What disability programs exist in Maryland

Maryland offers several programs for people with disabilities, but they work differently depending on whether you need income support, healthcare, or both. The main programs are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is federal; Supplemental Security Income (SSI), also federal but with state variations; and Maryland Disability Services, which includes state-run programs like the Division of Rehabilitation Services and Medicaid waivers for long-term care.

SSDI and SSI are both run by the Social Security Administration, but they serve different groups. SSDI goes to people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, or to adult children of workers who have retired, died, or become disabled. SSI goes to people with low income and few resources, regardless of work history. Maryland adds its own layer: the state runs programs that help people stay in their homes and communities rather than moving to institutions, and it coordinates with federal programs to avoid gaps.

Which program you might use depends on your work history, your current income and savings, and what kind of support you need. Most people do not use just one—they may receive SSDI for income and also use Maryland Medicaid for healthcare, or they may receive SSI and also access vocational rehabilitation services through the state.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI is for people with a work history; SSI is for people with low income and few resources; Maryland state programs provide additional services like rehabilitation and community-based care.
  • You explore for SSDI and SSI through Social Security, either online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a local Social Security office.
  • Maryland Medicaid covers healthcare for people receiving SSI automatically, and may cover people receiving SSDI depending on income; you explore through the Maryland Department of Human Services.
  • The Division of Rehabilitation Services helps people with disabilities prepare for work or return to work, and you can contact them through your local vocational rehabilitation office.
  • Processing times vary: SSDI and SSI decisions typically take three to six months, but appeals can take one to two years.

SSDI in Maryland: How it works and who qualifies

SSDI is a federal program that pays monthly benefits to people who have worked enough and paid Social Security taxes, and who now have a disability that prevents them from working. You do not explore to Maryland for SSDI—you explore to Social Security directly. However, Maryland has a local Social Security office that can help you file, and the state's Division of Rehabilitation Services can help you understand how work affects your benefits.

To receive SSDI, you must have a medical condition that Social Security considers disabling. That means the condition must prevent you from doing substantial work—currently defined as earning more than $1,550 per month (this amount changes yearly)—and it must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Social Security has a list of conditions that automatically may have access to, but you can also may have access to with a condition not on the list if you can show it is equally severe.

The amount you receive depends on your earnings record, not on your current need. If you worked for many years and earned a high income, your benefit will be higher than someone who worked part-time. Your spouse and children may also receive benefits based on your work record, even if they have never worked themselves.

SSI in Maryland: Income limits and how the process works

SSI is also federal, but it is based on need rather than work history. To receive SSI in Maryland, you must have a disability (using the same definition as SSDI), and you must have limited income and resources. The income limit in Maryland is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple (these amounts change yearly). The resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple—meaning you can own that much in cash, savings, or other liquid assets, but not more.

Some things do not count toward the resource limit: your home, one vehicle, household goods, and certain items related to work or disability. If you own a home, it does not count. If you have a car you use for work or medical appointments, it does not count. This means you can own a home and a car and still receive SSI, as long as your other resources stay under the limit.

You explore for SSI at the same place you explore for SSDI: through Social Security online, by phone, or in person. The process asks about your medical condition, your work history (if any), your income, your resources, and your living situation. Processing typically takes three to six months, though it can take longer if Social Security needs more medical evidence.

Maryland Medicaid and healthcare coverage for people with disabilities

If you receive SSI in Maryland, you are automatically enrolled in Maryland Medicaid. You do not have to explore separately. Medicaid covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescription medications, mental health services, and long-term care in nursing homes or through home and community-based waivers.

If you receive SSDI, you do not automatically get Medicaid, but you may be able to get it. Maryland has a program called Working Disabled Medicaid that lets people receiving SSDI keep Medicaid even if their income is higher than the SSI limit. You have to meet certain conditions—usually, you must be working or trying to work—but if you may have access to, you can keep healthcare coverage while earning more money.

If you do not receive SSI or SSDI but have a disability and low income, you may still be able to get Maryland Medicaid through a different route. You can explore through the Maryland Department of Human Services. The income and resource limits are different from SSI, and the process is separate from Social Security.

Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services and vocational support

The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) is a Maryland state agency that helps people with disabilities prepare for work, find jobs, or return to work after an injury or illness. You do not have to be receiving SSDI or SSI to use DORS. You can contact your local vocational rehabilitation office to ask about services.

DORS can pay for education and training, assistive technology, job coaching, transportation to work, and other supports that help you work. If you are receiving SSDI, DORS can help you understand how earnings affect your benefits, and they can help you use work incentives like the Trial Work Period (which lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits when ready) or Impairment Related Work Expenses (which let you deduct disability-related costs from your earnings).

To use DORS, you explore at your local office. The agency will assess your disability, your work history, and your job goals, and then create a plan with you. There is no cost to you—DORS is funded by the state and federal government. Processing can take several weeks, and the agency prioritizes people with the most significant disabilities.

Home and community-based waivers for long-term care in Maryland

If you need long-term care—help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or taking medication—Maryland offers several waivers that let you receive care at home or in the community instead of in a nursing home. These are called Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. Maryland runs several different waivers for different groups: one for elderly people, one for people with developmental disabilities, one for people with physical disabilities, and others.

To use a waiver, you must meet the medical criteria (usually, you must need the level of care that a nursing home provides), and you must have income and resources low enough to may have access to for Medicaid. If you receive SSI, you already may have access to for Medicaid, so you only need to meet the medical criteria. If you receive SSDI or have no disability benefits, you may still may have access to for Medicaid through the waiver program itself.

Waivers have waiting lists in Maryland. The wait time varies by waiver and by region, but it can be months or years. You can get on a waiting list even if you do not need services right now. To explore, contact your local Department of Human Services office or call the Maryland Department of Health's Long-Term Care Coordination office.

Work incentives and how earnings affect your benefits

If you receive SSDI or SSI and want to work, you do not automatically lose your benefits. Social Security has rules that let you earn money while keeping some or all of your benefits. The most important ones are the Trial Work Period (for SSDI), which lets you work and earn any amount for nine months without losing benefits; the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount, which is the earnings level above which Social Security considers you able to work (currently $1,550 per month for non-blind people, changing yearly); and Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), which let you subtract disability-related costs from your earnings.

Maryland's Division of Rehabilitation Services can help you understand these rules and plan your return to work. They can also connect you with employers who hire people with disabilities, and they can help you get training or assistive technology you need to work. If you are thinking about working, contact DORS before you start, so you understand how your benefits will change.

How to contact disability services in Maryland

For SSDI or SSI, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit ssa.gov. You can explore online, request an appointment at a local office, or call to ask questions. Local Social Security offices are in most Maryland cities; you can find yours on the Social Security website.

For Maryland Medicaid, contact the Maryland Department of Human Services at 1-800-332-6347 or explore online at marylandunemployment.gov. For DORS vocational rehabilitation services, find your local office at dors.maryland.gov or call 1-888-554-0334. For home and community-based waivers, contact your local Department of Human Services office or the Maryland Department of Health at 1-877-463-3464.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time?

No. If you may have access to for both, Social Security will pay you SSDI first (because it is usually higher), and then SSI will make up the difference if your SSDI payment is below the SSI limit. This is called "concurrent benefits," and it is uncommon. Most people receive one or the other.

What happens to my benefits if I move out of Maryland?

SSDI and SSI are federal programs, so your benefits continue if you move to another state. However, Maryland Medicaid ends when you move, and you will need to explore for Medicaid in your new state. If you are using Maryland's Division of Rehabilitation Services or a home and community-based waiver, those services end, and you will need to explore in your new state.

How long does it take to get a decision on my SSDI or SSI process?

Initial decisions typically take three to six months. If Social Security denies your claim, you can appeal. The appeal process can take one to two years or longer, depending on how many levels of appeal you go through. You can work with a disability advocate or attorney to help with your appeal.

Do I have to report my income to Social Security every month?

If you receive SSI, yes—you must report changes in income, resources, living situation, and other facts that affect your benefit. If you receive SSDI and are working, you should report your earnings so Social Security can explore the work incentive rules correctly. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your Social Security account.

Can I get help paying for an attorney to appeal my denial?

Yes. Disability advocates and attorneys who work with Social Security cases can charge you only if you win your appeal, and Social Security limits the fee to 25 percent of your back pay (the money owed to you from the date you should have started receiving benefits). You can find a may have access to representative through the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives or by asking your local legal aid office.