Schizophrenia and Social Security Disability Benefits

After submitting a claim for Social Security disability benefits based on a mental disability the Disability Determination Service of the Social Security administration will review the mental disability claim based on all the evidence submitted.  If the claimant is determined to be suffering from a disabling form of mental illness, such as a schizophrenia disorder, which is severe enough in an adult, to obstruct him from engaging in gainful employment, and severe enough in a child, to obstruct him from functioning on a level commensurate with children his same age in caring for himself and performing daily tasks then benefits will be awarded.

Evidence Considered Important by Disability Adjudicators

A claimant must show a medically documented schizophrenia disorder of at least two years duration involving persistent, either continuous or intermittent, delusions or hallucinations, involving catatonic or other grossly disorganized behavior, or incoherence, illogical thinking, resulting in marked restrictions of daily life activities, difficulties in social functioning and maintaining reasonable concentration and which condition involves repeated episodes of worsening decompensation.  The types of documentation below would be considered appropriate and helpful to document this kind of mental disability condition.

• Psychiatric, psychological and medical reports and diagnostic testing results
• Documented medical history of mental illness
• Healthcare provider observations and assessments of the claimant's mental disorder
• Current treatments with limitations or restrictions
• Evidence of attempts to be involved in work situations
• Employer evaluations
• Need for controlled living situations due to the mental illness impairment on the claimant's ability to control and care for his own daily needs

Many persons with mental disabilities who are on treatment medications can function on very normal mental and physical levels.  Social Security will take into consideration if medication can be used to adjust the mental disability to a level that is only mildly or moderately impairing a claimant's ability to engage in gainful employment or to function performing daily life tasks on a level similar to children without a mental disability.  If the condition is mild after medication the claim for disability benefits may be denied.

Getting Legal Help                       

If you or a member of your family is struggling with Schizophrenia or a similarly severe mental illness and you have applied for disability benefits with a Social Security administration program it may be helpful to discuss the application and the mental disability with a disability lawyer.  An attorney can provide helpful guidance on the mental disability evaluation process and assist in the handling of an administrative reconsideration process or ALJ appeal hearing in the event of a claim denial.