Schizophrenia
Social Security Disability Lawyers
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers a number of conditions to be severe enough to prevent you from working. Regardless of the condition, all impairments are subject to evaluation and you must meet certain criteria to qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.
Watch our Is Mental Illness a Disability? video.
Though most of the conditions listed by the SSA as disabling are permanent or expected to result in death, those that are not require evidence showing that the condition has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year. Our dedicated Social Security Disability attorneys are here to help and support you during this time.
Your Condition
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to interpret reality. Commonly mislabeled as split personality disorder, it is a condition that disrupts thinking and the balance of emotions.
The cause of schizophrenia is unknown and some of its symptoms mirror other mental disorders. The symptoms can be divided into three categories: positive, negative, and cognitive.
- positive – an excess or distortion of normal functions, including delusions, hallucinations, difficulty speaking, difficulty organizing thoughts, and disorganized behavior
- negative – an absence of normal functions, including loss of interest, lack of emotion, withdrawn behavior, lack of motivation, and poor personal hygiene
- cognitive – problems affecting the thought process, including difficulty paying attention, memory problems, and the inability to make sense of information
SSA Evaluation
Schizophrenic disorder, along with paranoia and other psychotic disorders, may qualify you for either SSD or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits dependent on your condition or age. It is classified as a mental disorder for both adults and children.
Evaluation for schizophrenic disorder by the Social Security Administration is based on the following and requires certain levels of severity:
- Medically documented continuous occurrences of (at least one of the following): delusions or hallucinations; extremely disorganized behavior; incoherence or illogical thinking; emotionally withdrawn behavior
- Inability to maintain (at least two of the following): daily activities without restriction; social functioning; concentration or pace; a period of time without episodes
- Medically documented history of two years of chronic schizophrenic disorder limiting the ability to perform basic daily activities as a result of (one of the following): repeated episodes; a lasting disease process that doesn’t allow for even minimal mental or environmental changes; a one-year history of not being able to function outside of a highly supportive living arrangement
Have Questions?
Free Online Consultation
Together, our lawyers have more than 150 years of experience and, with a staff of more than 140 attorneys and case managers who handle more than 8,000 disability cases each year, we can help determine if you qualify for benefits. Our SSI attorneys treat you like family and handle your case with integrity. We know how to apply, how to appeal, and how to help. Call us today at (866)-684-7216 or fill out a free online consultation form.
Contact us today Request A Consultation Online »How Can a Lawyer Help?
Having the help of an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer on your side may increase your chances of being approved for benefits. We can help you:
- file your claim
- process complicated paperwork
- handle your appeal
- and more
About FSTN
Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin has a reputation for success and handles Social Security Disability (SSD) cases across the country, partnering with many law firms. By partnering with premier injury law firms throughout the country, our Social Security Disability lawyers easily serve the needs of clients no matter where they live.
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