ALL STATE DATA UPDATED FOR 2024!
Everyone’s experience applying for Social Security Disability benefits will be unique. Part of this is because everyone’s individual medical and work history is different. But, potential applicants should also know that each state – like Mississippi – has its own story to tell in terms of social security disability benefit approval rates at each stage of the process, as well as waiting times at the hearing stage.
Why is State-by-State Information Important?
Specialized disability advocates (like us here at Citizens Disability) and Mississippi social security disability attorneys know all too well how important it is to understand that every state is different. It’s very helpful to know what the trends are, how long the wait times are from office to office, and what the different rates of approvals are.
Citizens Disability takes a data-driven approach to helping our clients. We want to make sure that we’re giving our clients the best possible advice at every step in the application process. We also work very hard to present the best possible case for each of our clients. Bringing together data from a wide variety of sources – including data like this, which comes from the Social Security Administration – allows us to make smart decisions when we present cases for our clients.
Finally, this information can be very helpful to applicants. Applying for social security benefits is likely a new experience for most applicants, and having an idea of what they can expect from the process can help them be engaged and involved participants with their advocates.
While your own journey may be different than the trends you see here, these tables and charts can help you understand what, on average, you can expect.
You will also find location and contact information for all the offices in Mississippi below.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in Mississippi – What You Need To Know
There are generally three stages in the application process for Social Security Disability benefits: initial application, reconsideration, and the hearing. In this table, you can see how Mississippi compares to the national average (all states in America) when it comes to approval rates at each of those stages.
Initial Application (L1) | Reconsideration (L2) | Hearing (L3) | |
---|---|---|---|
Mississippi | 41.1% | 20.9% | 55.4% |
National Average | 39.5% | 15.1% | 57.7% |
State Difference: | 1.6% | 5.8% | -2.3% |
As the table shows, Mississippi is above the National average at the Initial application and Reconsideration level. Mississippi is slightly below the National average at the Hearing level.
Mississippi Initial Application Approval Over Time
Initial Application Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mississippi | 41.1% | 36.9% | 34.1% | 32.7% | 30.6% | 29.1% | 26.0% | 26.0% | 25.2% | 26.5% |
National Average | 39.5% | 38.9% | 38.8% | 37.7% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 35.3% | 34.4% | 33.5% | 32.8% |
As the table and the below chart show, Mississippi has been consistently been at a lower rate of Initial Applications going back to at least 2015. In 2024, Mississippi ranked 21st in the nation in terms of percentage approval of Initial Applications. If you are thinking of applying for SSDI, don’t worry – there are multiple stages to the application process.
Mississippi Reconsideration Approval Over Time
Reconsideration Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mississippi | 20.9% | 17.8% | 13.8% | 10.3% | 8.8% | 8.5% | 8.0% | 8.5% | 6.7% | 7.1% |
National Average | 15.1% | 15.5% | 15.0% | 13.2% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.4% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.7% |
As the table and the below chart indicate, Mississippi has been slightly above the national average when it comes to Approvals at the Reconsideration level. In 2024, Mississippi ranked 4th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Reconsideration, quite the improvment compared to prior years. However, as you can see, in general, the chances of winning approval at Reconsideration are not particularly high. That is why many applicants must continue in the next level, the Hearing.
Mississippi Hearings Approval Over Time
Hearing Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mississippi | 55.4% | 52.9% | 50.4% | 49.2% | 43.1% | 44.8% | 44.5% | 50.3% | 46.9% | 48.5% |
National Average | 57.7% | 56.8% | 54.2% | 54.7% | 51.1% | 52.9% | 53.9% | 56.8% | 54.7% | 53.4% |
As the table and the below chart indicate, Mississippi has has been stayed lower than the national average when it comes to approvals at the Hearing level. In 2024, Mississippi ranked 28th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Hearings.
However, as you’ll see below, all individual hearing offices in Mississippi are not the same – each office has its own approval rates, and almost as importantly, waiting times. Which hearing office your case is assigned to in Mississippi may have a significant bearing on your chances for approval.
Also worthy of note is the fact that past performance is only one indicator of likely outcomes; as new data comes in, you might see that a state’s performance compared to the national average has either improved or weakened.
Mississippi SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
Mississippi is part of the Social Security Administration’s “Region 4,” which is headquartered in Atlanta. There are 3 hearing offices in Mississippi. You can see waiting times for hearings & case dispositions for each office below, with comparisons to Mississippi and National Averages.
The “Hearing Wait Time (Months)” is, on average, how long it takes in between when an applicant asks for a Hearing and when that hearing occurs.
The “Average Disposition Time (Days)” is, on average, the number of days in between when an applicant asks for a Hearing, and when the Administrative Law Judge who hears their case actually makes a decision on that case.
The “Average Approval Rate” is percentage at which cases are decided in favor of the applicant.
Hearing Wait Time (Months) | Average Disposition Time (Days) | Average Approval Rate (2024) | |
---|---|---|---|
National Average | 9.3 | 366 | 57.7% |
Mississippi Average | 6.8 | 266 | 55.4% |
HATTIESBURG | 6.5 | 291 | 48.8% |
JACKSON | 6.8 | 261 | 56.3% |
TUPELO | 7.0 | 245 | 66.1% |
As the table here and the chart below indicate, in 2024, all Mississippi offices averaged a shorter wait time when compared to the national average. However, the state as a whole has a lower approval rating at 55.4%. The highest average approval rating they have is in Tupelo, which was only at 66.1%.
These waiting times and approval rates only highlight how important it can be to have a qualified representative – such as an Advocate from Citizens Disability – working on your case. The Government Accountability Office has done research that shows that an applicant who has a representative has an up to three times greater chance of being approved than a person who goes it alone.
