The Volunteer State of Tennessee isn’t just home to Graceland and the Grand Ole Opry. It’s also highly affordable, boasting a cost of living that’s well below the national average and many other states. Why does this matter? Because more than 1 in 10 (10.7%) Tennessee residents younger than 65 live with some type of disability. If that describes you, you might wonder how to get disability in Tennessee if you’re unable to hold down a job.
Below, we explain eligibility rules for disability payments, the application process, average dollar amounts, and more helpful info.
How to Get Disability in Tennessee: Key Takeaways
- Two federal programs offer disability benefits in TN: Supplemental security income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The Social Security Administration (SSA) accepts applications and administers payments for both programs.
- There are no federal or state government programs that pay temporary or short-term disability benefits in TN. But if your disability started from a work injury, you may want to apply for workers’ comp benefits.
- To qualify for payments, you must prove with medical records that you cannot work for a minimum of one year. If you can return to work sooner or already get other Social Security payments, then you are not eligible for disability assistance.
- An SSA representative will review your income and work history to make sure you meet all technical requirements. Only then will they forward your claim to Disability Determination Services to review your medical records.
- Once approved, you must complete a review every 3-7 years to re-confirm your disability status.
Two Programs Offer Social Security Disability Benefits in TN
The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages two programs that pay monthly cash benefits to disabled applicants. If you’re disabled and your health prevents you from working at all for at least 12 months, here are your options:
How to Get Disability in Tennessee from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Program
This program insures most American workers in the event they become unable to work for medical reasons before age 67. Below is a quick “cheat sheet” that should tell you whether you might be eligible before you apply:
- You worked at least 5 in the last 10 years full time while paying Social Security taxes through your employer. Think about it like you would any other insurance policy; if you stop paying the premiums, your coverage ends. So if you stopped working more than 5 years ago, you can’t apply for SSDI now. The SSA will automatically reject your claim.
- You’re not currently receiving benefits from Social Security (i.e., regular or early retirement or SSI). This is because SSDI is essentially an “early withdrawal” option for regular Social Security that applies if you become disabled. Federal law also forbids anyone from drawing 2 payments on the same work record. So, no one can get both retirement and disability benefits at the same time.
- You are not currently working full-time and your income is less than $1,690 per month. If you’re blind, that amount rises to $2,830 before you make too much money to qualify. If you still work even part-time, the SSA will argue that you are not disabled and reject your claim.
- Your doctor treats you regularly for a medical condition that will last a year or longer or is terminal in nature. Why do regular treatments matter? Because you need lots of medical evidence to support your claim that you cannot work any longer. If you haven’t seen a doctor lately, that could hurt your case.
How Long Does It Usually Take to Get SSDI Benefits?
Six months from your SSDI application date is usually the soonest you can expect your first payment. On average, the SSA takes 3-5 months to review every initial claim. And federal law requires a five-month waiting period before the SSA can pay anyone SSDI benefits. However, the SSA awards benefits to just 1 in 4 people on their initial application. So, you may have to wait a lot longer.
Right now, SSDI claims for Tennessee disability benefits take 400 days, on average, to process. If you decide to apply on your own without a lawyer, you’ll likely wait 18 months for your first payment. That’s because the SSA currently denies 4 in every 5 people the first time they apply. Then, you have 60 days to appeal your denial in writing. The first appeal step is called reconsideration, which takes about 100 days to complete. That puts you around 10 months out from your initial filing date. Only 2% of people get benefits at this stage. Then, the next step is to request an appeals hearing in court. If you’re in Chattanooga, you’ll wait another 9 months to plead your case. But if you’re in Franklin, it takes 13 months before your appeals hearing. In other words, you might wait 2-3 years for your first payment!
How Much Money Is SSDI Disability In Tennessee?
The most anyone can get in 2026 is $4,152, according to federal law. That means you earned at least a six-figure salary for 10+ years before you became disabled and stopped working. Nationwide, the average monthly SSDI payment is $1,630 per month.
You should know, however, that disabled individuals approved within the past year receive somewhere between those two pay amounts. For men, it’s about $400 more than the national average. Women can expect about $300 more each month.
Important: SSDI also pays Tennessee disability benefits to dependent children and spouses. Your wife, husband, or child can get up to 50% of your SSDI check amount every month after you’re approved.
Does SSDI Pay for Doctor Visits?
No, but once you get SSDI benefits for 24 months, you automatically qualify for Medicare coverage.
How to Get Disability In Tennessee from Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security income pays benefits only to blind or disabled adults and minor children as well as seniors aged 65+ who qualify.
To Qualify for SSI, You Need Very Limited Income and Almost No Assets
If you apply for yourself alone, then you need to have less than $2,000 in total income to qualify. You also must own less than $2,000 in assets to be eligible for SSI payments. This means anything you can sell for cash, such as jewelry, stocks, bonds, your 401(k), etc.
The SSA automatically denies your claim if you own too many things or have more than $2,000 in the bank. If you file as a married couple, you need less than $3,000 in assets.
How Much are Tennessee Disability Benefits from the SSI Program?
SSI payments are no more than $994 for one person, or $1,491 per couple. However, those amounts can go up every year with an approved cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
How Can I See a Doctor on SSI?
The same month you get your first SSI payment, you also qualify for Medicaid health coverage.
How to Apply for Disability Payments from the Social Security Administration
Most people have 3 ways to apply for Social Security disability benefits, and all of them are free:
- Apply in person at your local Social Security office. You may wish to make an appointment, since it the application process can take 4-5 hours, minimum.
