How to apply for disability in Illinois

  1. Determine which disability program you qualify for: In Illinois, you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. To determine which program you should apply for, go online (https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/) to see if you have enough work credits to file for SSDI benefits; if not, you will be applying for SSI.

    • SSDI is for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes

    • SSI is for individuals with limited income and resources.

  2. Gather necessary information: You will need to provide information about your medical condition, work history, and income. Have your Social Security number, birth certificate, and medical records ready.

  3. Apply online, by phone, or in person:

    • Online: You can apply for SSDI and SSI benefits online at the Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov).

    • By phone: Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment to apply by phone or to make an appointment at your local SSA office.

    • In person: Visit your local SSA office to apply in person: 1325 N Lake St, Aurora, IL 60506, (877) 274-5412

  4. Complete the application: Fill out the required forms, including the Disability Benefits Application and the Adult Disability Report. Provide all necessary information and documentation.

    • You will need to come up with a “date at which you became disabled.” Think about a date when you may have the most medical documentation to support your claim for disability. It will be a date when you had an accident or when your symptoms were so severe that you recognized that you could no longer work a full time job.

    • Consider asking several of your medical providers to fill out a “Residual Functional Capacity form.” The more medical providers that are willing to fill this out, the stronger your case will be. In some cases, I would recommend filling it out for them and asking them to sign it. Some will be willing to do that to not have to do all of the work.

    • Consider building your own case with template documents that Wendy can provide (work history, medical interventions you have tried and that have failed, a list of functional skills that are difficult for you to complete, etc.)

  5. Wait for a decision: The SSA will review your application and medical evidence to determine if you qualify for benefits. This process can take several months. The sad truth is that you will likely be denied on the first application. Don’t be discouraged.

  6. Appeal if necessary: If your application is denied, you have the right to appeal. This is the time when you will contact an attorney for help with the appeal. Most attorneys will not speak to you until you have been denied the first time. The appeals process involves several stages, including reconsideration, a hearing with an administrative law judge, and further appeals if needed.

    • Here are some disability attorneys that have been recommended to me: Disparti Law, Nash Disability Law, Allsup, Spector and Lenz, The Good Law Group. Since disability attorneys only get paid if you win, they tend to be very picky about which cases they are willing to accept. You will have to explain clearly why you think you will qualify in order to get them to agree to take your case. If one firm doesn’t accept your case, move on to the next. 

    • Here is a very comprehensive guidebook for applying for disability if you have a connective tissue disorder (that I participated in writing) that may help you and/or your attorney with languaging for an appeal: (https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/selected-heritable-disorders-of-connective-tissue-and-disability)

  7. Receive benefits: If your application is approved, you will start receiving disability benefits. The amount you receive depends on your work history and other factors. An award of disability (SSDI or SSI) qualifies you to receive Medicare. An award of SSI qualifies you to receive coverage for your Medicare premiums.


[Please note: Wendy4Therapy is not a medical doctor and is not licensed to provide an official medical diagnosis. Education provided here is for your information only, and it is expected that you visit a medical practitioner who is licensed to provide a diagnosis for further exploration. Wendy4Therapy can take you through the diagnostic criteria but cannot formally diagnose EDS or related conditions. Please do  not reproduce without permission. This is GENERAL and not intended to be customized for individual patients. Please follow consultation and recommendations of your healthcare provider for specifics to your condition.