Is Schizophrenia Covered Under Disability Benefits?
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, you’ll need to prove that whatever injury or condition you have prevents you from being able to work over the long term (at least 12 months, to be precise). Keep in mind, too, that this includes mental as well as physical issues. The Social Security Administration recognizes mental conditions as being potentially disabling as well. In fact, schizophrenia may qualify you for disability benefits.
What is Schizophrenia?
When it comes to qualifying for disability benefits, schizophrenia can be a little complicated. This is because there are many forms of schizophrenia. At its core, schizophrenia is a very serious mental illness that causes a disintegration of mental and emotional processes. This makes it difficult for those suffering from it to differentiate between reality and illusion. As a result, many schizophrenics have difficulties behaving normally in public situations. Or, even taking care of themselves, which can prevent them from being able to work.
However, there are several forms of schizophrenia. These include paranoid schizophrenia, disorganized schizophrenia, catatonic schizophrenia and undifferentiated schizophrenia. Some patients have residual schizophrenia. Which means that they have the majority of their symptoms under control but still suffer from residual symptoms.
The symptoms can vary greatly from mild to severe. In the beginning stages, symptoms are more mild and include insomnia, trouble concentrating or tension. Towards the later stages, more severe symptoms can occur, including hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking and catatonic behavior.
Will Schizophrenia Qualify You for Disability Benefits?
The Social Security Administration has a Blue Book, which contains listings of all of the disorders and symptoms that qualify for disability benefits. Schizophrenia falls under Schizophrenic, Paranoid, and Other Psychotic Disorders. However, this doesn’t mean an automatic qualification for benefits. .
First of all, because there are many types of schizophrenia with many levels of severity, your symptoms must match with those of the listing. If you have schizophrenia, you need to be able to prove that you suffer from delusions, hallucinations, catatonic behavior, disorganized behavior, illogical thinking, incoherent thinking or emotional isolation.
In addition to proving that you have these symptoms, you must also prove that these symptoms greatly limit the ability to perform normal daily activities and that you are unable to obtain or maintain employment as a result. If your symptoms are severe enough to keep you from working but not severe enough to require full-time care, then your medical records must show that your schizophrenia has lasted more than two years, that it has a negative impact on your ability to work and that you can’t function without outside support.
Challenges of Proving Schizophrenia
Proving schizophrenia affects your ability to work is one of the biggest challenges in qualifying for disability benefits. This is because medical records will usually provide a professional diagnosis of your condition. Records also list details of symptoms and the physical or mental limitations that result from those symptoms. But, they rarely describe how it prevents you from working.
Fortunately, it’s estimated that around 80 percent of all patients with schizophrenia that apply for disability benefits end up being approved.
If you have schizophrenia, you may qualify for disability benefits depending on the severity of your symptoms. It’s a good idea to get professional advice concerning your application. Doing so can improve your chances of qualifying or appealing a denial. For professional guidance on applying for Social Security disability benefits, give us a call at 602-952-3200 for a free consultation with one of our Social Security Disability Advocates today. Feel free to visit us online and check out our Live Chat feature, as well.
This is attorney advertising. SSDA, LLC is a group of attorneys that pursues claims for Social Security Disability benefits on behalf of its clients against the Social Security Administration. SSDA, LLC is in no way a part of the Social Security Administration. Further, the information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, a representative-client relationship.
