SSDI Eligibility with Schizophrenia

Whether you were recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, or you have known of your diagnosis for quite some time but the condition has worsened significantly in recent time, you may be wondering about your eligibility to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) if your condition prevents you from working and earning a living. Eligibility for SSD with schizophrenia is a two-part process that comprises meeting medical eligibility requirements and non-medical eligibility requirements. The non-medical eligibility portion is usually quite straightforward: our firm can obtain information about your work history to determine whether you have worked recently enough, and for a long enough period of time, to qualify.

As for the medical requirement, the SSA will require you to provide medical documentation from an “acceptable medical source” that proves your condition is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in your death, and that proves your condition prevents you from participating in “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), or meaningful employment. Our SSD eligibility lawyer can tell you more below, and we can speak with you today about assessing your eligibility for benefits based on your schizophrenia diagnosis.

What is Schizophrenia? 

Schizophrenia is one type of “mental disorder” identified in Section 12.03 of the SSA Blue Book under “schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.” According to the Mayo Clinic, schizophrenia is “a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel, and behave” that can “result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior.” Individuals who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia require “lifelong treatment,” which can include a mix of medications and other therapies. The severity of the condition depends on the patient’s response to treatment and other factors.

Proving SSDI Eligibility with Schizophrenia

How your schizophrenia presents, and whether or not it is treatable in such a way that allows you to engage in SGA, will be determining factors in your SSDI eligibility.

You will need medical documentation from your health care provider(s) that proves your condition does not allow for SGA and that it is likely to persist in its current form for at least one year. Your doctor will be able to indicate the treatments that you have received, how those have impacted your condition, and what is expected in the months and years to follow since schizphrenia is a lifelong condition.

Contact Our National SSDI Eligibility Lawyer for Help Seeking Benefits Due to Schizophrenia

If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and the disease presents in such a way, or impacts you in such a way, that you cannot engage in substantial gainful activity, you may be eligible for SSDI benefits. To determine your eligibility for SSDI benefits and to begin working on your application, you should get in touch with one of the experienced national SSD eligibility attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz to discuss the details of your case. Our firm can assess your non-medical eligibility and can assist you in compiling all of the medical evidence you will need to prove your medical eligibility based on your schizophrenia diagnoses. Do not hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about how we can assist you.

Source:

ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm