People suffering from mental and psychological conditions qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if their condition prevents them from working. As in cases involving physical disabilities, in order to qualify you must have been employed for a certain amount of time prior to filing and must present medical documentation regarding your condition. Many first-time applicants for SSD and SSI are denied, but an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can help strengthen your case. We can assure your application is thoroughly documented, and that no significant disabling condition is overlooked. This is also important at the appeal level, should your initial application be denied. The attorneys at Quatrini Law Group in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, counsel and represent people suffering from mental and psychological disabilities who need to apply for — or have already been denied — Social Security Disability benefits.
To find out more about which mental health conditions qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, check the Social Security Administration’s website here.
We consult mental health professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors when documenting our client’s condition and its impact on their ability to work. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, contact Social Security mental disability attorneys at Quatrini Law Group today.
Mental Health Conditions And Social Security Disability Benefits
The law office of Quatrini Law Group represents clients in Social Security Disability applications and appeals involving mental and psychological conditions such as:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (Iraq war veterans, Vietnam veterans)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Neuropathy
- Organic brain dysfunction
- Heavy metal poisoning
- Alzheimer’s disease/dementia
- Agoraphobia
- Phobias
- Panic attacks, severe anxiety
How Do I Know If I Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits?
In order to qualify for disability benefits for mental disorders or illnesses, your condition must be severe enough to significantly limit or prevent you from performing basic tasks associated with most jobs. These could include walking, sitting, lifting objects, typing, concentrating, carrying objects, engaging in conversation, remembering information, acting responsibly, following directions or reacting to situations in a way necessary for supervision, and interacting with co-workers.
Next, if you are unable to work due to an inability to perform basic tasks, your mental health condition must be verified and diagnosed. While each condition may have its own unique qualifiers, depression and emotional disorders typically involve the following markers:
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia or sleep disorders
- Fatigue
- Paranoia
- Anhedonia
- Suicidal thoughts
- Inability to concentrate
- Panic/anxiety attacks
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will want to know if any of these symptoms have prevented you from working in the past. If you have been gainfully employed while diagnosed with these symptoms or a mental condition, you may be denied benefits.
What If I Am Denied Disability Benefits For My Mental Condition?
The SSA will also consider a person’s age, level of education, ability to perform other kinds of work, and the onset of their illness. If your first-time application has been denied, you can still go through the appeal process. At the first level of appeal and the administrative review hearing, new evidence and expert witness testimony from doctors can be introduced. Our attorneys are particularly effective at these levels and can bring a number of resources to bear on your appeal.
Contact The Experienced Mental Disability Benefits Attorneys
If you need help filling out an application for Social Security Disability benefits or would like information on appealing your case, contact the law office of Quatrini Law Group today. We provide free consultations in order to evaluate your case and explain the options available to you.
Case Examples
QLG represented a woman in her late 50s with Type II diabetes, as well as a history of multiple mental health diagnoses including PTSD, bipolar 1, anxiety, panic disorder, ADHD, psychotic elements, dissociative episodes, and decreased memory. She had several inpatient mental health stays while her claim was pending with Social Security. After a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge where Attorney Rerko presented evidence from the client’s doctors to prove that she meets the listings level for her medical impairments, our client was approved and began receiving Social Security benefits.
Attorney Tereasa Rerko represented a pre-teen boy with ADHD, PTSD, and several digestive conditions including celiac disease. After our client received his initial level denial, QLG filed a Request for Hearing on his behalf and got a hearing scheduled before an Administrative Law Judge. For the hearing, QLG presented evidence that his conditions were severe enough to warrant benefits in several of the six “domains” or health areas which are considered by SSA when evaluating a child’s case. Because of this medical evidence, our client was awarded Supplemental Security Income benefits.