Qualifying for social security disability in Jackson, MS requires you to present evidence to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you are suffering from a debilitating physical or mental impairment which renders you unable to perform the essential duties of a job for at least twelve consecutive months. In considering the scope of your injury, the SSA will determine not only whether your medical or mental condition keeps you from performing the duties of your past job, but also whether your condition would keep you from securing work in another field in which you would be able to earn at least $1,550 per month.
The SSA works with the Mississippi Disability Determination Services (DDS) to make disability decisions on local SSD claims. The SSA uses non-medical information to determine eligibility while the DDS uses medical information provided by your treating physician to render a decision on your case. If you apply for social security disability in Jackson and your initial claim is denied, you can request that your Jackson social security disability case be reconsidered. If your claim is denied a second time, you can request your case be heard by an administrative law judge (ALJ) at the Jackson hearing office. At the end of 2011, 42.3% of all social security disability cases that went before a Jackson ALJ were awarded.
Jackson Health Resources
An important part of your Jackson social security disability case is your medical records. Once you have been injured, you must be treated by a licensed medical professional in order to qualify for SSD benefits. In the event you are uninsured or underinsured and in need of information on free and reduced-cost health care, there are health resources in Jackson to assist you.
Jackson Free Clinic
925 Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Jackson, MS 39203
(601) 355-5161
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 North State St.
Jackson, MS 39216
G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center
1500 E Woodrow Wilson Dr.
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 362-4471
Jackson Mental Health Resources
If your injury is the result of a mental illness that keeps you from being able to perform the essential duties of a job, you may qualify for Jackson social security disability benefits. There are mental health facilities in Jackson that may be of service to you.
Mississippi Department of Mental Health
1101 Robert E. Lee Bldg. 239 North Lamar Street
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 359-1288
Hinds Behavioral Health Services
3450 Hwy 80 W
Jackson, MS 39209
(601) 321-2400
Jackson Supplemental Social Security Benefits
Currently, the Federal social security disability benefit rate is $943 for an independent individual and $1,415 for a couple. The state of Mississippi does not pay a supplemental state benefit in addition to the federal social security disability benefit.
When to Find a Jackson Social Security Disability Attorney
The application and review process for receiving social security disability benefits can be lengthy. In the state of Mississippi, only about a quarter of initial social security disability claims were awarded in fourth quarter 2011. For workers who appealed the initial denial, only 5.7% of the appeals were actually awarded. Those are very slim odds and certainly valid justification for seeking the help of a Jackson social security disability attorney.
You have the right to seek legal counsel at any point during the application and review process. To improve your chances of winning your Jackson social security disability claim, it may be beneficial for you to hire a Jackson SSD attorney. Many attorneys will only charge a fee if they win your case. If your attorney wins, a standard fee of 25% of your award is collected from past due benefits or through a fee petition. The maximum an attorney can collect for representing you in your Jackson social security disability case is $6,000. If you are interested in obtaining an evaluation of your Social Security Disability case, click the "Free Disability Evaluation" link at the top of the page for your free case evaluation or to get more information about hiring a Jackson social security disability attorney.