- Call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday during normal business hours. This way you can start your application with the SSA over the phone.
- Work with a Social Security attorney to file your claim. This is the only option that triples your approval chances on your initial application.
Filing for SSDI benefits only, not SSI? Then you can also apply online at SSA.gov. However, you should know that the SSA does not accept SSI disability claims online anywhere at this time.
How to Get Disability in Tennessee Within 6 Months of Your Application Date
Want your first disability payment in months, not years? You’re 2.9x more likely to succeed on your first application if a TN disability lawyer helps you file. In fact, a lawyer can tell you during a free consultation whether you may qualify for benefits before you fill out any paperwork. All SSD lawyers work on contingency. That means you owe $0 in legal fees if the SSA fails to award you monthly payments. And if you succeed, then you’ll only pay one small fee taken out of your backpay.
Ready to get started? Click the button below now to start your free online benefits quiz and see if you may qualify for Social Security disability:
Get Your Free Benefits Evaluation
Social Security Office Locations in Tennessee
Tennessee SSA field offices are open Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm.
Important: Hearing impaired and deaf individuals can contact any TN Social Security office using TTY (800) 325-0778 between 9am-4pm.
You should call and make an appointment instead of showing up without one to apply for Tennessee disability benefits.
Athens Social Security Office
921 Congress Parkway N
Athens, TN 37303
Phone: (866) 964-7431
Fax: (833) 597-0068
Chattanooga Social Security Office
1290 Premier Drive, Suite 140
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (866) 964-0029
Fax: (833) 597-0086
Clarksville Social Security Office
119 Center Pointe Drive
Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone: (877) 531-4695
Fax: (833) 597-0134
Cleveland Social Security Office
529 Inman Street W
Cleveland, TN 37311
Phone: (855) 207-4867
Fax: (833) 912-2284
Columbia Social Security Office
1885 Shady Brook Street
Columbia, TN 38401
Phone: (877) 876-3174
Fax: (833) 597-0124
Cookeville Social Security Office
1145 Perimeter Park Drive
Cookeville, TN 38501
Phone: (888) 717-1528
Fax: (833) 597-0132
Dyersburg Social Security Office
1070 Vendall Road
Dyersburg, TN 38024
Phone: (877) 480-5002
Fax: (833) 597-0126
Gallatin Social Security Office
637 Commons Drive
Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (866) 964-7392
Fax: (833) 950-3791
Greeneville Social Security Office
1618 Old Tusculum Road
Greeneville, TN 37745
Phone: (877) 405-0416
Fax: (833) 905-2056
Jacksboro Social Security Office
140 Sharp and Perkins Road
Jacksboro, TN 37757
Phone: (866) 964-7324
Fax: (833) 912-2282
Jackson Social Security Office
415 Cheyenne Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
Phone: (888) 383-1593
Fax: (833) 597-0128
Johnson City Social Security Office
818 Sunset Drive, Suite 203
Johnson City, TN 37604
Phone: (866) 964-5059
Fax: (833) 597-0130
Kingsport Social Security Office
2401 South Wilcox Drive
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (888) 487-0161
Fax: (833) 905-2064
Knoxville Social Security Office
9031 Cross Park Drive
Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (866) 331-9091
Fax: (833) 597-0084
Lawrenceburg Social Security Office
109 E Taylor Street
Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: (877) 405-5866
Fax: (833) 950-2830
Madison Social Security Office
140 Cude Lane
Madison, TN 37115
Phone: (866) 964-6302
Fax: (833) 950-3769
McMinnville Social Security Office
900 Sparta Street
McMinnville, TN 37110
Phone: (877) 616-2515
Fax: (833) 950-3133
Memphis Downtown Social Security Office
1330 Monroe Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (866) 336-2212
Fax: (833) 597-0082
Memphis North Social Security Office
3602 Austin Peay Highway
Memphis, TN 38128
Phone: (855) 420-8557
Fax: (833) 597-0060
Memphis South Social Security Office
3461 S Third Street
Memphis, TN 38109
Phone: (855) 782-9155
Fax: (833) 950-3789
Morristown Social Security Office
3112 Millers Point Drive
Morristown, TN 37813
Phone: (866) 875-6156
Fax: (833) 905-2058
Murfreesboro Social Security Office
2836 Saint Patrick Court
Murfreesboro, TN 37128
Phone: (866) 593-3112
Fax: (833) 905-2062
Nashville Social Security Office
120 Athens Way
Nashville, TN 37228
Phone: (877) 808-5461
Fax: (833) 597-0080
Oak Ridge Social Security Office
565 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: (888) 676-2954
Fax: (833) 950-2812
Paris Social Security Office
186 Commerce Street
Paris, TN 38242
Phone: (866) 698-2507
Fax: (833) 912-2286
Selmer Social Security Office
661 Mulberry Avenue
Selmer, TN 38375
Phone: (888) 397-4814
Fax: (833) 597-0076
Tullahoma Social Security Office
717 Kings Lane
Tullahoma, TN 37388
Phone: (866) 635-0647
Fax: (833) 905-2060
Union City Social Security Office
1800 Old Troy Road
Union City, TN 38261
Phone: (877) 401-5904
Fax: (833) 950-2824
Fact Checking: We contacted the Social Security Administration directly to confirm all SSA field office addresses shown here are accurate. We also personally called every phone number listed here to confirm they worked as expected on March 9, 2026.
Pro Tip: Plan to spend 4-5 hours in the SSA office during your appointment if you decide to apply in person for disability in Tennessee.
Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.
