How to File for Disability in Missouri and Get SSDI or SSI Benefits

Important: We updated this article in May 2025 after fact checking against current Social Security Administration policy and state data. Did you know? Two disability programs can pay benefits to Missouri residents who cannot work for a year due to a medical condition. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers both programs, but they have slightly different rules. We’ll explain how to file for disability in Missouri, pay amounts, other benefits you may qualify for and more below.

How to File for Disability in Missouri: Key Takeaways

• Two federal programs can pay eligible applicants Missouri disability benefits. To get either payment, you must prove your health makes you unable to work for at least 12 months.
• Your health diagnosis alone will not qualify you for Social Security disability benefits. You must also answer questions about your income, assets, and work history, depending on which benefit you apply for.
• The Social Security Administration manages both programs. So, it’s possible to apply for both programs at once without filing more paperwork.
• It takes multiple forms to apply, and they are different based on what type of medical condition you have. So, it’s not possible to download an application online and fill it out at your convenience while you’re at home.
• You are nearly 3x more likely to receive benefits on your first try and within 180 days of your filing date if you work with an attorney. Lawyers charge $0 up front to file your disability claim, and you only owe legal fees after you’re successful. If your claim doesn’t result in benefits, you still owe $0 to the attorney who helped you.
• People who file without legal assistance typically wait 2-3 years for their first payment after multiple failed appeals. The SSA grants benefits to less than 1 in 5 people who apply the first time without an attorney’s help.
• Depending on how and where your medical condition started, other types of disability benefits may be available to you.

You Have Two Ways to Get Missouri Disability Benefits

If you’re wondering how to file for disability in Missouri, here are the two federal programs you can choose from:

1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Get all the details to learn which program may best fit your needs based on your income, age, work history, and more.

Benefit Program #1: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI specifically covers workers aged 18-66 who paid Social Security taxes out of every paycheck. This Missouri disability benefits program offers monthly payments to disabled workers with enough work history to qualify. In addition, eligible family members (like your spouse and children) may also qualify for dependent benefits.

Important: Social Security Disability Insurance does not pay benefits to disabled children, seniors, retirees, or people who never worked.

How Can I Tell Whether I May Qualify for SSDI Benefits?

Below are the basic requirements to qualify, so you’ll know whether applying is worth your time and effort before you begin:

• You must work at least 5 in the last 10 years in jobs where you paid Social Security taxes. That’s how you earn enough Social Security work credits to qualify for SSDI payments (you’ll need 40 if you’re 31 or older).
• Your monthly income must be less than $1,620 if you’re sighted, or $2,700 if you’re blind. That means the SSA only looks at your individual income, not your spouse’s or anyone else who lives with you. The SSA calls making more than this amount “substantial gainful activity.”
• You must have one or more medical conditions that are either permanent or expected to result in your death. In plain English, this means SSDI won’t pay you benefits for temporary health issues like major surgery or pregnancy.
• Your health problem must specifically make you unable to work in any job for at least 12 months. You must submit complete medical records and receive regular treatment from a doctor to pass this requirement.
• If you already draw some Social Security benefits each month, then you won’t qualify for SSDI disability. This is because SSDI automatically converts into regular Social Security retirement payments when you turn 67 years old. If you get early retirement at 62 or other RSDI benefits, then you can’t get a second payment. Federal law states you can only draw 1 benefit payment each month based on your Social Security number.

How Long Does It Take to Get SSDI After I File for Disability in Missouri?

Six months after your application date is the usual wait time for SSDI disability in Missouri. The SSA will send your application to the Disability Determination Services office in Missouri for processing.

Then, the DDS will most likely schedule something called a consultative exam. You cannot skip this appointment and expect to receive benefits, since it’s a critical step in your case review.

A DDS claims examiner usually takes 3-5 months to process each SSDI application. And federal law enforces a mandatory five-month waiting period before anyone gets SSDI payments. If you’re out of work that long before you file for disability in Missouri, then it won’t affect your claim. 

How Much SSDI Money Do Most People Get Each Month in the Show-Me State?

The highest SSDI payment available in 2025 is $4,018. However, just a few thousand people nationwide get that much in disability pay from SSDI every month. 

The average monthly SSDI payment nationwide is currently $1,580. However, that amount includes people who’ve been in the system for years and dependents, too. So, expect your check to fall somewhere between those two dollar amounts, most likely.

Most people today get about 40% of their average monthly paycheck earned over a 35-year work history. This is because your disability pay amount from SSDI depends entirely on your past job earnings, not your diagnosis. An annual Cost-Of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) increase provides a monthly raise in certain years.

Your symptoms, health problems, and monthly bills have no influence on how much money you get from SSDI. The only thing that affects your pay amount is your past job earnings during your work history.

Important: Families of disabled workers can draw up to 50% of their SSDI payment in dependent benefits each month. This typically includes any child younger than 18 who lives in your home and your current or former spouse.

