The CDC estimates that 34% of residents in Mississippi are disabled. This number of disabled adults exceeds the national average of 25.6%.
Every year, Mississippi spends about $4.5 billion on disability-related healthcare costs. Some individuals cannot live independently; some have mobility and cognitive issues, while others are visually and hearing impaired.
Consequently, Mississippi has higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and inactivity than other states. These problems are notably more common among disabled residents.
If you live in Mississippi and are disabled, you may be eligible for government programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Contacting your local Social Security Office is the best way to get started. Read on to learn more about Social Security local to Mississippi.
How Do I Qualify for Social Security Benefits in Mississippi
Residents who wish to apply for SSDI benefits in Mississippi must meet the medical and non-medical eligibility requirement.
The medical requirement is that a person must prove to have a severe disability that limits their ability to work. The non-medical requirement is that applicants must have worked for long enough (employment or self-employment) to accumulate work credits.
Generally, an SSDI claimant should have 40 work credits, half of which should be earned within the past ten years.
One work credit is equivalent to $1,470, so you can earn up to four per year, depending on your income. Younger applicants may also apply with fewer work credits.
It will be easier to track your SSDI application if it appears on the Compassionate Allowances list of 242 conditions, including accelerating cancers, degenerative diseases, and other conditions that result in death.
How Do I Apply for Social Security Benefits in Mississippi?
The quickest way to apply for disability benefits is through the Social Security Administration website.
You may also call 800-772-1213 or visit one of the twenty-four Social Security Administration field offices in Mississippi to apply in person.
Make sure to collect the relevant documents before applying for SSDI benefits. You will need proof of birth and citizenship, your recent W-2 form, your self-employment tax return, and your Mississippi Social Security number.
Remember that these SSA field offices are different from the Mississippi Department of Human Services field offices, which control other Mississippi Social Services like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
What Happens After I Apply for Social Security Benefits in Mississippi?
After submitting your application, the SSA will forward it to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office for review.
The DDS will inspect your application to establish whether you meet the qualification requirements. To do this, the DDS will authorize a claims examiner to review your medical and employment records.
The claims examiner will seek an independent doctor’s opinion on your medical condition. The doctor will fill out a questionnaire detailing your disability and how it limits your ability to work.
Next, the claims examiner will ask vocational experts to judge your condition. These experts recognize how a disability can affect every type of job.
The vocational experts will review your health and work records to know whether you can handle any work with a disability.
The DDS will decide your disability status based on the collected information. If they consider you disabled, you will start to receive the benefits within five months. If the DDS denies your disability application, you can appeal the decision.
Appealing a Denial for Social Security Benefits in Mississippi
The Mississippi Social Security Administration approves only 32% of initial SSDI applications. That means 68% of applicants must file an appeal to access disability benefits.
If the DDS denied your application, you could appeal the decision. There are several levels of the appeals process, and you must complete the first to move on to the next.
The first level of appeal is the request for reconsideration. You take this action within 60 days after denial of the initial application. Reconsiderations usually take three to five months to be completed.
If you are discontent with the decision made at the reconsideration, you can request a disability hearing (adjudication) before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
However, there is no guarantee that the ALJ will rule in your favor. You may request the Appeals Council to review your case if the judge denies your application.
The council may either decline your request or return your case to disability adjudication for another hearing.
The SSA denies most applications because individuals fail to provide significant proof of disability. Having relevant records and enough evidence when applying for SSDI can save you from appealing a denied SSDI claim.
Mississippi SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Average Approval Rate
There are 34 Administrative Law Judges in Mississippi who attend hearings within the state’s three hearing offices.
As an SSDI applicant, you have lower odds of approval at a hearing in Mississippi than applicants in other states. Mississippi has an average approval rate of 41% at the hearing against the 44% national average.
Additionally, the state has a longer wait time for hearing before the ALJ. The average hearing wait time in Mississippi is 15.7 months, against the national hearing wait time of 14.9 months.
These low approval rates and wait times show the importance of having a Social Security Disability lawyer.
An SSD lawyer can help you collect adequate evidence for disability and represent you before the ALJ to increase your chances of being approved for benefits.
How Do I Contact the Mississippi Social Security Office Near Me?
The SSA has set up 23 Social Security Field Offices to serve disabled residents in Mississippi. These offices are distributed across different regions in the state so that disabled residents can access them easily.
If you have an enquiry concerning the SSD application process or the status of your application, contact the relevant Mississippi Social Security office from the list below for help.
SSA Field Office Locations in Mississippi |
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| Vicksburg SSA Office | 3505 Pemberton Square Blvd Suite 24 Vicksburg, MS 39180 |
(866) 964-0996 |
| Jackson SSA Office | 100 W Capitol Street Ste 225 McCoy Fed Bldg Jackson, MS 39269 |
(866) 331-8135 |
| Hattiesburg SSA Office | 1911 Broadway Dr Hattiesburg, MS 39402 |
(866) 331-2186 |
| Meridian SSA Office | 4717 26Th Avenue Meridian, MS 39305 |
(866) 403-8014 |
| Columbus SSA Office | 3577 Bluecutt Rd Columbus, MS 39705 |
(877) 626-9914 |
| Greenwood SSA Office | 604 Yalobusha Street Greenwood, MS 38930 |
(866) 331-2209 |
| Gulfport SSA Office | 9394 Three Rivers Road Gulfport, MS 39503 |
(877) 897-0609 |
| Greenville SSA Office | 305 Main Street Room 201 Greenville, MS 38701 |
(866) 602-8776 |
| Tupelo SSA Office | 199 Saddle Creek Drive Tupelo, MS 38801 |
(866) 504-4267 |
| Clarksdale SSA Office | 160 Anderson Blvd Clarksdale, MS 38614 |
(866) 931-7670 |
| McComb SSA Office | 116 Business Center Dr McComb, MS 39648 |
(866) 253-5609 |
| Natchez SSA Office | 110 Lower Woodville Rd Ground Floor Natchez, MS 39120 |
(877) 405-4565 |
| Laurel SSA Office | 3210 Hwy 15 N Laurel, MS 39440 |
(866) 964-4927 |
| Moss Point SSA Office | 6000 Hwy 63 Moss Point, MS 39563 |
(866) 253-5675 |
| Philadelphia SSA Office | 100 Pilot St Philadelphia, MS 39350 |
(877) 531-4681 |
| Cleveland SSA Office | 407 Industrial Parkway Cleveland, MS 38732 |
(877) 405-4638 |
| Corinth SSA Office | 1050 S. Harper Rd Corinth, MS 38834 |
(866) 366-4921 |
| Brookhaven SSA Office | 1392 Johnny Johnson Dr Brookhaven, MS 39601 |
(877) 405-3568 |
| Grenada SSA Office | 2383 Sunset Drive Grenada, MS 38901 |
(866) 593-8523 |
| Kosciusko SSA Office | 80 Veterans Memorial Dr Kosciusko, MS 39090 |
(866) 875-5995 |
| Olive Branch SSA Office | 8760 Mid South Dr Olive Branch, MS 38654 |
(866) 739-4771 |
| Forest SSA Office | 558 Deer Field Drive Forest, MS 39074 |
(866) 829-2497 |
| Starkville SSA Office | 1089C Stark Rd Starkville, MS 39759 |
(800) 305-6919 |
Get Legal Help Applying for Social Security Benefits in Mississippi
If you wish to apply for Social Security benefits in Mississippi, you should know that the process can be pretty complicated.
Seeking the legal counsel of an experienced SSD attorney to assist you during the application process is highly recommended.
A good lawyer will help with all aspects of your claim, from the initial application to the appeals. They will also increase your chances of being approved for benefits and getting you the maximum benefits.
If you wish to hire a Social Security Lawyer, we can help. We will connect you with a qualified Mississippi attorney who will do everything to see you get the benefits you need and deserve.
Contact us today to get started!
