These are just some of the many conditions that are potentially disabling - there are too many for a comprehensive list. These are a few of the major categories, summarized for you. If you would like to have a free in-office or telephone consultation, please call or email.
As is the case with many disabling impairments, winning a claim for Social Security Benefits based on a psychiatric disorder can be difficult. Social Security seems to have an institutional concern over psychiatric and mental conditions that cannot be objectively tested. The first step, of course, is having a diagnosis of your conditions.
Following that, we will need to develop evidence the severity of the effect on your day to day life. Often this involves documenting the limitations on your memory, ability to focus, ability to not be distracted, ability to attend work and stay on task, and ability to work around others. Episodes of decompensation, particularly those that require being admitted for treatment, are important. Other limitations and restrictions may also be important, depending on your particular symptoms.
We also need to develop evidence of your compliance with medication orders. This can be very important. A doctor's note that a patient is "non-compliant" is usually damaging to the case. At the same time, we also need to prove to the Judge that, even with the medication, the symptoms are frequent enough and severe enough to prevent you from being able to work at any job. We will need at least some of the following to increase the odds of success:
Give my office a call and schedule a time to talk to me about handling your disability case. The initial consultation is free. You can come by to see me, or if you prefer we can schedule a time to talk over the telephone.