Are Monthly SSDI Payments in Missouri Permanent?

No. Instead, the SSA must confirm every so often that you still are unable to work and you aren’t any better, health-wise. These routine continuing disability reviews (CDRs) happen every 3-7 years until you turn 67 years old. After that, SSDI automatically converts into regular Social Security. Your pay amount won’t change, and you don’t have to do anything for this switch to happen. But if the SSA decides you can work again before that birthday, your SSDI payments immediately stop.

How Can I Afford to See My Doctors and Get Prescriptions on SSDI?

Two years (24 months) after your first SSDI payment, you should automatically qualify for Medicare coverage. This applies regardless of whether you’re 65 years old or not on the 25th month you receive benefits from SSDI.

Benefit Program #2: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The second program that provides Missouri disability benefits to eligible children and adults is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The rules to qualify for these payments and how to file for disability in Missouri are slightly different than for SSDI.

Medical Eligibility: You Must Be Disabled, Blind, or at Least 65 Years Old to Get SSI Benefits

If you wait until you’re at least 65 to apply for SSI, go ahead and skip this section. Otherwise, you’ll need to pass a medical exam to qualify for Missouri disability benefits. Anyone who’s 65+ when they apply need only worry about meeting the income and asset limits for SSI.

You Also Need Very Low Income and Few or No Assets to Successfully Apply for Benefits from SSI

That means added together, income from everyone who lives in your home can be no more than $2,019. “Monthly income” means money you get from any source, not just jobs where you get paid to work. Child support, alimony, VA benefits, SNAP, TANF, etc. all count towards your monthly income for SSI.

As an individual, you also need less than $2,000 in “countable resources” to qualify for SSI (or $3,000 for couples). Some things the SSA will count towards that maximum asset limit are as follows:

• Your bank account balance
• Anything you can easily sell for cash, like jewelry, stocks, or property
• Money you inherit, get back in tax refunds, or receive in earned interest
• Investment balances in your 401k, Roth IRA account, or retirement pension fund

However, there are certain things the SSA will not count towards that income and asset limit, including:

• The home you live in and the land it sits on, if you own it instead of renting
• Your wedding rings (if applicable)
• One vehicle you can use for transportation purposes
• Things you need for daily living (i.e., furniture, kitchen appliances, clothing, personal items)

How Much Money Can I Get in Monthly SSI Benefits?

The SSI program’s monthly Missouri disability payments are also subject to an annual COLA. Any year the SSA approves a COLA increase, they’ll announce that SSI payment change in October. Once your SSI payments begin, you still need to pass a disability update every 3-7 years. If you can’t pass, then your payments will stop. Once you turn 65, though, you never have to pass another update. As long as you meet SSI’s income limits, your monthly checks keep coming in.

Does the SSI Program Offer Health Insurance Coverage?

Kind of, yes. The month after the SSA approves your disability claim for SSI, you become eligible for Medicaid coverage. However, enrollment in Medicaid is not automatic. You must instead file a separate application with the state’s MO HealthNet program for Medicaid coverage.

Are There Any State of Missouri Programs That Pay Temporary or Short-Term Disability?

No federal, state, or local government programs pay short-term or temporary Missouri disability benefits. The only two ways to get short-term or temporary disability in MO are:

• You purchased your own private insurance plan before your health problems started
• Your employer offers short-term or long-term disability coverage in your work benefits package

How to File for Disability in Missouri: You Have 3 Options

There are currently 3 ways to start the application process for disability benefits, and all are free.

Apply Online

You can apply online at SSA.gov for SSDI benefits only, not SSI benefits. There is no way to apply for SSI benefits online anywhere in the world at this time.

Apply in Person at Your Local SSA Office (Make an Appointment First)

You may also choose to apply in person at your nearest Social Security field office. This applies to both SSI and SSDI claims. However, you must make an appointment first and plan to spend at least 5 hours there filling out paperwork.

File Your Disability Application Through a Social Security Attorney

This service is a great option because it costs you nothing out of your own pocket and significantly boost your chances for success. A Social Security lawyer can help you file either SSDI or SSI applications, or both.

How to File for Disability in Missouri That Triples Your Approval Chances Within 6 Months

A Missouri disability lawyer nearly triples your chances to receive benefits the first time you apply. Even better, most people who file with legal assistance get approved within 6 months of their filing date.

All disability lawyers work on contingency, so you’ll pay $0 for help filing your application now. A Social Security attorney can also review your documentation for errors before you file for disability in Missouri.

Denied benefits once already? An attorney can also handle your appeal and even appear in court on your behalf, if needed. Lawyers can also schedule video hearings, prep you to testify before an Administrative Law Judge, and pay for medical records.

Federal law says a disability attorney can’t charge you anything until after your claim is approved for benefits. And if you’re successful, then you’ll only pay one small fee after your award goes through.

Ready to find out if you may qualify before you start the application process? Click the button below now to request a free consultation about your claim:

Get Your Free Benefits Evaluation