Your local SSA service center
As your local Social Security service center, the Norfolk office manages a caseload where 13% of beneficiaries receive disability payments. This facility supports 67,830 total beneficiaries across 21 ZIP codes. With $116 million in monthly benefits flowing through this office, the staff handles a significant volume of retirement and disability claims. The majority of the population served, 77%, is age 65 or older.
You can visit this office to file initial SSDI applications, drop off medical records, verify your identity, or update your direct deposit information. Please note that this office does not make final disability determinations, which are handled by the state, nor does it conduct hearings. If your claim reaches the hearing stage, you will be directed to a separate office of hearings operations.
Who this office serves
Beneficiaries in this service area receive an estimated $116,100k in Social Security benefits each month.
Before you visit
Bring a government-issued photo ID and a detailed 15-year work history to your appointment. You should also provide a comprehensive list of your treating physicians with their contact information, along with any recent medical records or test results. Include a list of your current medications and copies of any prior denial letters if you are reapplying.
Avoid delays by ensuring your 15-year work history is complete and accurate before you arrive. Many people struggle because they fail to provide recent medical records or omit details regarding conditions that impact their ability to work. Never sign forms without reading them thoroughly, as errors can lead to processing setbacks. Providing incomplete information often forces the office to request additional documentation, which slows down your claim.
Filing an SSDI claim? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsShould you bring an attorney?
The application stage is the foundation of your entire disability claim. Most people who apply without professional guidance find themselves facing denials that could have been avoided with a stronger initial filing. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and ensure your medical records clearly support your claim. A free case review can help you understand your options before you submit your paperwork.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
If your SSDI claim moves to a hearing
About two-thirds of initial SSDI applications nationwide are denied. If yours is, your case moves to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at one of the regional hearing offices that handles appeals from Norfolk. The Norfolk field office holds your file at every appeal stage, but the substantive decisions happen further up the chain.