to send additional records. If you cannot get records from an old doctor, tell the SSA and they may be able to contact the doctor for you.

How much will I receive if I am approved?

Your benefit amount depends on how much you earned during your working years. The SSA calculates your average earnings and uses a formula to determine your monthly payment. The SSA will tell you the estimated amount when you file, and the exact amount in your decision letter if you are approved.

Can I work while I wait for a decision on my SSDI claim?

Yes. You can work while your claim is being reviewed. If you are approved, your benefits will start from the date you filed, not from the date you stopped working. If you earn more than a certain amount per month, you may lose some or all of your benefits, so tell the SSA about any work you do.

What happens if I miss a important date or do not respond to the SSA?

If you miss a important date to send documents or do not respond to the SSA's requests, they may deny your claim. If this happens, you can file an appeal within 60 days. It is important to respond to every letter from the SSA and to meet every important date they give you.