Contact An Experienced North Carolina Ssd Benefits Lawyer
The SSA maintains a list of impairments that are considered so severe that they automatically qualify one for disability benefits as long as all other requirements are met. These conditions are found in the SSAs Blue Book, which describes the medical evidence that is needed to prove the impairment.
You can also be declared disabled if you have a condition that is considered to be equal in severity to a listed impairment.
Even if you dont have a listed impairment or one considered equal in severity to a listed one, you may still be deemed to be disabled if you can show that your medical condition keeps you from working or doing any other type of work.
Allow Hardison & Cochran to put its skill and experience to work for you in seeking disability benefits. In particular, we can help you to gather the medical evidence you need to show you are disabled.
Contact us today and receive a free and immediate review of your case.
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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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Types Of Mental Disorders Listed In The Blue Book:
Affective disorders- also called mood disorder, is a disorder that affects the general mood of an individual, displaying an emotional state that is inconsistent with the individuals circumstances. This disorder can interfere with your ability to function normally due to extreme sadness, irritability, or periods of alternating depression and excessive happiness.
Anxiety Disorders- A claimant must frequently experience persistent anxiety. He may also experience unpredictable panic attacks, fear, or recurring compulsion, making it difficult to work.
Autism and related disorders- A claimant must be unable to communicate effectively and engage in activities demanded by their profession. He may also be unable to interact socially. All these create a hindrance to maintaining employment. Thus, they may be eligible for SSD mental health benefits.
Mental retardation- A person with medical evidence of poor IQ . Individuals that need assistance carrying out daily activities, such as bathing, eating, using the toilet, and dressing are likely to be regarded as disabled under the SSAs rules.
Organic Mental Disorders- The medical evidence must show that disability has been present for two years or more. The evidence must also demonstrate that the claimant cannot work without extensive support with their disabilities.
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Myths About Mental Illness And Social Security Disability Insurance Debunked
In order to justify its $64 billion in cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance , the Trump administration and its allies have had to propagate several myths. The most insidious one is that many SSDI recipients are not truly worthy of benefits. They have suggested that mental illness is among the more dubious qualifications for SSDI. Senator Rand Paul famously remarked that over half the people on disability are either anxious or their back hurts. Former Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling sums it up quite succinctly in The Atlantic:
The Administration is already deploying selectiveand often deceptivefacts to stigmatize and caricature both the Social Security Disability Insurance program and its recipients. This sort of framing justifies using Social Security as a piggy bank to raid in order to help offset tax cuts for top-earning Americans. Gene Sperling, 5/23/17
These convenient myths can be effective in undermining public support for SSDI, but they are dangerous for the millions of Americans with mental disorders who depend on federal disability benefits to prevent them from sinking into abject poverty. Here are the facts:
While some fiscal conservatives and others perpetuate the myth that people on SSDI are simply lazy and scamming the system in order to avoid working, Cloyd insists that the opposite is true.
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Let Our Team Help You Fight For Social Security Disability Benefits
A medical or psychiatric disability might prevent you from meeting your own personal needs or working to support yourself. Whether your disability is one you were born with, one that developed over time, or as the result of another medical issue, its severity might mean you qualify for SS disability benefits.
If you or a member of your family has a medical or mental health disorder that keeps you from working, you might be able to obtain health care and monthly financial benefits from an SSA program designed to help disabled people meet their financial needs.
One of the first steps toward obtaining benefits is compiling the medical, personal, and other evidence SSA officials require to consider your application complete. A Social Security disability lawyer might be able to help you submit a complete and accurate application with evidence that supports your diagnosis and application.
Find out more about the types of disabilities that qualify for Social Security assistance and the possible SSD benefits you may be entitled to receive. Contact the case review team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, by calling today for a free consultation.
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A Winning Record In Mental Impairment Claims Under Ssd
Almost 20 percent of all disability claims today are based on mental illness, up from just 9 percent in decades past. In large part, this is because of diminished prejudices against those with mental illness. This has allowed people with severe mental disabilities to come out of the shadows for both treatment and to apply for Social Security Disability benefits without the stigma once attached to these disorders.
However, winning Social Security mental impairment claims has never been tougher. The Social Security Administration is cracking down on mental disorder claims because of media reports and public perception that many claimants are scamming the system. In our experience at Turley Redmond & Rosasco, L.L.P., we choose to believe the suffering our clients tell us they experience if it is supported by their treating doctor or therapist. Unlike some other firms, we will not turn down mental disability claims just because they are harder to prove and win.
At Turley Redmond & Rosasco, L.L.P., we have an outstanding success rate with mental illness disability cases. We have great respect for those suffering from various forms of mental illness. We have handled Social Security Disability mental disability cases for over 25 years, winning appeals and benefits for clients throughout New York and Long Island.
Symptoms Of Mental Health Disorders
Because mental health disorders are so varied and diverse, their symptoms can also vary considerably. Mental health disability can affect any aspect of the personality, from thoughts and emotions to behaviors and actions. Mental health disorders are also notoriously insidious and subtle, because many times the sufferer themself is unaware of the changes in their own thinking. Some of the most common symptoms of mental health disorders include unusual feelings of sadness, confusion or excessive worrying and fear, mood changes or extreme highs and lows, withdrawal, lethargy, and in extreme cases delusions or hallucinations.
Physical manifestations of mental health disability can include appetite changes, drug abuse, changes in sex drive or response and even express in episodes of violence and/or rage behavior. Untreated, mental health disorders can lead to suicidal thoughts and even attempts at suicide or other acts of self-harm. Some sufferers of mental health disorders also feel physical pain, including stomach aches, headaches or other unexplained pains, sometimes severe.
You should see a doctor for your depression symptoms or potential mental health disability if they are affecting your daily life. The longer you wait, the worse and harder to treat they can become. If you or a loved one suffers from mental health problems, contacting us is your first step to obtaining the compensation that you deserve for your disability.
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Applying For Disability With A Mental Health Condition
Gina Ramsey – May 18, 2020
May is National Mental Health Month. Mental Health America encourages Americans to use this as a time to find the tools you need to thrive and to work on breaking the stigma surrounding mental health disorders. Just because you cant see a disability doesnt mean its not there. Living with a mental health condition can be just as debilitating and difficult as living with a physical disability. In fact, a mental health disorder can qualify you to receive Social Security Disability. If you have been wondering how the process works, read on.
Establishing The Severity Of Your Impairment
Social Security claims examiners must depend on the applicants description of their symptoms. At Disability Advocates Group, we will help you fully and accurately describe how your mental impairment affects your life. We will sit down with you and ask a question to learn about the severity of your condition. We will help you describe your impairment to the claims examiner. For example, we may ask you the following questions to understand how your impairment affects your ability to work:
- Do you have recurring nightmares that make it difficult for you to sleep?
- Do you have challenges interacting with your family, authority figures, or coworkers?
- Are you so depressed that you cannot get out of bed in the morning?
- Does your anxiety make it difficult or impossible for you to go out in public?
- Do you have panic attacks due to your anxiety?
- Do you experience paranoia that makes it difficult for you to go out?
- Does your mental impairment make it difficult for you to concentrate on finishing a task?
- Do your symptoms make it impossible for you to hold a full-time job?
You may have one or more disorders listed in the Blue Book and still not qualify for benefits. Many people can still work effectively after being diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, agoraphobia, or depression. Even if you are limited in some capacity with work, the Social Security Administration may still deny your claim.
Contact a Los Angeles Mental Impairment Lawyer Today
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You May Qualify For Legal Assistance
Its quite difficult to qualify for SSD benefits based on mental conditions alone. However, filing your claim through a Social Security attorney nearly tripled your chances of winning benefits the first time you apply. Thats because a lawyer understands exactly what the SSA looks for in mental illness claims, including how to get yours approved. In addition, an attorney will know exactly what medical evidence youll need from your doctor to prove you cannot work. Cant afford to purchase copies of your medical records for the last 12 months? Your lawyer can pay for those, too.
You can sign up for a free, no-obligation consultation and get legal advice that applies to your specific situation. In fact, you can get your free legal advice over the phone without ever leaving your house. When a lawyer files your application, youll pay $0 for legal assistance until after your claims approved. Claim not approved? Then your lawyer gets paid $0 for helping you. And if you do win benefits, then youll only pay a small, one-time fee.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free online benefits evaluation now!
As Disabling As A Mental Illness Is It Is Not Easy To Prove Depression Anxiety Or A Debilitating Compulsion When Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits You Should:
- Submit accurate and comprehensive health records.
- Keep a journal of how your illness affects your daily activities at home and at work.
