While Arthur Center Community Health recognizes that disability benefits provide a necessary safety net for persons who have significant disabilities, our goal is to maximize your quality of life, relationships and productivity. In this regard, our purpose is not to evaluate for disability. Instead, we are here to improve your health and promote self-sufficiency. In the course of providing these services to you, our providers may determine that you need to apply for disability and may suggest it to you. This only happens when we have been treating you for a period of time and it is evident that your level of functioning and stability is a barrier to maintaining employment.
In general, employment not only improves a person’s finances, but it is good “treatment;” providing meaning and purpose. We encourage employment and have persons who can assist you in finding and maintaining employment. Employment has a positive impact on your life!
We have had many new patients who come to us seeking assistance in applying for disability. At times, we receive requests to complete disability paperwork before the person has been seen by the medical provider. These patients are often disappointed that the provider may not be willing to complete the paperwork. To help set the right expectations, we want to clarify our policy as an organization:
- Our primary medical care staff do not complete disability paperwork. Disability Determinations or your attorney may request our records and we are happy to provide them, but we leave disability determinations to specialists who are better equipped to make those judgments.
- Our behavioral health medical staff may recommend applying for disability and may request that other staff assist you in completing the necessary paperwork. This decision is arrived at after a period of treatment of at least six months, but often longer, at the discretion of the provider.
- Staff of the health center do not assist in completing disability applications for the sole purpose of obtaining MO Health Net (Medicaid) benefits.
- Staff of the health center do not assist patients in completing disability applications without a referral from the medical provider.
If you have further questions or need more information, please talk with your provider.