What We Do

Who We Can Help

Our programs and contracts are funded by federal agencies to help protect the rights of people with disabilities. Mo P&A cannot use this funding to provide certain services.

Because we have certain restrictions and limited funding, we cannot provide advocacy and legal services to everyone who asks for help.

If we cannot provide these services, our staff will provide Information and Referral services to help with your issue if possible.

To receive advocacy or legal services:

  • You must have a disability that meets the eligibility criteria for a program,

  • You must need help with an issue that is related to your disability,

  • Your issue must be something we can help with under that program,

  • Your issue must fall under that program’s priorities (if the program has priorities set by the Board), and

  • You must meet our case selection criteria, if applicable.

Mo P&A also provides other services under certain programs and contracts. These programs and contracts have different criteria, so the information on this page may not apply. This includes the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project, and the Rep Payee program.

Who We Cannot Help

Mo P&A cannot provide services if someone requests help with any of the following:

  • Providing Case Management

  • Establishing Guardianship

  • Criminal Law

  • Family Law (divorces, adoptions, wills, etc.)

  • Personal Injury Lawsuits if the only compensation is money (car wrecks, assaults, workers compensation)

  • Any lawsuit not related to a disability

We also cannot duplicate advocacy or legal services. This means Mo P&A cannot provide these services to help with an issue if you are already:

  • A current client or applicant of our agency for that issue,

  • Receiving services from another attorney for that issue, or

  • Getting help from a private individual for that issue

This includes situations where someone is accused of a crime. These individuals have a right to legal representation in a court of law. If someone cannot afford an attorney, the court will provide a public defender or pro bono private attorney to represent them.

Case Selection Criteria

Because our funding is limited, Mo P&A first has to decide if we can provide advocacy or legal services.

If we decide we cannot provide these services, we will provide Information and Referral services to help with your issue if possible. If we decide we can provide advocacy or legal services, we will open a case.

Then we have to decide whether we can provide advocacy or legal services for that case, or if an investigation is appropriate.

It is Mo P&A's policy to resolve an issue using the lowest level of intervention possible.

Mo P&A decides the type of case to open based on:

  • The wishes of the person with a disability,

  • The merits of the case,

  • Any limitations outlined in the program’s priorities, if applicable,

  • Which services are available and appropriate for the issue, and

  • Whether Mo P&A has funding and personnel available in the program.

Depending on what you need help with, we may look at additional criteria when deciding what services Mo P&A can provide.

  • The Mo P&A Education Panel is comprised of Advocates and Attorneys who frequently engage in education cases.

    Our Education Panel helps decide when to open a case related to education issues. They also help decide what type of case to open, based on the case selection criteria outlined above.

    To make these decisions, the Education Panel generally needs the following documentation:

    • The student’s most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 plan, and/or behavioral plan

    • The student’s IEP progress reports from the last 12 months

    • All “Notice of Action(s)” from the last 12 months

    • All discipline reports or letters from the last 12 months

    • The most recent evaluation from the school district (within the last 3 years)

    • Any outside evaluations or tests from the last 12 months

    • All relevant medical orders or letters from the last 12 months

    • The student’s most recent grade reports

    • All written requests made by the parent or student, and the school district’s written responses

  • The Mo P&A Social Security Unit Chief helps decide when to open a case related to Social Security benefit appeals. This can include appealing a denial of disability benefit eligibility, as well as overpayment appeals. Overpayments generally reduce the amount of benefits someone gets until they pay off the balance.

    Please note that Mo P&A is not able to assist with Social Security appeals under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program. If you are not eligible for any other Mo P&A programs, we will not be able to help with your Social Security appeal.

    To get help with a Social Security eligibility appeal, you must have already:

    • Applied for Social Security disability benefits,

    • Been denied these benefits by Social Security, and

    • Asked Social Security for an appeal.

    Before we can decide if Mo P&A can help with a Social Security eligibility appeal, we will need the following documents:

    • A copy of the denial letter from Social Security,

    • A copy of the acknowledgement from Social Security that you requested an appeal hearing,

    • The disc of records provided to you by Social Security, and

    • Any other recent notices, correspondence, or decisions from Social Security.

    You can find the forms to ask Social Security for an appeal on Social Security’s website.

    To get help with an overpayment decision you must have already:

    • Asked Social Security for a waiver of the overpayment, or

    • Asked Social Security for a change in the amount you have to pay back each month.

    Before we can decide if Mo P&A can help with a Social Security overpayment appeal, we will need the following documents:

    • A copy of the most recent Overpayment Notice and Decision Letter from Social Security,

    • A copy of the acknowledgement from Social Security that you submitted a Request for Waiver or Change in Overpayment Recovery,

    • The disc of records provided to you by Social Security, and

    • Any other notices, decisions, or correspondence to or from Social Security.

    You can find the forms to ask Social Security for a waiver or change in repayment rate on Social Security’s website.

  • Mo P&A can help individuals become their own guardian with a petition in probate court.

    Before we can decide if Mo P&A can help you with guardianship restoration, we will need a medical letter of support.

    The letter of support must be written and signed by your psychiatrist or other primary mental health provider.

    It can be helpful to have additional letters of support from other medical professionals, social workers, case managers, or other professionals that have worked with you over the past year.

    All letters of support should be on the letterhead of the professional that wrote the letter. All letters should also be signed by that professional.

    Letters of support should state you are medically competent and no longer needs the help of a guardian to:

    • Care for yourself,

    • Meet your own needs for self-care, and

    • Engage in the activities of daily living.

    If you also want to become their own conservator, a letter of support should also state you are able to manage your own finances.