How to Qualify for Disability Benefits in Hawaii

What is the definition of disability in Hawaii? Who qualifies for disability in Hawaii? How to qualify for SSDI in Hawaii How to qualify for SSI in Hawaii SSA offices in Hawaii How much are disability benefits in Hawaii? Get help with your disability application in Hawaii Frequently asked questions about benefits in Hawaii Resources > Hawaii disability benefits Hawaii disability benefits How to Qualify for Disability Benefits in Hawaii Written by Jackie Jakab Lead Attorney Published June 28, 2024 2 min read Why trust us? Compass Disability offers free, high-quality disability advice for Americans who can't work. Our team of Stanford and Harvard-trained lawyers has a combined 15+ years of legal experience and has helped over 50,000 Americans apply for disability benefits.

Why trust us? All U.S. residents, including those in Hawaii, have access to federal programs that pay disability benefits. These programs are designed for people who are unable to work because of an illness or injury. To qualify for Social Security Disability Allowance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you’ll need to meet both medical and technical requirements.

What is the definition of disability in Hawaii?

To determine whether you’re eligible to receive federal benefits in Hawaii, the SSA uses a five-step evaluation process:

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) : The SSA checks if you're engaged in substantial gainful activity . If your monthly earnings are more than $1,550, you may be considered able to work and ineligible for benefits.
Severity of impairment : To qualify for benefits, your medical condition must be severe enough to significantly limit your ability to work for at least 12 months.
Meeting SSA’s disability criteria : The SSA uses a list of qualifying medical conditions, known as the Blue Book . If your condition is not listed, you will need to provide medical evidence that proves you cannot work.
Past work evaluation : The SSA determines if you can perform your past work with your current medical condition.
Ability to adjust to other work : If you are under 50, the SSA looks at your medical condition, age, education, and past work experience, and determines if there is any other work you can do.

Federal programs like SSDI and SSI are for total, long-term disability. If your disability is temporary — something that will only prevent you from working for a short time — Hawaii’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) is the right choice for you.

Who qualifies for disability in Hawaii?

The Blue Book, the SSA’s listing of all conditions that qualify for disability, is a good place to start for more information. There are also some compassionate allowance conditions that are speedtracked. But even if your disability isn’t in the book, you can still win benefits if you build a strong enough case proving your limitations.

In Hawaii, the most common conditions among disability recipients include:

Mental health conditions
Musculoskeletal disorders
Neurological (nervous system) disorders
Cardiovascular (circulatory system) disorders
Genitourinary disorders (kidney disease)
Cancers (neoplasms)
Injuries
Endocrine disorders
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Respiratory conditions
Digestive system disorders
Congenital anomalies (birth defects)
Skin conditions
Hematological (blood) disorders

How to qualify for SSDI in Hawaii

Medical requirements are only one side of the coin. Here are the other requirements to qualify for SSDI:

You are under the age of 66.
You are receiving treatment for your medical condition.
You are not currently working at the level of Substantial Gainful Activity (earning $1,550 per month in 2024).
You have at least 40 work credits (20 of which were earned in the last 10 years) and have paid Social Security taxes.

How to qualify for SSI in Hawaii

In addition to being considered disabled, the following must be true for you to qualify for SSI:

You are under 66 years of age.
You’re being treated for your medical condition.
You are not currently working at the level of Substantial Gainful Activity (earning $1,550 per month in 2024).
You have less than $2,000 in assets if you are single, or less than $3,000 if you are married, and you (or your spouse) don’t have any other significant income.

SSA offices in Hawaii

You can visit one of the five SSA offices in the state of Hawaii to submit your disability application, or ask questions if you need help filling out the forms (although SSA employees cannot give you legal advice). Here are the addresses and contact information for SSA offices in Hawaii:

111 E Puainako

St Ste 710

Hilo, HI 96720