Mental Residual Functional Capacity An Inability To Work
Mental disorders often have a cyclical nature, meaning that symptoms may disappear for a time before rearing up again in all their incapacitating glory. For the SSA to approve an application a claimant must show their mental illness affects their ability work and that doctors expect that condition to last for at least a year. Providing written document of the extent of the reduction in mental residual function capacity is another important element of medical information necessary to obtain first-time application approval.
To determine this, disability examiners look at an applicants ability to understand their surroundings and interact with others, long-term and short-term memory, how well an applicant adapts to new situations and how long the applicant can sustain concentration on given tasks. If an applicant is unable to sustain focus to complete tasks, their ability to maintain gainful employment is significantly limited.
How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits For Mental Health
The SSA has set rules that determine whether someone with a disability will be eligible for benefits. If you suffer from any of the previously mentioned mental health disabilities, then you may want to apply for disability benefit. If your condition is preventing you from maintaining employment, you may be eligible for SSDI benefits.
Apply online- One of the most convenient ways to apply for mental health disability benefits is to apply online. You can do this from the comfort of your own home.
Apply in person- You can also contact your local Social Security Administration office to set up an appointment to file your application in person.
Apply through an SSD lawyer- If you find the process daunting, then seek an effective Social Security disability lawyers professional help.
If you decide to apply on your own, you might miss important details that could spell defeat for your claim.This may include the necessary documentation required to prove your disability. Failure to provide sufficient evidence is likely to lead to the rejection of your claim. You may then be forced to repeat the process all over again. Winning a disability claim can be a long, arduous process, and avoidable first-time rejections will unnecessarily extend it. If you do not have prior experience applying for disability benefits, then it is a good idea to consult with your nearest disability lawyer.
How Long Does It Take
With rare exceptions, disability payments do not begin immediately. Once you submit your claim, it will be reviewed by a caseworker who will verify your information and medical documentation before rendering a decision. The decision is generally given within three to five months, on average, though sometimes it can take longer.
Once your application is approved by the SSA, youll have a yearly review of your condition since many mental disorders are treatable. If your condition remains the same and there is no improvement, you will likely continue to have your benefits.
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What Mental Disorders Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration recognizes several mental disorders that cause long term disability and may entitle the victim to disability benefits. The mental disorders that qualify for benefits can be found in Blue Book section 12.00. There are several categories of mental disorders that the SSA lists. These include the following:
- Substance addiction disorders such as alcoholism and drug addiction including being addicted to prescription drugs
- Somatoform disorders which are mental illnesses which reveal a sickness or injury which may or may not be present
- Psychotic disorders which include schizophrenia and paranoia may automatically qualify the victim for Social Security Disability. Some victims qualify for a Compassionate Allowance which means they are eligible to receive social security benefits as soon as possible
- Personality disorders which are mental illnesses which when they affect people it makes it difficult for them fit in with society as a whole. This can include obsessive-compulsive disorder and passive-aggressive disorder
- Organic mental disorders which include delirium, dementia, and Alzheimers, which affect the nervous system
- Autistic/ Pervasive developmental disorders which are mental disabilities which may affect a number of skills such as communication, cognitive, behavior, and social.
- Anxiety disorders which are so bad that work is impossible
- Affective disorders which are mood disorders which include depression and bipolar.
Depression And Related Disorders
This group is listed in § 12.03 of the Blue Book, and includes more than just depression. Depression, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder I, bipolar disorder II, cyclothymic disorder, and dysthymia area all included in this section.
These disorders include feelings of depression, loss of interest or pleasure, hopelessness, guilt, suicidal thoughts, and physical effects including changes in weight, appetite, sleep, and energy. If these thoughts, feelings, and physical effects are severe enough to interfere with your work, you may qualify for disability. Since this is likely one of the most widely-diagnosed disorders, proving your disability is severe enough to affect work is crucial to getting disability coverage.
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Disability Evaluation Under Social Security
The following is a list of mental disorders and mental health conditions that may qualify for social security disability benefits:
- Neurocognitive disorders i.e. dementia, Alzheimers, the inability to focus or concentrate, remember, adapt or understand
- Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders i.e. experience hallucinations, catatonia
- Depressive, bipolar and related disorders i.e. diminished interest in life, appetite disturbance, change in weight, sleep disturbance, decreased energy, feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide.
- Intellectual disorders i.e. mental retardation, subaverage general intellectual functioning, inability to care for personal needs.
- Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders i.e. panic attacks, paranoia, agoraphobia, repetitive thoughts or behaviors directed at reducing anxiety.
- Somatic symptom and related disorders i.e. Preoccupation with having a serious illness that is not explained by a medical disorder.
- Personality and impulse control disorders i.e. detached personality, borderline personality, autism, instability of interpersonal relationships.
- Neurodevelopmental disorders i.e. frequent distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsivity.
- Eating disorders i.e. anorexia, bulimia disorder that impairs physical or psychological health.
