If you live in New Jersey and have a disability, you can apply for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), for long-term disabilities, or state temporary disability insurance (TDI) benefits, for short-term conditions. If you don't have a strong work history and have low income and assets, you can also apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
While the application process for Social Security disability benefits is uniform across the United States, each state processes their applications, and provides other related services, differently. Below is an overview of how Social Security disability insurance claims are processed in New Jersey.
Social Security disability is for those who are disabled and unable to work for one year or longer. To apply, you can:
Your chance of getting approved for Social Security disability benefits in New Jersey is somewhat higher than the national average approval rate, both at the initial application stage and at a disability hearing. Your chances of getting approved after your hearing are even higher if you are represented by a disability lawyer or nonattorney representative at the hearing.
Below is a comparison of the approval rates for New Jersey and the national averages.
New Jersey
Nationally
The wait time for disability hearings (the time from when you first request a hearing until you have your hearing) is two months shorter, on average, than the national wait time.
Below is a comparison of the wait times for the New Jersey hearing offices.
Average Wait Time
New Jersey overall
SSI is a federal program for low-income disabled individuals that pays out a specific monthly amount to all who qualify. As of 2022, the maximum federal monthly payment for individuals who have no other income is $841; the payment for couples is $1,261 per month. But the average payment is usually lower, because Social Security subtracts income and the value of free rent and food from the payment.
The State of New Jersey chooses to pay an additional monthly payment to supplement the monthly federal payment. Below is a chart outlining the supplemental payments available in New Jersey, which depend on your living situation.
New Jersey Monthly Supplement
Living Alone or With Others
Living Alone with an Ineligible Spouse
Living in the Household of Another
Congregate Care Facility
Residential Health Care Facility
Living in a Medicaid-Approved Facility
The Division of Disability Services (DDS) is the New Jersey office that makes the decision on initial applications after they are reviewed by your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office. All questions regarding initial disability applications should be directed to the DDS.
New Jersey has three main DDS offices in the state. You can call DDS with any questions through its toll-free number. Addresses for the three offices in New Jersey are listed below.
Division of Disability Services
Phone: (866) 920-6997
Newark DDS Office
124 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ 07102
New Brunswick DDS Office
550 Jersey Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Trenton DDS Office
1 John Fitch Plaza
Trenton, NJ 08625
The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) deals with all appeals for hearings. New Jersey has three Social Security hearing offices:
Jersey City OHO
325 West Side Avenue, Second Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07305
Telephone: (877) 773-7451
Fax: (833) 721-0877
Services the Social Security field offices in Clifton, Hackensack, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Paterson.
Newark OHO
1100 Raymond Blvd, 3rd Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Telephone: (877) 405-9798
Fax: (833) 779-0460
Services the following field offices: East Orange, Neptune, New Brunswick, Newark, Newton, Parsippany, Somerville, Springfield Ave, Trenton, Union Township, and Woodbridge.
South Jersey OHO
2475 McClellan Blvd
Pennsauken, New Jersey 08109
Telephone: (866) 964-5769
Fax: (833) 942-2183
Services the following field offices: Brick, Bridgeton, Cherry Hill, Egg Harbor Township, Glassboro, Mount Holly, Rio Grande, and Toms River.
After individuals become disabled, some can benefit from receiving services that will help them to prepare to work again and make a successful return to work. New Jersey provides these services through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS).
There is a central office located in Trenton and 18 additional offices located throughout the state to services individuals. Below is the contact information for the central office; call this office for information about a local office near you.
DVRS Central Office
1 John Fitch Plaza
Trenton, NJ 08625-0398
Telephone: (609) 292-5987
Toll-free: (866) 871-7867
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 398
Trenton, NJ 08625-0398
Qualified employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury can receive temporary disability benefits for up to six months in New Jersey. These temporary benefits are through a special state-funded program, which pays two-thirds of your average wages. For more information, see our article on New Jersey TDI Benefits.