Do You Need A Disability Advocate To File A Claim In Mississippi?

Filing a Disability Claim in Mississippi: Do You Need Help?

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Do you live in Mississippi? Do you have a disability that has caused you to be unable to work? If so, you may be wondering whether you should file a claim for disability benefits. That’s understandable, as being disabled can cause significant financial stress. If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder about the claims process and what it will entail. You may also wonder whether you need a disability advocate to file a claim. Let’s take a closer look at the law together.

What is the Claims Process Like?

Before you decide to file a claim for disability benefits, it can be helpful to have a general idea about what the claims process typically looks like. It goes without saying that every case has its own unique circumstances, but as a general rule, the process of filing a claim consists of:

  • Gathering and organizing evidence: Any claim for disability benefits must be supported by sufficient medical evidence. The Social Security Administration will need to see that you have a medical condition that it considers to be a disability, and that the condition has caused you to be unable to work for at least one continuous calendar year or more. Establishing this will require presenting medical records documenting your condition and, potentially, other evidence, such as employment records, depending on your case.
  • Completing the application: This is essentially the “paperwork” aspect of filing a claim. You can access an application on the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov. While you can complete the application on your own if you choose to do so, you should know that you run the risk of not including important information or otherwise overlooking something that the law requires. Having a disability advocate can help to ensure that you’re fully complying with the law and putting your best foot forward.
  • Awaiting a decision: This is perhaps the most frustrating part of the process – because the timing of a review and decision on the claim will depend largely not only on the complexity of the claim, but also on how busy the Social Security Administration is at the time.
  • Appealing if necessary: It’s important to be aware that your claim may be denied on your first attempt. If this happens, you shouldn’t panic, as in some states, more than 60% of claims are initially denied. The good news, though, is that an appeals process is available. It will be important to have a disability advocate on your side who knows and understands the stages of the process, and who can advise you about your particular circumstances.

Understanding the typical steps of the process can provide peace of mind – but that peace of mind can diminish quickly if you don’t have an advocate who knows and understands the law to help you.

While hiring a disability advocate is not required to pursue a claim, it’s always advised. Let’s take a look at a few of the many advantages of hiring a disability advocate.

Why Hire a Disability Advocate?

Hiring a disability advocate can make navigating the claims process much easier and can provide much-needed peace of mind. Some of the ways an advocate can help include:

  • Providing personalized advice: The law can be complicated, and without someone who understands it to advise you, you may overlook important steps. An advocate will be able to review your claim and provide personalized advice for your situation.
  • Gathering necessary proof: As we have discussed, a disability claim will require medical proof, and in many cases, employment records and other types of information as well. An advocate will be able to assess your case and assist you not only with gathering the evidence you need but also with organizing it to best support your case.
  • Assisting with appeals: Depending on the complexity of your case, the appeals process may also be complicated and, at times, confusing. An advocate who knows and understands the law can help you navigate that process.

These are only a few of the many ways that an advocate might be able to help in your case. Talking with an advocate yourself regarding your particular circumstances can provide even further clarity as you move forward with your claim. At Muse Disability, we’re here for you.

Call Muse Disability Today

If you live in Mississippi and you are struggling with a disability, you have more than enough to worry about without adding stressful legal matters into the mix. You don’t need to wonder whether you’re doing all you can to assert your rights as you seek the benefits you need. The good news is, you don’t have to. Instead, you can turn to us. Our talented and experienced team of attorneys knows and understands every aspect of the disability claims process, and we’ll always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started today, give us a call. We look forward to helping you soon.

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