Social Security Disability Advocates
in North Carolina
Clauson Disability Can help North Carolina residents
Clauson Disability can help North Carolina residents apply for and win Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. From our base in Durham, NC, our team of highly trained disability advocates represent disability claimants across the state. We do all the work for you, from the initial application through the ALJ hearings, wherever you are in North Carolina. We work with all four Social Security Administration (SSA) hearing offices in Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and Raleigh, and with SSA field offices located throughout North Carolina. You pay nothing up front, and our fee is regulated by the government. The SSA pays the fee from your back pay only if you win your benefits.
Get your free case review:
(888) 251-5551No upfront cost. You only pay if your claim is approved.
How the Disability Process Works
in North Carolina
The federal government administers two disability programs, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, the programs are partially administered by the states.
The North Carolina Disability Determination Service (NC DDS), a division of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, handles the initial claims for the SSA. The way North Carolina processes the SSA’s disability claims leads to wait times and approval rates that are better than the national average. That matters to people who need to resolve their claim without unnecessary delays.
How Do You Earn Work Credits?
"The SSA uses SSDI work credits to determine whether you worked long enough at jobs subject to Social Security taxes to be covered and insured for SSDI benefits. You earn a work credit in 2026 for each $1,890 that you earn. You can earn up to four work credits (representing $7,560 in earnings) per year.
How much you must earn to receive a work credit changes annually. The SSA determines the amount based on average wage increases."
Vaughn S. Clauson – Representative, Co-Founder
What are North Carolina's disability
approval rates?
North Carolina's initial approval rate is approximately 37%, which is just below the national average of 38%. At the hearing level, however, NC significantly outperforms the national average, with an ALJ approval rate of approximately 59% to 66%. That's among the top 5 states in the country for hearing-level approvals.
| Stage | NC Approval Rate | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Application | ~37% | ~38% | |
| Reconsideration | ~16% | ~16% | |
| ALJ Hearing | ~59%–66% | ~52%–55% |
How do I apply for disability in North Carolina?
You can apply for SSDI or SSI in North Carolina online at ssa.gov, or by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You can also apply in person at any of the state's 35-plus Social Security field offices. The field office collects your application and forwards it to NC DDS in Raleigh for medical evaluation. As part of the NC DDS review of your medical records, they may order a consultative exam if your records are incomplete and then make the initial determination.
The process typically takes three to four months for an initial decision. You can do it yourself, without a trained advocate, if you choose to.
North Carolina Hearing Offices:
Locations, Wait Times, and Approval Rates
North Carolina has four SSA hearing offices that handle disability hearings for residents across the state. Which office handles your case depends on the field office where you filed your claim and the ZIP code where you live. Wait times and approval rates can vary from office to office. This means the practical timeline of your case depends partly on which hearing office your claim is assigned to.
| Hearing Office | Avg. Wait Time | Avg. Approval Rate | Cities Served | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 7 months | 72% | Charlotte, Gastonia, Concord, Shelby, Hickory | ||
| Fayetteville | 7 months | 66%+ | Fayetteville, Lumberton, Wilmington, Kinston | ||
| Greensboro | 7 months | 66%+ | Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Burlington, Asheboro, Mt. Airy | ||
| Raleigh | 7 months | 62%+ | Raleigh, Durham, Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, Henderson, Greenville |
North Carolina Hearing Office Addresses
The four hearing offices and their contact information are below. Hearings are held in person and by video, depending on how the case is scheduled.
Charlotte Office of Hearing Operations:
6701 Carmel Road, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28226. Phone: (704) 540-0150.
Fayetteville Office of Hearing Operations:
2nd Floor, 150 Rowan Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301. Phone: (888) 552-7169.
Greensboro Office of Hearing Operations:
101 South Edgeworth Street, Suite 300, Greensboro, NC 27401. Phone: (336) 333-5382.
Raleigh Office of Hearing Operations:
4800 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27609. Phone: (866) 708-3174.
How Clauson Disability Helps North Carolina Residents
At Clauson Disability, we know the NC DDS process, and we work with all four hearing offices across the state. Our years of experience have given us the opportunity to appear before the ALJs who hear disability cases at each of them.
One of our advocates will handle your claim from start to finish, which means you have one point of contact from your application through your hearing decision.
Free case review with a team that handles SSD claims every day
Application filing, including the SSA-3368 Adult Disability Report and SSA-827 medical authorizations
Medical evidence development with your treating providers across North Carolina
Communication with your NC DDS examiner throughout the initial and reconsideration review
Hearing preparation, including testimony practice and a full review of the medical and vocational record
Hearing representation at your assigned NC hearing office in Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, or Raleigh
Social Security Field Offices in North Carolina
North Carolina has 37 Social Security field offices across the state. These offices process your initial application and forward it to NC DDS in Raleigh for the medical determination. You don't have to visit a field office in person to apply, but you can if you prefer handling the application that way.
Field offices in key cities with SSA field offices include:
To find the field office nearest to you, use the SSA locator at ssa.gov/locator or call 1-800-772-1213.
Durham, North Carolina
Since 2009, Clauson Disability in Durham has focused exclusively on advocating for Social Security Disability claimants. North Carolina is our home market. While we represent clients in all 50 states, our deepest work is in NC. This is where we know the DDS examiners, the four hearing offices, and the ALJs who decide these cases. Our team is continuously credentialed to SSA standards. Learn more about our team.
Ready to Get Disability Help in North Carolina?
"Your free case review costs nothing and takes about 15–20 minutes. You can speak with a member of our team who handles NC disability claims every day. At the end of the call, you will know whether we can help, and if not, we can suggest some ways to improve your case.
Based in Durham. Serving all of North Carolina. Start your free case review or call (888) 251-5551. No upfront cost."
Elizabeth – Senior Representative
Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Help in North Carolina
North Carolina's initial approval rate is approximately 37%, but the hearing-level approval rate is approximately 62% to 72%, ranking among the highest in the nation. The outcome in your individual case depends on the strength of your medical evidence and how your case is prepared and presented.
The initial application typically takes six to seven months for a decision. If your claim is denied and you appeal through reconsideration and then an ALJ hearing, the total process averages approximately 26 months in NC. The average hearing wait time is about 8 to 9 months depending on which of the four NC hearing offices is assigned to your case.
There are four SSA hearing offices in North Carolina: Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and Raleigh. The office handling your case depends on where you filed your initial claim and where you live. Full addresses and phone numbers are listed in the Hearing Offices section above.
Yes. Our trained disability representatives are authorized by the SSA to represent claimants at Administrative Law Judges hearings. Your advocate will prepare you for the judge's questions, gather and submit evidence, and present your case at the NC hearing office to which your case is assigned.
No. We represent clients across all of North Carolina and nationwide. We handle cases assigned to every one of the four NC hearing offices, and most of our work is done remotely so you don't need to travel to our office.
There's no upfront cost. Our fee is 25% of your back pay if your claim is approved. The SSA caps the fee for advocates and attornes at $9,200 (effective November 30, 2024). If your claim isn't approved, you pay nothing.
North Carolina provides a state supplement known as State/County Special Assistance (SA) to SSI recipients who live in eligible residential facilities such as adult care homes. Standard SSI recipients living independently do not receive a state supplement in NC. However, disabled individuals who need adult care service but prefer to remain in their own homes may qualify for the North Carolina Special Assistance In-Home (SA/IH) program.
Clauson Disability is a national advocacy organization. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, legal services, or legal representation. This website is an advertisement. Clauson Disability is a private organization and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any other government agency. We provide non-attorney disability advocacy and support services and do not offer legal advice. Contacting us, submitting a form, or speaking with our team does not create an attorney-client relationship. By providing your contact information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and consent to receive communications by phone, text, and/or email including through automated technology where permitted. Consent is not required as a condition of service. We do not determine eligibility or qualify any applicant for SSDI or SSI. Only the SSA determines eligibility and benefit amounts. $4,018 represents the maximum monthly SSDI benefit; actual amounts vary.
