 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in MississippiHow to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits Claimants who are represented on disability claims in Mississippi tend to have a higher rate of approval, a need for fewer appeals, and more favorable "dates of onset" (the date the disability is proven to have begun) that lead to higher back pay benefits. Representation may be through a disability lawyer or a specialized non-attorney disability representative. Many non-attorney reps are former Social Security Administration Claims Specialists and Disability Examiners with an extended history of working from within the federal system. A qualified disability representative will have a knowledge of Social Security administrative law, particularly with regard to how claims are approved through the Social Security listings and the medical vocational grid rules. A qualified and competent disability representative or lawyer will also be skilled in the ability to obtain the most relevant case evidence, analyze it correctly, and incorporate it as part of a winning strategy for a claim. To learn about fees for representation, see: "How do disability lawyers get paid?" Additional information People filing for disability in Mississippi are less likely to win their case than most people across the country. In recent years, only 27.2% of social security disability (SSD) and supplemental security income (SSI) disability claims filed in Mississippi were denied by the Mississippi state disability determination services agency were approved. This is well below the national average. Only about 7 percent of all disability appeals (also called a request for review or reconsideration) filed in Mississippi are successful. In fact, Mississippi has one of the lowest disability approval ratings of all the states. Given these statistics, it’s a near certainty that if you file for SSD or SSI benefits in Mississippi you will be turned down by the state disability examiner not once but twice. It is highly likely that, in order to win your case, you will have to file a second appeal, which involves a request to appear before a federal administrative law judge (ALJ). You definitely want to get a good disability attorney to represent you at this proceeding. Mississippi disability applicants stand their best chance of winning benefits from an ALJ. Nationwide, studies have shown that about 40 percent of all cases heard before an ALJ are approved, and those who wish to increase their chances even more would be wise to get a disability attorney to present their case before the judge—disability cases are up to 50 percent more likely to result in a favorable decision when they are presented by an attorney. In fact, since the climate in Mississippi is so unfavorable to those seeking disability, it is really a necessity to have legal counsel at this level of consideration, if not sooner in the process. A good disability attorney or non-attorney claimant representative (non-attorney reps are often former employees of the social security administration [SSA] who know the disability determination process inside out) will review your case, determine what medical documentation or tests should be provided to the disability examiner or judge to demonstrate that your physical or mental condition is ongoing and truly disabling, and can help gather the physician notes or records needed to bolster your case. Some disability attorneys will not take on a disability case in its early stages, and will only get involved if the case is due to appear before a judge. There are others, however, who will stay with a claimant from start to finish, and if you live in Mississippi, you may want to consider retaining, or at least consulting with a disability attorney at the outset of your case. 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Tips, Advice page Questions and Answers about Social Security Disability and SSI Disability SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Tips and Advice for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims |