Colombia is the county seat of Boone County and is the fifth-largest city in the state of Missouri. In the census of 2010, Columbia had a population of over 108,000 people. The University of Missouri is located in Columbia and has received the nickname of “The Athens of Missouri.” Colombia is considered the 13th most highly educated principality in the US, with more than half of Colombians holding a bachelors degree. Money Magazine once ranked Columbia as the second-best place to live in the United States, but since 2006 it has not appeared in the top 100 again. Still, studies consistently rank Colombia at or near the top for technological savvy, economic growth, educational facilities, cultural opportunities and health care.
Some people living in Columbia, however, may be suffering from a severe or disabling condition. Have you suffered a disability which makes it hard for you to keep employment? If so, you may be thinking about applying for Social Security disability benefits. This can be a confusing and daunting process. Some people never even get around to applying for benefits because the thought of it is so intimidating.
Don't let that happen to you. If you are thinking about applying for disability benefits, you don't have to do it on your own. You can seek out a Columbia Social Security Disability attorney to help you through the process of applying for disability benefits.
The laws regarding disability benefits are complex and change from time to time. It is very helpful to retain the services of a Columbia Social Security Disability lawyer who is familiar with the disability benefits claim process. An experienced Columbia Social Security disability attorney can discuss your case with you and help you determine if you have a good likelihood of receiving benefits. If there are weaknesses in your case, he or she can point those out to you and help you deal with those issues before you apply.
Applying for Columbia Social Security Disability Benefits
Many people apply for Social Security disability benefits on their own and find that their benefits have been denied. That is why it is important to find a Columbia Social Security attorney to help you apply for your benefits. Many people who were turned down might have been approved for benefits on their first attempt if they had had the help of an attorney.
To receive disability benefits, a person needs to demonstrate that they have a long-term or permanent disability and that this condition prevents them from being able to maintain employment. To demonstrate this, you need to get medical documentation regarding the extent of your disability. A Columbia attorney can help you with this and help you fill out the paperwork that is necessary. A long-term disability, 12 months or longer, which has kept you from working is considered to be a disabling medical condition.
For people living in Columbia, the Social Security office which would handle your case for disability benefits is located at 803 Gray Oak Drive in Colombia.
Columbia Social Security Disability Resources
You must also submit current medical records, filled out correctly, along with your application to prove the extent of your disabling condition. Getting these forms filled out can be difficult and stressful. It is even harder if you don't have health insurance or can't find a low-cost medical clinic to go to. Here is a list of some free or low-cost medical clinics in the Colombia area that can help you with the needed medical information:
Family Health Center of Columbia
1001 W. Worley
Columbia, MO 65203
573-214-2314
Fulton Medical Clinic
850 West Hospital Drive, Suite F
Fulton, MO 65251
573-642-5338
Columbia Family Dental Center
1101 N. Providence Road
Columbia, MO 65203
573-777-8997
Your Columbia Social Security Disability Claim
It is helpful to get the services of a Columbia Social Security lawyer to help you when you file your initial claim for Social Security Disability benefits. Thankfully, this type of attorney works on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid after they help you get money in back pay from the Social Security Administration. Your attorney will receive 25% of the back pay you are awarded, up to a maximum of $6000. You don't have to pay anything up front to an attorney to help you file your Social Security Disability claim.
Many people who have filed a claim on their own find that they have been denied disability benefits. You can increase your chances of receiving disability benefits the first time you apply by retaining the services of a Columbia Social Security lawyer.
If the Social Security Administration has denied your benefits, you can appeal that decision and still seek to get the disability benefits you may be entitled to. The appeal process can take years and can be a very complicated task. It has been shown that people who use a lawyer during this process are more likely to receive disability benefits as a result of their appeal. If you have been denied benefits, a Columbia Social Security Disability lawyer can help you through every stage of the appeal process, increasing your chances of overturning the SSA’s decision to deny your disability claim.