- Trauma and stressor related disorders i.e. PTSD, experience or exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence.
Medical Qualifying With A Mental Illness
The SSA conducts a detailed review of your medical records to determine your eligibility for benefits. During this review, they try to match your records to a disability listing in the Blue Book. The Blue Book is the SSAs medical guide that is used to evaluate every disability application.
Disability listings outline the severity level requirements and the specific medical evidence needed to support a claim for benefits. Mental illnesses appear in Section 12.00 and include:
- 12.06, Anxiety-related Disorders you may qualify under this listing if you have a severe phobia, post-traumatic stress, a panic disorder, or another anxiety-related condition.
- 12.08, Personality Disorders this is the listing under which you may qualify if you have severe, clinical depression.
- 12.04, Affective Disorders if you have bipolar disorder, your application will be reviewed under this listing.
Extensive medical records are necessary to qualify, including:
- Information on your diagnosis, ideally from a psychiatrist or psychologist
- Brain scans or other evidence of physical abnormalities that document an organic cause for symptoms, if applicable
- Treatment records, documenting medications, therapy, and other management methods used and their effects
- Thoroughly documented episodes of increased symptoms or periods of decompensation
- Well documented affects of your symptoms on your everyday abilities or activities of daily living
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Eligible Mental Illnesses And Disorders
Your eligibility for SSDI benefits depends on the type and severity of your illness. The Social Security Administration provides a list of mental illnesses and disorders that potentially qualify for benefits in its blue book. These include:
- Organic mental disorders
- Schizophrenic, paranoid and other psychotic disorders
- Affective disorders
- Substance addiction disorders
- Autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders
The blue book outlines a litany of requirements for these illnesses and disorders to qualify for benefits. It is not enough to have a diagnosis. Claimants must show that must show that they are unable to work and have a demonstrated long-term disability. Its important to choose an SSDI lawyer that understands all of the evidence required in disability claims citing mental impairments. At Ankin Law Office, our attorneys are experienced in working on SSDI claims of all types including those involving mental illnesses and disorders. We work with our clients and their doctors to gather the necessary evidence to win a favorable decision. If you are planning to apply for social security disability benefits or your claim has been denied, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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How Much Does Mental Health Disability Pay
The maximum amount you could be paid as a disability benefit depends firstly on whether it is paid through Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income . The sort of disability you have, e.g. mental illness, does not affect how much your monthly benefit payment could be.
SSDI benefits are paid to people who have been in employment for long enough to have accumulated sufficient work credits to be eligible for this benefit scheme. The number of work credits depends on how much you have earned each year and whether your employer deducted social security insurance when you paid payroll tax. The maximum number of work credits is 4 in any given year of employment.
The actual payment through SSDI is determined by calculating your average earnings over the period you were in employment. This is called your average indexed monthly earnings . The average benefit paid monthly ranges from about $800 up to $1,800, but each year this does go up a little dependent on the increase in the CPI. The maximum benefit through SSDI in 2022 is currently $3,148.
The other pathway through which a disability benefit may be paid is the SSI scheme. This is only available for those people who have not worked for long enough to have accumulated sufficient work credits to be eligible for SSDI. Other criteria taken into consideration are an assessment of assets and any other income.
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At What Age Does Bipolar Disorder Most Frequently Emerge
Most cases of bipolar disorder commence when individuals are aged 15â19 years. The second most frequent age range of onset is 20â24 years. Some patients diagnosed with recurrent major depression may indeed have bipolar disorder and go on to develop their first manic episode when older than 50 years.
Fayetteville Arkansas Disability Attorneys
Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, is an Arkansas Social Security attorney that fights for disabled Arkansans in the Fayetteville area. Ken can help you file your social security claim based on your mental disorder, physical ailments, handicap, or any other disability. Even if your disorder is not on this list, you may still qualify for Social Security. Call 316-0438 today to schedule a free consultation on your Social Security Disability needs.
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What Mental Disorders Qualify For Social Security Disability
The Social Security Administration recognizes a wide variety of mental disorders as having the potential to cause total long term disability. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits based on a mental disorder, your condition must be diagnosed by a doctor and meet the criteria which any other illness or injury must meet in order to qualify for disability, namely:
- The mental disorder must prevent you from doing any work which you have done up until now.
- The mental disorder must render you unable to reasonably be trained for other work, which is available at the time of your disability.
- The mental disorder must be expected to be long term, lasting at least a year.
The criteria for disability based on mental health are the same, whether you are applying for SSDI or SSI. With these broad criteria in mind, the SSA recognizes several categories of mental illness which may be considered for Social Security Disability.
The list of recognized mental disorders is not entirely complete. Any mental disorder which renders you unable to perform gainful work may be considered for Social Security Disability benefits.
