Men in Las Vegas residence struggle with one or more mental illnesses. When a mental illness renders a person unable to earn a living, he or she may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration offers two different benefits programs for those who cannot return to work due to mental impairments: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Discuss Your Case With a Social Security Disability Attorney for Mental Impairments
Qualifying for social security benefits based on one or more mental impairments can be challenging without the help of an experienced disability benefits attorney. If you reside in the greater Las Vegas area and your loved one has a valid claim for Social Security disability benefits, contact Roeschke Law, LLC Las Vegas as soon as possible to schedule your initial consultation. One of our skilled attorneys will assist and advocate for you every step of the way.
Mental Illnesses and Mental Disorders Considered Mental Impairments
The Social Security Administration uses a guidebook called the “Blue Book” to determine whether applicants qualify for benefits. The Blue Book lists a range of medical disorders eligible for benefits, including mental illnesses and mental disorders. The following cognitive and psychological conditions often qualify applicants for Social Security disability benefits:
- Depression, including bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders, including schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Severe ADHD or ADD
- Severe and persistent migraines
- Autism
- Panic attacks
- Eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Hallucinations
- Phobias
- Schizophrenia
- Dual diagnosis disorders, such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Conditions caused by genetic mutations
- Serious intellectual disability (formerly referred to as mental retardation)
- Severe cognitive disorders
Qualifying for Social Security Benefits
As mentioned above, many different mental disorders are eligible for social security benefits. Every applicant will need to provide evidence showing that their mental impairment prevents them from substantial gainful activity or regularly working at a job. Social Security examiners need to depend on the applicant’s description of how his or her symptoms prevent him or her from working full-time.
What If My Mental Condition Isn’t Listed in the Blue Book?
Your specific mental health diagnosis does not need to be listed in the Blue Book for you to qualify for benefits. Any other mental condition that isn’t explicitly listed but which impairs an applicant’s ability to conduct substantial gainful employment or hold full-time work will make an applicant eligible for benefits. It can be challenging for applicants to show that their mental health condition and psychological distress are in the same category as a physical impairment that prevents them from returning to work.
Why You Need an Experienced Social Security Disability Attorney on Your Side
Thankfully, the Social Security Administration understands that the emotional trauma of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression can be debilitating enough to prevent someone from substantially gainful employment. Nonetheless, it’s crucial that you work with an experienced attorney who can help advocate for your ability to obtain the benefits you deserve.
One of our attorneys can help you fully and accurately describe all of how your mental impairment negatively affects your life. We can also gather evidence demonstrating that your mental impairment prevents you from substantially gainful employment. At Roeschke Law, LLC Las Vegas, our attorneys have provided years of dedicated service to clients struggling with mental illness and mental impairments in the Las Vegas area. We’ve achieved success in disability cases involving a wide range of mental disorders.
Appealing Your Claim for Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration denies the majority of first-time applications for disability benefits. If you receive a letter saying that the Social Security Administration has denied your application, it’s essential that you discuss your case with an attorney as soon as possible. You will only have 60 days to file a request for reconsideration. Once you file the request, an administrative law proceeding will begin. An administrative law judge (ALJ) will reassess your application for benefits.
Should the administrative law judge deny your claim, one of our skilled disability attorneys will guide you through the next steps in the appeals process. Eventually, you’ll be able to make your case before the Disability Appeals Council. Your attorney can provide the council with compelling medical evidence, testimony from a vocational expert, and other essential pieces of evidence that will help you build the most robust disability case possible. Gathering evidence in mental health-related disability cases is crucial because it can be challenging to demonstrate precisely how mental disorders prevent applicants from working.
Disability Benefits for Mental Impairments Like Substance Addiction and Alcoholism
Alcoholism and drug addiction can be devastating for individuals and their family members. Many experts are starting to consider these types of disorders as mental health impairments. Chemical dependency alone typically will not qualify a person for social security benefits.
However, suppose an applicant has an underlying mental or physical disability that leads them to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. In that case, he or she may be able to qualify for benefits through that disability. Suppose you have questions about whether you or your loved one can be eligible for disability benefits. In that case, we recommend scheduling a free initial consultation to discuss your case with one of our skilled attorneys.
Contact Social Security Disability Attorney in Las Vegas Today
From submitting your application to appealing a claim denial, there are significant hurdles you will need to overcome to obtain the Social Security disability benefits you deserve. At Roeschke Law, LLC Las Vegas, our Social Security disability lawyers will advocate every step of the way to help you see all sources of income related to your mental health condition.
We understand how severe mental illness can be, and we will advocate for you to receive the benefits you need. From submitting your initial application for benefits to appealing a denial in your case, we will represent you every step of the way. Contact Roeschke Law, LLC Las Vegas today to schedule your free initial consultation to discuss your case.