Hearing Offices in Mississippi & The SSA Offices They Serve
These are the “Office of Hearing Operations” offices in Mississippi. These offices are where hearings are scheduled and generally conducted. Each OHO office supports a number of regional Social Security Administration field offices. You are likely (but not guaranteed) to have your hearing scheduled with a Judge who works in the OHO office that supports the SSA field office nearest to you.
Hearing Office Region 4 Hattiesburg SSA, OHO
1901 Broadway Drive Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39402
(866) 348-5831 • (601) 264-7702 • (877) 372-8804
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MISSISSIPPI: Brookhaven, Forest, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Laurel, McComb, Meridian, Moss Point, Natchez, Philadelphia
Hearing Office Region 4 Jackson SSA, OHO
McCoy Federal Building, Suite 401 100 West Capitol Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39269
(888) 385-8499 • (601) 965-5267 • (877) 435-0330
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MISSISSIPPI: Cleveland, Greenville, Greenwood, Jackson, Kosciusko, Vicksburg
Hearing Office Region 4 Tupelo SSA, OHO
Suite 3A 1150 South Green Street Tupelo, Mississippi 38804
(866) 275-9405 • (662) 842-0423 • (877) 470-5097
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MISSISSIPPI: Clarksdale, Columbus, Corinth, Grenada, Starkville, Tupelo
List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in Mississippi
Office Name | Location | Address | City | State | Phone Number |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VICKSBURG MS | SUITE 132 | 4155 CLAY STREET | VICKSBURG | MS | (866) 964-0996 |
JACKSON MS FO | STE 225 MCCOY FED BLDG | 100 W CAPITOL STREET | JACKSON | MS | (866) 331-8135 |
HATTIESBURG MS | 1911 BROADWAY DRIVE | HATTIESBURG | MS | (866) 331-2186 | |
MERIDIAN MS | 4717 26TH AVENUE | MERIDIAN | MS | (866) 403-8014 | |
COLUMBUS MS | 3577 BLUECUTT RD | COLUMBUS | MS | (877) 626-9914 | |
GREENWOOD MS | 604 YALOBUSHA STREET | GREENWOOD | MS | (866) 331-2209 | |
GULFPORT MS | 9394 THREE RIVERS ROAD | GULFPORT | MS | (877) 897-0609 | |
GREENVILLE MS | ROOM 201 | 305 MAIN STREET | GREENVILLE | MS | (866) 602-8776 |
TUPELO MS | 199 SADDLE CREEK DRIVE | TUPELO | MS | (866) 504-4267 | |
CLARKSDALE MS | ROOM 226 | 236 SHARKEY AVE | CLARKSDALE | MS | (866) 931-7670 |
MCCOMB MS | 116 BUSINESS CENTER DR | MCCOMB | MS | (866) 253-5609 | |
NATCHEZ MS | GROUND FLOOR | 110 LOWER WOODVILLE RD | NATCHEZ | MS | (877) 405-4565 |
LAUREL MS | 3210 HWY 15 N | LAUREL | MS | (866) 964-4927 | |
MOSS POINT MS | 6000 HWY 63 | MOSS POINT | MS | (866) 253-5675 | |
PHILADELPHIA MS | 100 PILOT ST | PHILADELPHIA | MS | (877) 531-4681 | |
CLEVELAND MS | 407 INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY | CLEVELAND | MS | (877) 405-4638 | |
CORINTH MS | 1050 S. HARPER RD | CORINTH | MS | (866) 366-4921 | |
BROOKHAVEN MS | 1392 JOHNNY JOHNSON DR | BROOKHAVEN | MS | (877) 405-3568 | |
GRENADA MS | 2383 SUNSET DRIVE | GRENADA | MS | (866) 593-8523 | |
KOSCIUSKO MS | 80 VETERAN MEMORIAL DR | KOSCIUSKO | MS | (866) 875-5995 | |
OLIVE BRANCH MS | 8760 MID SOUTH DR | OLIVE BRANCH | MS | (866) 739-4771 | |
FOREST MS | 558 DEER FIELD DRIVE | FOREST | MS | (866) 829-2497 | |
STARKVILLE MS | 1089C STARK RD | STARKVILLE | MS | (800) 305-6919 |
All data on this page is current as of July, 2024.
About Citizens Disability, LLC:
Since 2010, Citizens Disability has been America’s premier Social Security Disability institution. Our services include helping people in applying for SSDI benefits, managing the process through Reconsideration, and representing people in person at their Hearing, and if necessary, bringing their case to the Appeals Council. Our mission is to give a voice to the millions of Americans who are disabled and unable to work, helping them receive the Social Security Disability benefits to which they may be entitled. Learn more about us and disability benefits like SSDI & SSI or give us a call (800)492-3260.
Citizens Disability is committed to helping keep people safe from fraud. We will never ask for personal details to start an SSDI application over Facebook or social media. We will only ask for certain details, in private messages, to confirm the identity of a client in a customer service situation. The only way to begin an SSDI application with us is on the phone, through a number found on our website, or one of our clearly-marked advertisements. Please keep your personal details safe, don't share them in a public forum, or with individuals who solicit your information.
More Important Information about The Application Process
Other Applying For SSDI FAQs:
- Can Citizens Disability help with my application?
- Does this process take as long as I’ve heard about?
- Can I receive both Medicare and Social Security disability benefits?
- Do I receive compensation while I wait for my approval?
- If I am denied, should I reapply?
- How long does it take for an initial application to be decided?
- What happens during the reconsideration stage?
- At which stage do I require an advocate?
- Should I give medical updates to the disability authorities throughout the appeals processes?
- Are there any costs to me during the appeals process?