Because diagnosing many mental disorders can be somewhat subjective, it can be difficult and time consuming to prove to the SSA that your mental disorder qualifies you as completely disabled according to the SSA definition. You will help your case immeasurably if you keep a running journal of how your mental condition affects your day to day life.
Trauma And Stress Disorders
These disorders may have similar results to obsessive-compulsive disorders and neurological disorders, but they are often caused by some significantly traumatic event or because of extreme stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder is the most common of these disorders. Often, after witnessing or being involved in a very traumatic event, people suffering from these disorders find themselves facing symptoms that include depression, flashbacks, lack of interest or enjoyment, constant distress, aggression, overreactions, fear, anger, and trouble sleeping.
These disorders can often place a huge toll on a persons day-to-day life, and may make daily tasks and work tasks nearly impossible. Often, people with a history of military service or victims of traumatic accidents or crime face these kinds of disorders. If their case is severe enough, qualifying for SSD may help support them.
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Expert Ssd And Ssi Lawyers And Advocates In Mental Disorder Disability Claims
The best SSD attorney or SSI lawyer is highly skilled at handling SSD claims based on mental disorders. The cases involving mental illness or disorders present special challenges that only an experienced Social Security attorney is prepared for. Those SSD clients who suffer from a mental disorder may need assistance organizing information and documents. They may sometimes be difficult to contact, or they may have difficulty remembering details.
Scott London and LondonEligibility.com are experts in preparing, organizing, and managing your Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claims. We will assume all the responsibility and keep track of every document and date, ensuring your SSD application is presented with the absolute maximum likelihood of approval.
Mental Disorders That May Qualify For Social Security Disability
Winning Social Security disability claims based on mental illness and psychiatric conditions is tough. And its getting even tougher in todays political climate. Though politics should not matter when it comes to your mental health, the percentage of disability claims the SSA approves is decreasing. In our opinion that is because of political pressure.
SSD claims based on mental disorders are vulnerable, since they often involve subjective evidence and not objective testing like MRIs and CT scans. Thats why it is important that you hire a Social Security disability lawyer for your mental illness claim.
Some of the most common mental illnesses alleged in Social Security disability claims are:
- Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
No matter your mental illness, we can help you develop your claim for Social Security disability benefits if your symptoms interfere with your ability to work and enjoy life.
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Personality Disorders And Anxiety
The four ailments that qualify for SSD benefits, but are not a mental illness include autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities as well as decreased mental function with a medical cause . But it is important to remember that these ailments may have a significant impact on a persons mental health.
According to the SSAs Blue Book, which serves as a guide for physicians and mental health professionals, here are seven disorders with direct ties to mental illness that qualify applicants for SSD benefits:
Along with the physical ailments and diseases, a number of people also suffer mental disorders, which can qualify you for these much-needed benefits.
Contact Herren Law Today
Mental disorders affect thousands of Texans and their families. Many should qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance , but their applications are denied because of insufficient documentation or outright errors. Herren Law has helped over 4000 Houstonians receive the disability benefits they need. William Herren has an unsurpassed commitment to his disabled clients and is a proud member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives. Licensed to practice law in Texas and in the Federal District Courts of the Southern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Texas, as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. Herren is very experienced in Social Security disability type cases, including mental disorders that qualify for Social Security Disability.
When you call Herren Law, well immediately begin working with you one-on-one, going through your records, and helping you to apply properly.
If you or someone you care about has a mental disorder and you are wondering if that mental disorder qualifies for Social Security disability assistance, start with William Herren and the Herren Law firm. Your first step is getting an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer on your side, so contact our Houston law office at 682-8194. We offer free, no-obligation consultations, and there is no fee unless we win your case.
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An Ssd Attorney Can Be A Valuable Resource
Working with an SSD lawyer from NY Disability to file an initial claim for SSD benefits or to appeal the denial of a claim gives you someone with extensive knowledge of the rules, regulations, and procedures used by Social Security to evaluate mental health disorders. Call us today at 444-7024 for a free consultation.
Mental Disorders And Physical Conditions
We used two self-reported criteria to determine the presence of mental disorders. The first criterion was an affirmative response to one of several questions about the presence of specific mental disorders or OTHER mental or emotional disorders in the past 12 months. The questions were presented as checklists in the 1994 and 1995 NHIS-D interviews.
The second criterion was based on the reporting of a medical condition, coded by ICD-9 categories , that fell within the range of codes used for mental illness . Data on conditions were available from both the 1994 and 1995 NHIS-D and Core data sets.
We considered an affirmative answer to one or more of the mental disorder checklist items or the mention of a condition within the specified range of ICD-9 codes as indicating the presence of a mental disorder. Mental retardation, mental disorders with an organic origin, and childhood-specific mental disorders were excluded from this definition. We incorporated substance abuse conditions, along with checklist items regarding alcohol and drug abuse disorders, into a separate substance abuse variable.
We identified those persons with reported conditions that fell outside ICD-9 codes 290.0 through 319.99 as having a physical condition.
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