Disability Benefits for Mental Disorders

By Disability | February 7 , 2018 | 01

Studies have shown that having an experienced Advocate representing you will increase your chances for winning your Disability case.  Individuals living in Michigan that are seeking to file or appeal their Social Security Disability claim should contact Disability Specialist Center, LLC at (248) 788-6840.

Definition of Disability

The definition of  disability used by Social Security  is “the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable severe physical and/or mental impairment which lasts or is expected to last 12 months.”  There are numerous medical conditions that may qualify an individual for Social Security Disability benefits including mental impairments such as Depression and Anxiety Disorder which can be disabling.

Treatment and Diagnosis

You may be entitled to Social Security Disability Benefits for a mental impairments but there must be medical evidence documenting the diagnosis.  Social Security will review the records from your mental health professionals such as Psychiatrists and Psychologists.  They will also review any hospital records.  Sometimes Social Security will send the claimants out for mental health consultative exams if they do not have sufficient evidence to make a decision.

Symptoms and Functional Limitations

Mental impairments can cause many symptoms including decreased energy, sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, loss of interest in things,  difficulty concentrating and remembering, panic attacks, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, mood disturbance and social withdrawal.  Since mental impairments can also interfere with activities of daily living,  Social Security will send daily activities questionnaires to complete to note your symptoms and limitations.   Social Security will review your mental abilities that are needed to perform jobs such as remember work procedures, maintain attention and concentration, make  simple work related decisions, deal with normal work stress and whether you are able to complete a normal workday and workweek without interruptions from psychologically based symptoms.  Social Security will  review your records and functional limitations and determine whether you can perform your past work or any other work in the national economy.   Do not give up if  your case is denied at the application level.  In Michigan, the next level of appeal is the Request for Hearing.

Disability Specialist Center,  LLC represents individuals in Michigan.  For a free case evaluation, please call (248) 788-6840 or complete the case evaluation on our website disabilityspecialistcenter.com

Disability Advocate in Michigan

By Disability | February 7 , 2018 | 01

Studies have shown that having an experienced Disability Advocate representing you will increase your chances for winning your Disability case.  Individuals living in Michigan that are seeking to file or appeal their Social Security Disability claim should contact Disability Specialist Center, LLC

Definition of Disability used by Social Security

Disability means “the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical and/or mental  impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months”.

Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI)

Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI) goes to individuals who have worked in the recent years (5 out of the last 10 years in most cases) and are now disabled.

Disabled Widow’s and Widower’s Benefits are paid to individuals who are at least 50 and become disabled within a certain amount of time after the death of their husband or wife.   The individual’s spouses that have died must have worked long enough under Social Security to be insured.

Disabled Adult Child Benefits go to the disabled children of persons who are either deceased or who are drawing Social Security Disability or retirement benefits.   The child must have become disabled prior to age 22.

For Disability Insurance Benefits, Disabled Widow’s or Widower’s Benefits and Disabled Adult Child benefits, benefits are paid based upon a Social Security earnings record.

Supplemental Security Income  (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are paid to individuals that have little or no financial resources and are disabled.   It does not matter for SSI whether an individual has worked in the past or not.

SSI children’s disability benefits are paid to  children under the age of 18 who are disabled.  SSI benefits for children is determined different than SSI  benefits for adults.  The definition of disability for SSI disabled children  is a physical and/or mental condition that results in marked or severe limitations.

Studies have shown that having an experienced Advocate representing you will increase your chances for winning your Disability case.  Individuals living in Michigan that are seeking to file or appeal their Social Security Disability claim should contact Disability Specialist Center, LLC

Disability Specialist Center,  LLC represents individuals in Michigan.  For a free case evaluation, please call (248) 788-6840 or complete the case evaluation on our website disabilityspecialistcenter.com.

Appealing Your Disability Denial Decision in Michigan

By Disability | February 7 , 2018 | 01

Studies have shown that having an experienced Disability Advocate representing you will increase your chances for winning your Disability case.  Individuals living in Michigan that are seeking to file or appeal their Social Security Disability claim should contact Disability Specialist Center, LLC at (248) 788-6840. 

If your Disability Application is denied, you should have an experienced Advocate appeal it as soon as possible and within the time frame indicated in your denial decision.  In Michigan, the next level of appeal is the Request for Hearing. Your Social Security Disability case will then be assigned to an Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) that is located close to your residence.   The wait time for a hearing could be 12 months or longer depending on the backlog of cases in the OHO office that your case is assigned to.

Developing the Medical Evidence and Preparing your Case for the Hearing

Once the hearing is requested, your Disability Advocate will be able to review your file, determine the medical evidence that needs to be requested and request additional and up to date medical evidence and functional limitations from your treating Doctors.   The task of developing the medical evidence and preparing your case for the hearing is challenging as it is very important to have all of the supporting medical evidence in your file.   While preparing your case for the hearing, the Advocate will also research relevant legal and vocational issues to help you win. Prior to the hearing, the Disability Advocate will often prepare a brief to argue their theory of your case.

Disability Specialist Center,  LLC represents individuals in Michigan.  For a free case evaluation, please call (248) 788-6840 or complete the case evaluation on our website disabilityspecialistcenter