Columbia (Richland County), SC residents who are out of work for a year due to a disability can apply for social security disability benefits with the help of a disability attorney or advocate. Columbia disability attorneys will be able to help you during all stages of the application process. As of December, 2012 there are 5,670 pending cases at the Columbia hearing office and the wait time is 416 days. As of December 2011, there were 9,810 individuals receiving SSDI benefits and 8,048 individuals receiving SSI benefits in Richland County.
Those living near Columbia can either file for disability online or at one of the local offices listed below:
Strom Thurmond Federal Building
1835 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201-2441
Telephone: (803) 929-7635
1111 Broad Street
2nd Floor
Camden, SC 29020
Telephone: 1-888-810-7373
1391 Middleton Street
Orangeburg, SC 29115-3115
Telephone: 1-803-531-1568
240 N Bultman Dr
Sumter, SC 29150-2500
Telephone: 1-803-775-9140
Columbia Disability Attorneys
If you are one of the many people that find the disability application process confusing, don’t worry, Columbia social security attorneys and advocates are available to help you. Your attorney will be able to help you no matter what stage in the process you are.
Benefits of hiring an attorney>>>
A Columbia Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Richland County, Lexington County, Calhoun County, Kershaw County, Sumter County, Fairfield County, and Newberry County: Charleston, Eau Claire, St. Andrews, Seven Oaks, Imo, Lexington, Oak Grove, Springdale, Pine Ridge, Dixiana, Bluff Estates, Dentsville, Forest Acres, Woodfield, and Sumter.
Listed below is the address to the Richland County Bar Association. You should contact the bar if you have any questions about hiring an attorney:
Richland County Bar Association
3rd Floor
950 Taylor Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Columbia Disability Hearings
Majority of claims are rejected at the initial and reconsideration levels. If your claim is among the rejected then you will have to file a request for a hearing with the Columbia Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). Listed below are the administrative law judges (ALJs) who handle the hearings at the Columbia office:
| Name | Approval Rate |
| Asseff, Brent T. | 72.97% |
| Christian, Frederick W. | 58.49% |
| Conover, Arthur L. | 56.51% |
| Craven, Amanda | 65.35% |
| Elkin, Paul | 50.00% |
| Fleming, Ronald | 44.86% |
| Garves, Brian | 40.00% |
| Herin Jr., Walter C. | 42.49% |
| Jamison, Peter | 47.81% |
| Martin, John R. | 61.96% |
| McCoy, Nancy | 58.26% |
| Shoenholz, Jonathan T. | 89.29% |
| Taylor, William F. | 54.94% |
| Vineyard, Joshua | 40.78% |
| Winson, Flora L. | 51.90% |
*Data from http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html
Columbia disability attorneys and advocates are often familiar with the judges at this hearing office. Their familiarity with the judges could prove to be very valuable during your hearing.
In cases of extreme financial or medical need, you can contact your local congressman to see if he would be able to speed up the scheduling of your disability hearing. The congressman for the Columbia area is:
James E. Clyburn
1225 Lady Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803)799-1100
Fill out the form below to receive a free evaluation from a Columbia Social Security attorney:
