The first time you contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding your intent to file a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, a disability protective filing date is established for you. This date can later be used as your date of application, even if you don’t make an official application at the time.
An estimated 1.7 million people suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States each year. The resulting brain damage can often result in an inability to work, leaving the person who suffers from the injury without a means of supporting themselves or their family. Without an income, the financial stress can become quickly overwhelming. In some cases, Social Security Disability benefits may be able to offset some of the financial burden.
Just over 1 percent of the population is affected by Schizophrenia. People who suffer from the condition often experience a barrage of severe and debilitating symptoms. In many cases, individuals who are diagnosed with Schizophrenia are unable to work and, in some cases, cannot be left unattended. The financial repercussions of the disorder can be devastating. Fortunately, Social Security Disability benefits can often help those who have been diagnosed with a schizophrenic condition. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and you would like to obtain Social Security Disability benefits, the following information can help you through the Social Security Disability process.
Schizophrenia, also referred to as split personality disorder, is a chronic mental illness. The condition affects more than 2 million people in the United States alone and is more prevalent among men than it is in women.
The symptoms of Schizophrenia can be debilitating in nature. People who suffer from the condition will often experience hostility, paranoia, emotional impairment, depression, hallucinations, disrupted sleep patterns, odd or irrational statements, forgetfulness, poor concentration, extreme reactions to criticism, improper word use, difficulty maintaining relationships and social isolation. The specific symptoms and the severity of those symptoms will vary from individual to individual.
The symptoms suffered by an individual who is diagnosed with Schizophrenia may depend on the type of Schizophrenia the person is diagnosed with. There are four main categories of Schizophrenia including paranoid Schizophrenia, catatonic Schizophrenia, disorganized Schizophrenia and undifferentiated Schizophrenia. A person who is diagnosed with paranoid Schizophrenia will display anxiety, a tendency to argue and uncontrolled anger. Those who are diagnosed with catatonic Schizophrenia will suffer from increased agitation, rigid muscles, an increased pain tolerance and a negative emotional state. Individuals who suffer from disorganized Schizophrenia will display inappropriate laughter, incoherent speech and immature, repetitive behavior. When a person is diagnosed with undifferentiated Schizophrenia, it means that they exhibit symptoms from more than one category of the illness.
Schizophrenia is usually diagnosed by observing a patient's emotions and actions. Some tests may also be conducted to diagnose a schizophrenic condition, such as interviews and assessment questionnaires. In many cases, blood tests and brain imaging tests will be conducted to rule out physical causes of the symptoms a patient is suffering from.
Once a schizophrenic condition has been diagnosed it is very important that treatment is provided. While there is no cure for Schizophrenia, treatment can help manage the symptoms of the condition. Common treatments for Schizophrenia include behavioral therapy, mood stabilizing drugs and anti-psychotic medications. In severe cases, hospitalization will be necessary in order to care properly for a schizophrenic patient.
Fortunately, Schizophrenia is a qualifying condition for Social Security Disability benefits according to the Social Security Administration's published disability guidelines. The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a listing of impairments that is known as the “Blue Book”. Schizophrenia is covered under these listings in Section 12.03.
A diagnosis of Schizophrenia is not enough, in and of itself, to qualify an individual for Social Security Disability benefits. Because the severity of Schizophrenia varies from person to person, certain guidelines must be met in order to qualify for disability benefits. According to Section 12.03 of the SSA Blue Book, an individual must suffer from delusions, hallucinations, catatonic behavior, patterns of illogical thinking and/or emotional isolation in order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. You must also be able to prove that your condition has lasted for at least two years and that you are not able to function in the outside world without a significant amount of support.
In some situations, an individual who applies for Social Security Disability benefits due to Schizophrenia will be approved at the initial stage of the disability application process. Most of the time, however, it will be necessary to file an appeal in order to receive the benefits you are entitled to. This is largely due to the fact that it can be difficult to prove that Schizophrenia is preventing an individual from performing substantial gainful activity. Approximately 70 percent of disability applications are denied at the initial stage of the application process.
If you are looking to file for Social Security Disability benefits or have already been denied, you should consider retaining the services of a Social Security Disability attorney. Your attorney can help you gather the information and evidence needed to prove the extent of your disability to the SSA and can represent you during the hearing stage of the disability appeal process. Statistics show that applicants who have legal representation during all stages are more likely to receive a favorable decision on their disability claim than those who do not.
Seizure Disorder, also known as epilepsy, can be a challenging and debilitating condition to live with. The condition only affects .05 percent of the population, but those who suffer from Seizure Disorder are often unable to work because of the affects the condition has on their physical capacity. The lack of an income due to this inability to work can result in serious financial devastation. Fortunately, Social Security Disability benefits are often able to alleviate some of the financial stress.
Approximately 700,000 people in the United States suffer from a stroke each and every year. While many of these individuals only suffer from limited or temporary effects, others face long-term or permanent disabilities as a result of their stroke. Unfortunately, these disabilities often lead to an inability to work. The resulting loss of income and lack of employer-provided medical benefits can be financially devastating. Fortunately, Social Security Disability benefits can offset some of the financial crisis caused by a disability due to a stroke.
Neuropathy, also known as Peripheral Neuropathy, is a varied, but debilitating condition that affects an individual’s nervous system, causing pain, trouble with movement, and more. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), at least 20 million Americans are suffering from a type of the disease.
There are many forms of Drug Addiction – some more serious than others. In some cases a Drug Addiction can have a significant impact on one's life. While many Drug Addictions begin slowly and seem harmless to begin with, over time they can wreak havoc and devastation on a person's lifestyle, relationships and even their ability to maintain a job. When a Drug Addiction takes over one's life, it can be impossible to generate a stable income.
More than 40 million Americans suffer from some form of mental illness. Mood disorders are the most common mental disorder. While many mood disorders are mild in nature and have a limited impact on one's ability to support themselves and their families, some mood disorders can be very debilitating in nature. Unable to control one's moods and emotions, the disorder often makes it hard to cope with normal, everyday life. Performing the daily responsibilities of full-time work can be nearly impossible. If you or someone you know is suffering from a mood disorder and are unable to work because of the condition, Social Security Disability benefits may be able to help alleviate some of the financial difficulties caused by the condition. The following information can help you understand what a mood disorder is and how it affects a person's eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits.
The term “mood disorder” is given to a broad range of mental illnesses that cause an interference with an individual's mood and emotions. Depression and bipolar disorder are two of the most common mood disorders diagnosed, although the term can be given to any condition that affects one's emotional well-being and mood stability.
There is no one single cause for mood disorders. Some people suffer from the condition due to a traumatic event while others have a genetic predisposition to a mood disorder. Other cases may be related to the chemistry in the brain and some are even caused by something as simple as allergies. There are a variety of conditions that can lead to a mood disorder. Singling out the cause is not always possible, although doing so can sometimes help in the treatment of the condition.
Mood disorders fall into the categories of depression-related mood disorders and anxiety-related mood disorders. Bipolar disorder and clinical depression are the two most common types of depression-related mood disorders. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, agoraphobia, stress disorders and generalized anxiety disorder are the most commonly diagnosed anxiety-related mood disorders.
There is no laboratory test that can be conducted to diagnose a mood disorder. Instead, the condition is usually diagnosed through a series of sessions with a qualified psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will often use a questionnaire to help diagnose the condition, relying heavily on the patient's responses to questions and his or her own observations of the patient's behavior to diagnose the mood disorder and determine from which type of disorder the patient is suffering.
There is currently no cure for mood disorders. Fortunately, mood disorders can be controlled through therapy treatments and prescription medications. The medications prescribed to an individual suffering from a mood disorder will depend on the type of mood disorder the individual has been diagnosed with and the severity of the disorder. Some patients will need anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications while others will need a combination of medications to effectively control the condition.
It is important to note that most of the medications that are used to treat mood disorders do not work immediately and it may take weeks or even months before a patient sees a difference in their condition. In some cases, treatment may be able to lessen the symptoms of the mood disorder but will not make a significant impact on one's ability to cope with day-to-day stress and responsibilities.
Proving that you are unable to work due to a mood disorder can be challenging. It is not, however, impossible to get Social Security Disability benefits due to a mood disorder.
When applying for Social Security Disability benefits, the examiner reviewing your disability claim will refer to a listing of impairments that is published by the Social Security Administration. Conditions like bipolar disorder and depression are mentioned in this publication. If you suffer from a mood disorder that is listed in the SSA's published guidelines and your specific condition meets the qualifying criteria listed in the publication, it will be much easier to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
If your condition does not meet the published criteria or it is not listed in the SSA's published guidelines, you may still be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits but you will need to work harder to prove your case to the Social Security Administration. This can be accomplished by providing sufficient medical evidence to support your disability claim. Psychiatric evaluations, therapy sessions and a complete medical history can go a long way in proving your disability to the Social Security Administration, as can statements from the professionals who are treating your condition.
If you are suffering from a mood disorder and are unable to work due to the condition, you should consider applying for Social Security Disability benefits. If your application for benefits is denied during the initial stage of the disability application process, do not worry. Approximately 70 percent of disability claims are denied at the initial application stage. If yours is among the many applications that are initially denied, you will need to file an appeal in order to receive the disability benefits to which you are entitled. The good news is that two-thirds of disability cases are won at the hearing stage of the disability appeal process.
You can increase your chances of receiving a favorable decision by retaining the services of a qualified Social Security Disability attorney. If you need assistance filing a claim for Social Security Disability or if you have been denied disability benefits, contact a disability attorney in your area to review your Social Security Disability case.
Everyone has bad days and all of us have gone through periods of feeling “down”. Maybe even a bit hopeless at times. Those who suffer from clinical Depression, however, experience these feelings constantly. They lose their zest for life. Their interest in hobbies and enjoyable activities begins to deteriorate. Relationships can suffer and, in many cases, the Depression can become almost crippling. It is no surprise that those who suffer from severe clinical Depression are often unable to work.
