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Schizophrenia and Disability Benefits

Schizophrenia and Disability Benefits: Understanding Your Eligibility

Mental health conditions can be as disabling and life-changing as physical impairments. Schizophrenia is a serious mental condition requiring lifelong treatment. About 1.2%, or 2.5 million, adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the condition that ranks as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.

The Social Security Administration recognizes the disabling effects of schizophrenia, including preventing individuals from working and supporting themselves. If you have been diagnosed with this mental health condition, you may be eligible for schizophrenia disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs.

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Understanding Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Treatment, and Challenges

Hallucinations, disorganized thoughts, and delusions are some of the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Individuals with the condition may hear voices or have delusional beliefs that have no rational basis, which can cause a person to lose touch with reality.

Schizophrenia does not go away, so someone with it needs lifelong treatment, which may include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of treatments. Someone with schizophrenia may not realize they have the condition, so it can be difficult to take medication or otherwise follow a treatment plan created for them by physicians. Left untreated, a patient’s condition may worsen, with more severe symptoms developing over time.

Symptoms affect how a person behaves, thinks, and feels. Common symptoms include:

  • Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that appear real to someone with the condition but not to others who do not have schizophrenia. Hearing voices is a symptom frequently observed in persons with the disorder.
  • Delusions: A person with schizophrenia may believe things to be true and real when they are not. For example, someone with the condition may be convinced they have been targeted for harm or harassment, or they may believe they are famous.
  • Negative symptoms: Individuals with schizophrenia may stop doing things they did before they became ill. For example, they may stop taking baths or showers, no longer show emotions, or avoid eye contact with other people.
  • Disorganized or unusual behavior: Agitation, inability to follow instructions, exhibiting socially inappropriate behavior, or remaining still and unresponsive are common behaviors for people with schizophrenia.

Types and severity of symptoms vary and may not be exhibited by all patients. Other people, such as friends, coworkers, and family members, usually notice the symptoms in a person and help them obtain care from medical professionals because of the inability of a person with schizophrenia to recognize the need for medical care.

Does Schizophrenia Qualify For Disability Benefits?

One of the challenges of qualifying for schizophrenia disability benefits through programs administered by the Social Security Administration is the definition of disability. Disability insurance policies and state disability programs let you qualify for benefits with short-term or partial disabilities, but it does not meet the definition of disability used by Social Security.

A person must be unable to do any type of work for at least 12 months to qualify for disability benefits through SSI and SSDI. The federal definition of disability is a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments preventing an individual from doing substantial gainful activity. The impairment must be expected to result in death or to last for at least 12 continuous months.

The Social Security Administration uses a person’s average monthly earnings from working to determine if they are capable of doing substantial gainful activity. The earnings amount changes annually, but it is $2,700 for someone who is blind and $1,620 for other disabling conditions. If you are working and have questions about whether you meet the substantial gainful activity standard, ask one of the schizophrenia disability attorneys at GCC Law.

Illinois Schizophrenia Disability Attorney

Social Security Disability For Schizophrenia

The process of qualifying for schizophrenia disability begins with a review of the medical records and other documentation supporting the claim to determine if you have a listed impairment. Social Security has a listing of impairments, also called the “Blue Book,” of medical and mental health conditions it considers as severe enough to meet the definition of disability.

Section 12.03 of the listing of impairments includes schizophrenia and the symptoms documented by your medical records that must exist to be disabled. Medical evidence must prove at least one of the following symptoms:

  • Delusions or hallucinations.
  • Disorganized speech or thinking.
  • Grossly disorganized behavior or unresponsiveness to people or environment.

A claimant also must have an extreme limitation of one or a marked limitation of two of the following mental functions:

  • Apply, understand, or remember information.
  • Concentration, persistence, or maintaining pace.
  • Interaction with others.
  • Manage oneself or adapt.

As an alternative to the above criteria, a person must document the condition as being serious and persistent through evidence of its existence for at least two years with documentation of both of the following:

  • Medical treatment, psychotherapy, or a highly structured setting that helps to diminish symptoms and is ongoing.
  • Minimal capacity to adapt to environment changes or demands introduced into their daily life.

Meeting the strict requirements of the listing of impairments to qualify for SSD for schizophrenia can be a difficult challenge, but it is not the only way.

Illinois Schizophrenia Disability Attorney

Qualifying For Schizophrenia Disability Using Residual Functional Capacity

As part of the schizophrenia disability claim process, your medical records and ability to engage in daily activities are reviewed to determine the limitations imposed by your symptoms on your ability to function in the workplace. Residual functional capacity (RFC) indicates the most a person can do given the limitations caused by physical or mental health impairments.

RFC must prevent you from doing the type of work you did in the past and from adapting to doing other jobs available in the national economy to be disabled and eligible for Social Security disability for schizophrenia.

Get Help From Our Schizophrenia Disability Attorneys

Schizophrenia disability benefits can make life easier, so doesn’t it make sense to fight for them with the help of an experienced schizophrenia disability attorney from GCC Law? We’re there by your side to guide you through the complex schizophrenia disability claim process, including the appeal process to challenge a denial of benefits. Contact us today to learn more from one of our premier schizophrenia disability attorneys during a free initial consultation and claim review.

Call Our Illinois Schizophrenia Disability Lawyers Today

At GCC Law Firm, our Illinois Schizophrenia disability attorneys provide personalized, solutions-driven legal advocacy for clients. If your SSDI or SSI claim has been denied in Illinois, we can help. Contact us to schedule a free and completely confidential initial consultation, please contact our law firm today.

Call (479) 340-0002.

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