Minnesota Schizophrenia Disability Process


Social Security Disability Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Disability Eligibility

Social security schizophrenia disability eligibility is primarily based on how the schizophrenia affects your ability to work. Social Security looks at the “functional limitations” caused by your schizophrenia rather than the specific type of schizophrenia. It is characterized by the onset of psychotic features with deterioration from a previous level of functioning.

Minnesota Schizophrenia Disability Evaluation Process - 5 questions

1. Are you working?

If you are working in 2007 and your earnings average more than $900 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.

If you are working in 2008 and your earnings average more than $940 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.

If you are not working because of schizophrenia, we go to Step 2.

2. Is your condition “severe”?

Your schizophrenia must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered. If it does not, we will find that you are not disabled. If your schizophrenia does interfere with basic work-related activities, we go to Step 3.

3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?

For each of the major body systems, Social Security maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. There are two ways to meet the required level of severity under the listing.

The First Way for your schizophrenia to be severe enough to meet the Social Security listing you must have medically documented persistence, either continuous or intermittent of one or more of the following symptoms:

1. Delusions or hallucinations; or
2. Catatonic or other grossly disorganized behavior; or
3. Incoherence, loosening of associations, illogical thinking, or poverty of content of speech if associated with one of the following:

a. Blunt affect; or
b. Flat affect; or
c. Inappropriate affect;
  OR

4. Emotional withdrawal and/or isolation

The next requirement is documentation of at least two of the following limitations:

1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living.

2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning.

3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence or pace.

4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration.

The Second Way you are able to meet the Social Security disability schizophrenia listing is to have documentation of a chronic schizophrenic, paranoid, or other psychotic disorder lasting at least two years with limitations on your ability to do basic work activities and one of the following:

1. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration.

2. A residual disease process that even a minimal increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to cause you to decompensate.

3. A current history of one year or more of your inability to function outside a highly supportive living arrangement, with signs that you’ll continue to need such an arrangement.

If you meet one of the above listing requirements, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to Step 4.

1. Can you do the work you did previously?

If your schizophrenia is severe but not at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then we must determine if the schizophrenia interferes with your ability to do the work you did previously. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, we proceed to Step 5.

2. Can you do any other type of work?

If you cannot do the work you did in the past, we see if you are able to adjust to other work. We consider your medical conditions and your age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have. If you cannot adjust to other work, your claim will be approved. If you can adjust to other work, your claim will be denied.

Fields Law Social Security schizophrenia disability attorneys will assist you in the disability process for your schizophrenia disability. If you are unable to work because of schizophrenia we can help you apply for social security benefits. 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.

Fields Law MN Disability Center

We are a Minnesota Disability Law Firm dedicated to helping people in Minnesota get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve.

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