Disability benefits in Rhode Island

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

• Federal SSI maximum, individual (monthly): $994 ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Federal SSI maximum, couple (monthly): $1,491 ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Who pays the state SSI supplement: Both Social Security and the state ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• State supplement, Individual: All: Residential care or assisted living (state code D; federal living arrangement A: own household): $332 ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
• State-administered supplement amounts: Not verified ^[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients: 30,019 ^[6] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Average monthly SSI payment: $694.83 ^[7] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Recipients of SSA-paid state supplement: Not verified ^[8] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients who are blind or disabled: 26,625 ^[9] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients under age 18: 3,491 ^[10] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients also receiving Social Security: 10,550 ^[11] Last verified 2026-11-12

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)

• SSDI disabled-worker beneficiaries: 30,621 ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Total monthly SSDI benefits to disabled workers: $49,166,000 ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Average monthly SSDI benefit (disabled workers): $1,605.63 Estimate ssdi.totalMonthlyBenefits / ssdi.disabledWorkerBeneficiaries^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Spouses and children receiving SSDI family benefits: 4,578 Estimate Table 2 Disability Spouses + Disability Children^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12

Disability decisions, last 12 months

• Initial disability claims received (12 months): 7,726 Estimate Sum of monthly Receipts (All Initial), FY2026^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial disability decisions (12 months): 6,705 Estimate Sum of monthly Determinations (All Initial), FY2026^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial claims approved (12 months): 2,979 Estimate Sum of monthly Allowances (All Initial), FY2026^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial approval rate (12 months): 44.4% Estimate dds.favorableDeterminations / dds.determinations x 100 (initial claims, FY2026)^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Reconsideration approval rate (12 months): 15.9% Estimate Sum of Allowances (All Recon) / Sum of Determinations (All Recon) x 100, FY2026^[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial claims pending: 2,398 ^[6] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Backlog estimate (months of work): 4.3 months Estimate dds.pending / (dds.determinations / 12): months of backlog at the FY2026 pace. Not an official processing time.^[7] Last verified 2026-11-12

State short-term disability / paid medical leave

• State short-term disability or paid medical leave program: Yes ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Program name: Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Maximum weekly benefit: $1,150 ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Maximum duration: Up to 30 weeks ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Waiting period: Must be out of work at least 7 consecutive days ^[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Payroll contribution: 1.1% of the first $100,000 of wages, employee-paid ^[6] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Program website: https://dlt.ri.gov/individuals/temporary-disability-caregiver-insurance ^[7] Last verified 2026-11-12

Medicaid buy-in

• Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities: Yes ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Buy-in income limit: No limit ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Buy-in asset limit: No limit ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Buy-in premiums: $61-$370 ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12

Population

• Disability prevalence (Census ACS): Not verified ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12

Disability decisions, fiscal year 2024

• FY2024 favorable determination rate, all claims: 44.72% ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• FY2024 adult favorable determination rate: 41.38% ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• FY2024 SSI child allowance rate: 62.74% ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Share of adults 18-64 receiving SSA disability benefits (FY2024): 6.56% ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12

How much is SSI in Rhode Island in 2026?

The federal SSI maximum is $994 per month for one person and $1,491 for a couple. Rhode Island also pays a state supplement through Social Security for some living arrangements, listed in the table on this page. From January of next year the federal maximum rises to $1,029.

What is the average SSI payment in Rhode Island?

In December of last year, 30,019 people in Rhode Island received SSI, and the average federally administered payment was $694.83 per month.

What is the SSDI approval rate in Rhode Island?

In federal fiscal year ending this September, Rhode Island's disability determination agency approved 44.4% of the initial disability claims it decided and 15.9% of reconsiderations. These rates cover SSDI and SSI disability claims together.

How long does a disability decision take in Rhode Island?

Social Security does not publish an average initial decision time by state. Rhode Island had 2,398 initial claims pending, which at the recent pace is roughly 4.3 months months of work. Treat this as an estimate.

What is the average SSDI payment in Rhode Island?

30,621 disabled workers in Rhode Island received Social Security disability benefits, averaging about $1,605.63 per month in December of last year.

Does Rhode Island have state short-term disability?

Yes. Rhode Island has Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI), which pays up to $1,150 per week to eligible workers who cannot work because of their own serious health condition. Duration: Up to 30 weeks.

Can I keep Medicaid while working with a disability in Rhode Island?

Yes. Rhode Island has a Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities. Income limit: No limit.