Anyone who suffers from a mental health condition understands how difficult life can become. Unfortunately, in its most severe cases, mental health conditions can stop someone from working. When depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or anxiety stop a person from working full time, it is important to speak with an attorney who specializes in disability law and particularly in cases involving mental illness. Attorney Vaughn Clauson and his staff have helped many clients with mental health conditions over the years. To learn more about applying for Disability Insurance Benefits or Supplemental Security Income with a mental health condition, please contact us either by email or phone.
There is a wide range of mental health conditions that can become disabling, even with consistent medical treatment and medications. The most common mental health conditions that can become disabling are:
Many Social Security disability applicants have a combination of several mental health conditions, which limits their ability to work. When claimants are applying for Social Security disability benefits with a mental health condition it is important to get regular treatment from both a therapist and a psychiatrist to document their symptoms. Some general symptoms that Social Security disability applicants suffer from are:
For some Social Security disability applicants, a mental health condition arises from years of living with a chronic physical health condition, or combination of chronic health conditions. In these cases, the mental health condition may not be disabling by itself.
However, the combination of chronic physical health problems and a mental health condition may prevent a person from working. If a person is suffering from a severe mental health condition or a combination of physical and mental health conditions, then it is important to contact an attorney to discuss your Social Security disability case.
Mental retardation is another mental disability that may affect a person’s ability to work. As with any mental illness, there are varying degrees of mental retardation and borderline mental functioning. There are some people with borderline mental functioning or mild mental retardation who can work, typically in jobs that only require simple repetitive manual tasks.
However, after years of doing physical labor their bodies may wear out and applying for Social Security disability may be best. In cases of mental retardation and borderline mental functioning it is important to submit psychological examinations, IQ test results, and school records to Social Security. These records are all very important for cases involving mental impairments.
The Clauson Law Firm has helped thousands of claimants throughout North Carolina. If you are applying for SSI or Disability Insurance Benefits and you have a mental illness, contact the Clauson law firm for a free case evaluation. For a free case evaluation, please call 919-794-4437 (in Durham) or 877-835-0923 (toll-free throughout North Carolina)