- Follow your prescribed treatment plan.
- Ask your medical providers, counselors, family and friends to write letters describing how your mental disorder affects your daily tasks, employment and social life.
- If Social Security has not asked you to submit an ADL questionnaire, request the form or print it out and submit it. An ADL questionnaire is a form that lists common activities that self-sufficient individuals may be expected to perform, such as mowing the lawn, grocery shopping, dressing, and going to work. Social Security uses this questionnaire to gauge how an impairment affects an individuals behavior and to determine if that individual is capable of earning a minimum amount of income each month .
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How To Ensure Your Mental Health Claim Is Accepted
Mental health claims do not pass a harder test, but they do require more thorough documentation. Additionally, if a medication exists to treat the medical condition but the claimant isnt taking it, the claim may be denied. Unfortunately, in some cases, a symptom of the mental illness is the inability to take meds or willful denial that a condition exists.
Help you or a loved one win the case by doing the following on your social security disability claim:
How Can An Attorney Help In Getting Disability Benefits For Such Disorders
An experienced attorney will help you determine whether your disabilities will be approved for SSA benefits. He will also guide you through your case effectively.
Under his guidance, you will be assisted with gathering all required medical documentation required by the SSA. All of this will save you valuable time. Your application will be submitted effectively and thoroughly. A competent attorney will ensure that your application is not rejected due to incomplete documentation.
Remember that the SSA weighs medical documentation very heavily in rendering its decision. When you hire an attorney, they will help you gather all your medical documents. An attorney will also talk to your doctor when necessary.
Hire an effective attorney to Apply For Mental Disability to increase your chances of having your claim approved. He will help you with:
Your time is precious, and living with disabling medical conditions can be difficult. Therefore, do not wait to consult with a Social Security attorney today.
Consult an Experienced Lawyer and Apply for Mental Health Disability Benefits
Chermol & Fishman, LLC, provide extensive assistance to claimants when applying for disability benefits for a mental disorder. We offer dedicated service to clients suffering from mental disabilities.
Common Questions Asked About Mental Health Disability Benefits.
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How To Get Disability For Mental Disorders
Before beginning the disability application process, its important that you understand how long it will take, the extent of medical documentation youll need, and how the Social Security Administration will evaluate your disability claim. Remember, simply having the symptoms or having been diagnosed with a mental health condition is not enough on its own to qualify you for benefits.
The truth is, applying for disability for a mental health disorder can be a long and at times frustrating process. Most first-time applicants are denied, and appeals can take months. However, this doesnt mean you should give up hope. With the help of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer, you can increase your odds of being approved the first time and strengthen your claim should you need to go through the appeals process.
To find out the difference having dedicated representation on your side can make, contact us at Social Security Disability Advocates USA today. Well arrange a free, no obligation consultation with our legal team to review your disability claim and help you make the right decision for you and your family. Get in touch 24/7 by calling , connecting with one of our LiveChat agents, or by filling out this form to request your complimentary case review.
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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Qualifying For Social Security Disability Benefits With A Mental Disorder Can Be Difficult For A Variety Of Reasons
Much of the medical evidence supporting a diagnosis of mental illness is subjective and cant be measured. There are no tests to determine most mental disorders instead medical providers must rely on the history of a patients behaviors. Additionally, claims examiners who review cases are not mental health professionals and know little about mental health conditions. A claimants credibility and record of treatment will be important in gaining approval of disability benefits. Treatment includes psychiatric counseling, medications, and hospitalizations. The more specialized your doctor is and the more convincing his statements and opinions, the better the chances for approval of your claim.
Is My Mental Disorder Severe Enough To Qualify As A Disability
If youre suffering from a mental disorder, whether or not its included in the SSAs Listing of Impairments, which are conditions immediately considered severe enough to qualify an applicant for SSDI benefits or SSI, youll need to provide evidence of your disability.
If youre unsure of whether your disorder is severe enough, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does your condition prevent you from working where you used to?
- Does your condition prevent you from learning a new trade?
- Is your condition fatal or expected to last at least 12 months?
If you answered yes to these three questions, you may have a qualifying mental disorder. Make sure your attorney and doctor understand exactly how your condition has affected you and is continuing to affect you today. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Disability Determination will have a psychologist and disability examiner review your application to make sure you meet disability requirements, and having all medical evidence present will significantly support your case.
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