Social Security Disability For Adhd
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition characterized with an inability to focus attention and complete action. It occurs in both children and adults and is accompanied by restlessness and impulsive behavior.
ADHD symptoms may range from mild to severe, hence impacting a persons ability to perform substantial gainful activity, SGA at work. Examples of disorders the SSA analyzes based on or related to ADHD include social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and obsessive compulsive disorder.
There are three kinds or levels of ADHD: the inattentive type, the hyperactive-impulsive type, and a combined type. Types of classification of the disorders are mainly done through categorizing the severity of the symptoms it simply indicates the prevalence of similar symptoms .
If you or a loved one with ADHD meets the triggers as listed by the SSAs impairments under neurological conditions for ADHD or other disorders, you may qualify for SSDI.
Limitations of ADHD to qualify for SSDI
The SSA updated its listing for anxiety disorders under neurological disorders to include other disorders such as OCD. The symptoms for both anxiety and OCD listed by SSA include:
- Excessive anxiety
- Constant thoughts and fears about safety
- Frequent physical complaints
Be sure to provide all documents including any MRI or CT scans and any treatment you followed, its effects and the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
The Social Security Blue Book
To qualify for disability benefits from the SSA, you will have to prove that you are disabled according to their criteria. That usually means proving that you have a condition that is either listed in the Blue Book and meets the SSAs Blue Book criteria or that you have a condition that is equal to a section in the Blue Book.
The Blue Book lists all of the conditions that could potentially qualify an individual for Social Security Disability benefits, along with the criteria that must be met with each condition. For example, if an individual wanted to apply for Social Security Disability with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder they would have to follow the Blue Book guidelines for that condition. ADHD is only listed in the childhood section or the Blue Book under Section 112.00 Childhood Mental Disorders. As ADHD begins in early childhood, there is no similar section for the adult listings. You could receive benefits with ADHD as an adult, if youre able to prove that:
- You have had ADHD since childhood, and
- ADHD has impaired your ability to complete schoolwork and to be gainfully employed as an adult.
Specifically, the listing for ADHD is covered in the childhood segment of the Blue Book under Section 112.11 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to this section of the Blue Book you must be able to prove that:
Disability For Adhd: What You Need To Know
When you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with ADHD, you want to take action. You want to get the best treatment. You want to take measures to reduce symptoms at home, work, and school. You want to take advantage of every option and opportunity available to you.
Many people who have ADHD, or know someone who does, are interested in the subject of disability benefits. They hope applying for and receiving disability will lessen the worries of life and make living life with ADHD less stressful.
Unfortunately, disability benefits are complex and uncertain. Navigating through the process can be time-consuming and frustrating, so patience is needed.
Read on to learn more about social security disability benefits, who qualifies, what benefits are given, and other ADHD disability information.
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Can An Adult With Adhd Qualify For The Disability Tax Credit
As weve mentioned in previous sections, applying for the Disability Tax Credit with ADHD as an adult can be very difficult- but not impossible.
Weve already established that ADHD is a chronic, life-long condition. The challenge applying as an adult is proving the severity of the condition and the ways the individuals mental functioning are affected to a disabling degree.
To quote Wayne O-Brien, a professional with Seeds Of Hope and Adult diagnosed with ADHD:
If you or someone you love is applying for the Disability Tax Credit as an adult with ADHD, be prepared to explain the severity of the impairment and how it affects the individuals daily life, in spite of the accommodations that may be being used to provide assistance. It is also important to have the medical practitioner assisting in filling out the form to detail the severity of the condition and its impact on the affected individuals life.
As an example, if an affected adult struggles to remember bill payments, even after setting up reminders, or fails to keep vital appointments such as jobs shifts, or takes an inordinate amount of time to complete a necessary task, like balancing a cheque book, their ADHD symptoms may make them markedly restricted in the mental functions necessary for everyday life in the areas of adaptive functioning , memory, and goal-setting/problem solving/judgment.
Disability Benefits For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a mental condition that arises in children and may continue on into adulthood. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children and is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and difficulty with maintaining focus. Although very rare, the symptoms of chronic ADHD can become severe enough to interfere with an individuals activities of daily living as well as schooling and/or occupation. In these cases, an individual with chronic ADHD may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
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Similar Conditions The Va Does Cover
There are a few conditions related to ADHD for which the VA does provide compensation. First among these are anxiety disorders, including OCD. If your ADHD is going untreated, it may also cause you anxiety, which could manifest as compulsions that interfere with your ability to live a healthy life.
Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders can also be connected to ADHD in adults. If your ADHD causes a substance abuse disorder, you could receive VA compensation for that. Other personality disorders may also be covered and are often associated with adult ADHD.
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How To Apply For Disability
If you are interested in applying for disability benefits for yourself or your loved one with ADHD, a good place to begin is the Child Disability Starter Kit or Adult Disability Starter Kit page on the SSA website. Here, you will find additional information about applying for disability, work opportunities, and other important information.
From there, you can move to the Online Application for Disability Benefits page to officially begin the process.
The process of understanding and applying for disability is a complicated but important matter. Knowing the nuances and navigating the system will put you in a better position to receive the benefits that are desired. If you or your child met the criteria, apply today.
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Basic Eligibility For Benefits
The SSA must see that you meet basic eligibility requirements before further reviewing your application for benefits. This basic eligibility includes having:
- A formal diagnosis of a potentially disabling condition
- A diagnosed condition that will disable you for 12 months of longer
After the SSA confirms that you meet basic eligibility, they will then move on to review your medical condition in detail and verify that you meet all program requirements for SSDI and/or SSI.
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How Va Ratings Work
Once your disability claim is approved, the VA will assign you a disability rating. This rating reflects how much your condition impacts your ability to lead a normal, healthy life. The higher the number, the more your condition impacts you.
VA ratings are expressed as percentages and range from 10 to 100 percent. The VA will use these as the primary factor in determining how much compensation youll receive each month. For the purposes of compensation, they will round your disability rating to the nearest 10 percent.
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Applying For The Disability Tax Credit
After being diagnosed with ADHD by a medical practitioner, it is possible to apply for the Disability Tax Credit. The medical practitioner will need to understand the unique impact ADHD has on an individuals daily living. The parent or primary caregiver to a child with ADHD may also consider applying for the Disability Tax Credit on behalf of the minor who has this condition.
Outsiders can sometimes have a hard time grasping how challenging it is to live with ADHD. This disability is invisible for the most part. In fact, the impairment only became eligible for Disability Tax Credit consideration a few years ago. Nevertheless, the importance of applying for financial support is evident.
To ensure the application process is handled with the care and respect this disability deserves, consult benefit specialists at the National Benefit Authority. This is the most trusted agency serving people with disabilities in Canada. They are available for free consultations and to guide the qualification process.
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Risk Factors Of Adult Adhd
There are a few things that can raise your risk of developing attention deficit hyperactive disorder. First and foremost, as we mentioned, having a blood relative who has ADHD can increase your risk of developing the condition. Exposure to environmental toxins in your home when you were a child may also increase your risk.
Your mothers habits during her pregnancy can also impact whether you develop ADHD later in life. If she smoked, drank alcohol, or used drugs while she was pregnant, you might be at higher risk. You could also stand a greater chance of developing ADHD if you were born prematurely.
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Types Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual , the manual used by doctors and physicians to determine and identify particular conditions, breaks down ADHD into three different subtypes. Many individuals with ADHD suffer from certain symptoms more than others who also have ADHD and the subtypes help doctors more accurately identify the problems an individual with ADHD is experiencing. The three subtypes are listed below.
Combined Presentation: Individual has symptoms of inattention as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: Individual has symptoms of inattention with little to no presence of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: Individual has symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity but doesnt have symptoms of inattention.
ADD also known as Attention Deficit Disorder is commonly used interchangeably with ADHD. However, since the most recent revision of the DSM, ADD in most cases now refers to the predominantly inattentive presentation subtype of ADHD.
So Does Work Have To Accommodate Your Adhd Since Its A Disability
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act , companies with more than 15 employees legally cant discriminate against workers with disabilities and must make reasonable accommodations for them.
This law *might* apply to people with ADHD in some cases. According to the ADA, your job only has to make accommodations that dont cause undue hardship basically things that arent wildly expensive, time-consuming or result in a major productivity loss for the biz.
If youre working for a company with less than 15 workers youre not necessarily SOL. You still might be protected under your states anti-discrimination laws.
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Help Submitting Your Application
Because ADHD can be a tricky diagnosis to connect to a disability, it may be in your best interest to work with a disability attorney when filing your claim.
Your attorney will work to ensure your application for benefits is complete and that all supporting information detailing your diagnosis and its impacts are included.
Should your application for benefits be denied, your attorney will guide you through the appeals process, working to secure the benefits you deserve.
