Minnesota Disability Benefits for Schizophrenia

Disability with Schizophrenia MN

Disability benefits for schizophrenia are available from the Social Security Administration (SSA) if you are unable to work. Disability with schizophrenia can arise from several different forms. The most common form of schizophrenia seen by the SSA is major depressive disorder.

Many people also develop secondary schizophrenia following traumatic injuries, chronic pain and illnesses. There are several important things to consider if you are applying or appealing a denial for disability benefits for schizophrenia.

Tips for Winning Schizophrenia Disability Benefits

1. Acceptable Documentation: The SSA only considers medically acceptable diagnosis and documentation for schizophrenia from psychologists and psychiatrists. Records and reports from hospitals, clinics, nurses and other treatment providers are also considered in the SSA evaluation but are not enough to establish a claimant’s disability for schizophrenia without proper medical documentation.

It is also very important to have documentation over an extended period of time. What Social Security refers to as “longitudinal evidence”. Because a person’s functional limitations from schizophrenia can vary over time it is vital to have documentation over a sufficiently long period of time.

2. Non-medical Documentation: Documentation from mental health centers counselors, social workers, nurses, family members, co-workers and others who have knowledge of the claimants functional limitations can also be helpful in providing information regarding activities of daily living, social functioning, concentration, persistence and pace, or tolerate increased mental demands.

It is very important to have as detailed information as possible from people such as family members and counselors regarding what specific tasks you can or cannot do.

3. Psychological Testing: Medically acceptable standardized tests are additional evidence that is helpful in establishing your schizophrenia disability. Results on tests such as Intelligence tests (IQ tests), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the Rorschach and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) can provide evidence of abnormalities causing your schizophrenia.

4. Loss of Function Evidence: This is probably the most important factor Social Security uses to determine your disability benefits for schizophrenia. Functional loss refers to a restriction of your daily activities (cooking, cleaning, paying bills), social functioning (interacting with others, concentration, and episodes of decompensation. Social Security is more concerned with how your disability with schizophrenia affects and limits your ability to work rather than your diagnosis.

Detailed information about your activities of daily living and functional limitations is very helpful in documenting your disability for schizophrenia. This is an area that many claimants neglect and leads to denials for their case. Claimants should complete what are referred to as residual functional capacity (RFC) forms.

Another important point is to include documentation any episodes of decompensation outside of a protected environment where you are subject to stresses. This will give Social Security a more true picture of your inability to function in a more realistic work setting.

Residual Functional Capacity Forms (RFC): Residual functional capacity forms can also provide strong evidence for Social Security when they are evaluating your claim of disability benefits for schizophrenia. At the initial, reconsideration or CDR level, the SSA will have a psychologist or psychiatrist do a mental RFC assessment.

However, you can have your own treating psychiatrist or psychologist fill out a mental residual functional capacity form. This form can then be used to show the limitations caused by your schizophrenia. Specific examples of your limitations in relation to work are key in supporting your case.

5. Medication Side-Effects: This is another overlooked factor that can provide additional evidence of your disability for schizophrenia. Many people who suffer from schizophrenia have to take medication to manage their symptoms. Side-effects of pain medication can interfere with a claimant’s daily activities. Examples of medication side-effects include drowsiness, nausea, fatigue and blunted emotions.

Documentation of these adverse effects is important because it provides additional evidence of the severity of your schizophrenia and will be included in Social Security’s assessment of your residual functional capacity. This documentation needs to come from a medical doctor rather than a psychologist in order for Social Security to properly evaluate it.

Fields Law disability with schizophrenia lawyers will assist you in getting your disability benefits for schizophrenia. If you are unable to work because of schizophrenia we can help you apply for social security disability benefits for schizophrenia. If you have been denied disability benefits we can appeal your case.

We offer a Free case review. Our Minnesota disability lawyers understand how frustrating it is to have schizophrenia and be denied disability benefits when you are unable to work. There are never any fees unless we win your disability case.