Next Steps

You can find more information about SSI:

• On the Social Security Administration’s website.
• In Social Security’s Red Book
• Using Social Security’s Spotlights on special SSI topics.

You can apply for SSI:

• Online (which starts the application process immediately)
• By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to apply either:
  • Over the phone
  • In person at your local Social Security office.

If your SSI application is denied and you want a referral to a lawyer or other representative to help with your appeal, contact Disability Rights North Carolina or the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR).

If you have questions about SSI and need to talk with somebody, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) or visit your local Social Security office.

If you want to ask about how work might affect your SSI benefits, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Depending on where you live in North Carolina, they can refer you to free benefits planning services from:

• Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) at 1-800-689-9090, or
  
• Employment Source, at 1-910-401-5495.

North Carolina's Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD), formerly called the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS or VR), helps people with disabilities prepare for and find work. Whether you're looking to enter the workforce for the first time, return to work, or enter a new line of work, a counselor can work with you to figure out which services you need and develop a plan to help you reach your work goals.

Call or visit the Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) office near you.

Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program helps people with disabilities who get Social Security benefits re-enter the workforce and become more independent. The Ticket to Work Program offers free access to employment-related services, such as training, transportation, and vocational rehabilitation. You can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).

A trained Benefits Planner can help you understand your benefits programs. Exactly who you need to contact depends on your situation and the benefits you get.

View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.