Missoula, Montana disability attorneys or advocates are available to help those applying for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). These lawyers can help you apply for disability and get approved without any upfront cost. The first thing they will help you determine is whether you should apply for SSDI or SSI. As of December 2011, there were 3,065 individuals receiving SSDI benefits and 2,039 individuals receiving SSI benefits in Missoula County.
The Differences between SSDI and SSI>>>
The quickest way to file an application is on the SSA’s website. However, if you need assistance or have questions, you can visit a local SSA office. Listed below are a few offices in the Missoula area:
700 SW Higgins Ave
Suite 5
Missoula, MT 59803
2201 Harrison
Butte, MT 59701
2008 23rd St. S
Great Falls, MT 59405
Hiring a Missoula Disability Attorney
The process of hiring a Missoula disability attorney is quite simple. Most attorneys and Social Security disability advocates offer free evaluations. After the evaluation, if you choose to sign with the attorney, you will have to sign form SSA-1696. This officially establishes the attorney-client relationship and your attorney will now be able to communicate with the SSA on your behalf.
More information on how a disability attorney is paid.
A Missoula Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle claims in the following cities and towns in Montana: Hamilton, Poison, Anaconda, Butte, Kalispell, Helena, Whitefish, Dillon, Great Falls and Billings.
You can contact the State Bar of Montana (7 West 6th Avenue, Suite 2B, Helena, MT 59601) if you have any questions or concerns about hiring an attorney.
Missoula Disability Hearings
If your claim is denied at both the initial and reconsideration stages of the disability application, you will have 60 days to file a request for a disability hearing with the Billings Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). It takes 309 days to have a hearing scheduled at the Billings ODAR and there are currently 2,406 pending cases that have yet to be heard.
You can have your hearing scheduled sooner by contacting your congressman and requesting that he or she make a congressional inquiry into your claim. However, you should be aware that a speedy hearing is only granted in extreme circumstances. The congressman's office for the Missoula area is located at:
950 North Montana Ave, Suite 2
Helena MT 59601
Phone: (406) 502-1435
Between October 2012 and January 2013 (A total of 4 months):
- 852 hearings were held at the Billings ODAR
- 82.9% of the hearings have been resolved (either approved or denied) thus far
- 6 judges were responsible for the hearings and they were able to resolve about 12 hearings per day.
- 23% of the hearings were held through video conferencing.
Missoula disability attorneys will be familiar with the judges at this office, since they will have likely attended hearings at this office on behalf of other claimants.
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