United States Social Security Administration

Room 1201 Federal Building, 700 West Capitol Street

Little Rock, AR  72201

1-800-593-0933 or TTY 501-324-7187

www.ssa.gov

Mission Statement: The mission of the Social Security Administration is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.

Overview: Two programs of the Social Security Administration work to help the disabled: social security disability insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that has prevented you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or end in death.  You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled because the process for approval can take 3-5 months.  To apply, you will need:

• your Social Security number
• your birth or baptismal certificate
• medical information such as information about the doctors you have seen and hospitals or clinics where you have been treated, medication you take, medical records, lab and test results
• past work summary and most recent W-2 (or federal tax return if you are self-employed)

Social Security disability has special rules that allow you to try to return to work and still receive monthly benefits.  You can also get help with education, rehabilitation, and training you need in order to work.

SSI pays benefits to blind and disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.  You can get SSI and other benefits if you are eligible for both.  To get SSI, you must live in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands and be a U.S. citizen or national.  In some cases, noncitizen residents can qualify for SSI.  To apply, you will need:

• your Social Security card or a record of your Social Security number
• your birth certificate or other proof of your age
• information about your home, such as your mortgage or lease and landlord’s name
• payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, burial fund records and other information about your income and the things you own
• if you are applying for SSI because you are blind or disabled, medical information such as information about the doctors you have seen and hospitals or clinics where you have been treated
• proof of U.S. citizen status or eligible noncitizen status
• checkbook or other papers that show your bank, credit union, or saving and loan account numbers

Age Groups Served: ALL ages