Wyoming Disability Benefits

Sometimes, even with reasonable accommodations, a person may suffer from physical or mental health challenges that prevent them from retaining gainful employment.

If a Wyoming resident has developmental disabilities, mental health issues, a terminal illness, or any other debilitating health challenges, they can file a disability claim to obtain Social Security disability benefits.

Facts About Wyoming

Around 26% of the adults in Wyoming have a disability, which is slightly higher than the national average of around 25%.

Examples of common disabilities include:

• Mobility challenges (such as difficulty walking or climbing stairs)
• Cognition challenges (such as difficulty concentrating or remembering)
• Hearing challenges

Less common disabilities are related to vision, independent living, and self-care – such as having difficulty doing errands, dressing, bathing, and making doctor’s appointments.

Studies show that adults with disabilities in Wyoming are twice as likely to smoke, have diabetes, or heart disease, and almost twice as likely to be obese. SSDI payouts and associated costs run up $1.4 billion per year in Wyoming, comprising around 31% of the Cowboy State’s healthcare expenses.

How To Qualify for SSDI in Wyoming

If an applicant has a disease on the list of SSA Compassionate Allowances, their application can be fast-tracked for approval. Fast-moving cancers and degenerative diseases are examples of such illnesses. Everything else will take about 3-5 months to get a decision from the Disability Determination Services.

The Disability Determination Services will need to see proof that you have a disability, which means your SSDI application will need to include medical records, hospital bills, letters from medical professionals, and anything else that can corroborate the existence of an SSA-approved disability for which you can collect Social Security Disability.

Your disability must prevent you from working at least 12 months or end in eventual death. However, in addition to being medical eligibility for SSDI, you must also be non-medically eligible. This means you have paid a sufficient amount of FICA taxes throughout your working career.

The SSA measures this in work credits, with $1,470 in earnings as an employee or self-employed individual meriting one work credit, with a maximum of four credits able to be earned per year. Usually, half of the 40 required credits for being SSDI eligible must come from the last decade, but if you are younger and applying for SSDI, the requirements may be lowered.

How To Apply for SSDI in Wyoming

There are just 5 different Social Security Administration field offices in the Equality State, which means that the nearest one to you may still be a bit of a car ride. Thankfully, you can also apply for SSDI over the phone by calling 1-800-772-1213, or you can even start your application online by visiting SSA.gov.

Keep in mind that as long as your SSDI case is open, you do not need to reapply. There will be a Continuing Disability Review by the SSA at least once every three years. If your condition is not expected to improve, your SSDI benefit eligibility will be reviewed once every 5-7 years.

If you are a disabled Veteran, you can also get funding from the VA. You can even collect SSDI benefits concurrently with your disability payments from the VA.

How To Appeal a Denial in Wyoming

If you disagree with the decision of the Wyoming Disability Determination Services, you can request a reconsideration, which allows you to add more evidence to your SSDI claim.

If your SSDI claim is still denied, you can request a hearing by an administrative law judge within 60 days of denial. The ALJ can return your SSDI claim to a different disability examiner if you present a convincing case. After that, the next step in the appeals process is to request a hearing from the Appeals Council, who can return it to a different ALJ. If your case is still denied, an attorney may be able to assist you in federal court.

In many cases, hiring an SSDI lawyer before filing your initial application can improve your chances of getting accepted for SSDI. If your claim for Social Security Benefits does go into disability adjudication, a disability attorney can appear for you at the disability hearing.

More Wyoming Benefits

SSI

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another SSA program. Administered at the state level, SSI benefits are available to low-income individuals who are disabled, blind, or over the age of 65.

As long as your available financial resources are below $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple, you can obtain SSI benefits, which are up to $704 for an individual and $1,191 for a couple.

Most SSI recipients automatically qualify for other benefit programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance. If you are approved for SSDI, you can also collect SSI as long as your income is not too high. That’s good news for SSDI recipients since SSDI-associated Medicare takes two years to kick in. Dual-eligible SSI/SSDI recipients can take advantage of Medicaid benefits while they wait for Medicare eligibility.

Wyoming Medicaid

Wyoming Medicaid is available for certain low-income earners and dependents with limited financial resources. Availability is based on income. For example, a family of four cannot have an income exceeding $35,245.

Wyoming Unemployment Insurance

For Wyoming residents out of work through no fault of their own, Wyoming Unemployment benefits provide weekly compensation to cover living expenses. The program is administered by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

Wyoming Social Security Offices

Wyoming Hearing and Appeal Offices

Wyoming is in Region 8 (Denver), which services Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. 

The Casper Hearing Office is a satellite of the Denver ODAR office, and services the Wyoming cities of Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Rock Springs, and Sheridan.