If you require assistance filing your disability claim concerning your ADHD or ADD diagnosis, contact Dayes Law Firm PC. Our disability experts will work to support your ADHD claim, seeing your through the application and appeals process so you can recover the benefits you’re entitled.
Disabling Symptoms Of Adult Adhd
ADHD causes the same types of symptoms in both children and adults, including trouble paying attention, hyperactivity, poor time management and organizational skills, forgetfulness, and impulsive behavior.
For adults with ADHD, these symptoms can result in employment difficulties, poor relationships, and emotional problems. A significant number of adults with ADHD never finished high school because of academic troubles due to ADHD, and this can also limit their employment potential.
There is no diagnostic test for adult ADHD. It can be diagnosed by a medical doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist when a patient exhibits a consistent pattern of symptoms including inattention and hyperactivity. An official adult ADHD diagnosis usually comes following interviews with the patient and others who are familiar with their symptoms. There are also several questionnaires and checklists that are sometimes used to diagnose ADHD. And before diagnosing an adult with ADHD, most doctors will perform a physical test to rule out other conditions.
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Adhd Does Not Discriminate
It can affect anyone from any background or any walk of life. Whats more, those with ADHD are at higher risk of suffering from unemployment, increased risk of poverty and mental illness, and are more likely to enter the workforce unskilled or semi-skilled.
As a misunderstood condition, those affected may be used to hearing that they fail to apply themselves- having their struggles attributed to a personal shortcoming. In reality, ADHD is not a personality trait. It is a real, scientifically backed medical condition that has wide and varied effects on the brain.
Straight Talk From An Experienced Florida Disability Attorney
When applying for Social Security Disability benefits for adult ADHD, you are facing an uphill battle. If you cannot prove that you meet the requirements mentioned above, you may have to undergo a mental residual capacity assessment. This will indicate the type of work you can do, such as skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled work at varying levels. If the SSA determines you can work in any capacity, you may not qualify for benefits.
Working with an experienced Florida disability attorney can help move the process forward. They will help you gather the solid supporting evidence you need. This includes:
- Medical/case records from your physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist showing an ADHD diagnosis. This should include supporting documentation.
- Documentation of any and all treatments you have tried, as well as the outcomes for each.
- Documentation from former employers attesting to your challenges in terms of concentration, hyperactivity, following instructions, impulsivity, etc.
- Academic records that detail any evidence of ADHD-related symptoms, such as late/missing work, poor grades, etc.
- A medical assessment from your therapist stating their opinion as to the severity of your condition and how it impacts your ability to function day-to-day.
- Other evidence related to associated conditions, such as depression, substance abuse, anxiety, etc.
- Evidence of other conditions that limit your ability to work.
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How Treatment For Adhd Affects Disability
Treatment for adult ADHD most commonly involves the use of prescription stimulant medications such as Adderall or Concerta. If the patient has a history of substance abuse or cardiac problems, there are also non-stimulant medications that can be prescribed. Adults with ADHD can also benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling, or coaching to help them learn new ways of thinking and doing things that they struggle with. Although many adults with ADHD show significant improvement with the appropriate treatment, some may not. The SSA will want to know what the patient’s past and current treatments have been and that the patient is not failing to comply with your doctor’s treatment plan by taking the prescribed medication.
Learn about getting disability for a child with ADHD in our article on SSI disability benefits for children with ADHD.
Is Adhd Recognized As A Disability
ADHD is a mental disorder that causes you to have trouble concentrating, paying attention, and controlling your impulses. It typically starts during childhood and can remain until adulthood.
There are three categories of ADHD symptoms among children: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In adults, these symptoms may change or combine with other signs such as procrastination, anger control issues, disorganization, chronic boredom, and mood swings. Because of these, ADHD/ADD can affect your ability to maintain a relationship or hold down a job.
To determine if ADHD/ADD is disabling you, the Social Security Administration evaluates it using a five-step process.
Step 1. Do you work gainfully?
At the first step, the SSA considers your work activity. If you are engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity , you will not be found disabled. The amount you must earn to be working at SGA changes each year. For 2018, it is $1,180 per month if you are not blind and $1,970 per month if you are blind. If you are working, and your earnings average more than the SGA limit, then you will not be found disabled. If you are not working, or your earnings are less than SGA, the process proceeds to Step 2 where your ADHD and any other physical or mental conditions are considered.
Step 2. Can you ADHD be considered severe?
Step 3. Does your ADHD match an SSA Listing?
Step 4. Can you still perform any of the work youve done in the last fifteen years?
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