Personality Disorder
Social Security Disability for Personality Disorder in Detroit
If you have a personality disorder that leaves you unable to maintain a steady job, there’s no doubt you would trade in your diagnosis and go back to work in an instant.
But for many people in this situation, traditional work just isn’t an option.
Social Security disability (SSD) benefits provide a monthly income and qualify you for Medicare health insurance coverage so you can hold on to your independence.
Your first step to greater financial stability is working with a professional who can help you through the Social Security disability benefits application process.
What would you like to do?
Don’t Be Afraid or Ashamed to Apply for Social Security Disability
You’re definitely are not alone. And you should not be ashamed.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 9.1% of adults in the United States have been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
That means almost 1 in 10 people are affected.
As you probably know, such disorders present themselves in unique ways for each individual.
Not everyone with the same diagnosis experiences the same symptoms. Some people might be able to continue working, while others with the same condition need to step away from the workplace.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists several common symptoms:
- A pattern of distrustfulness
- Holding unusual beliefs
- Social detachment
- Difficulty handling negative feedback
- A need for someone to take care of you
- Difficulty making decisions on your own
- A preoccupation with order and perfection
- Anger greatly out of proportion to the external cause
Remember that your health and wellness are more important than what other people think. You shouldn’t pressure yourself to meet others’ expectations. Doing so might jeopardize your health needs.
The purpose of the Social Security disability benefits program is to help you live a productive life that matches your needs.
Challenges of Social Security Disability and Personality Disorder
Seeking benefits for any disability is a long process full of paperwork. Making an error on a form or failing to understand all the requirements can mean losing out on benefits you should have won.
This is especially true if you’re seeking disability benefits because of a personality disorder.
First, you have to prove your disorder is severe enough to keep you from gainful employment.
The rules define “gainful employment” as earning at least a certain amount each month on average. The amount changes over time. To win benefits, you must show you haven’t earned above the threshold over the past year because of a mental illness.
Even if you prove the income requirement, the SSA will want to see your medical records. They’ll look for proof that your condition meets specific criteria laid out in their regulations.
The criteria differ for each type of diagnosis, and they can be complicated. Not only are these rules sometimes hard for applicants to understand, but they’re difficult for Social Security employees to apply!
That means your application could be denied in error. It happens all the time.
Get Help with Your Disability Application
A Social Security disability attorney can help ensure your application is complete and error-proof, to increase your chances of winning benefits.
When you win benefits, it’s a great financial and emotional relief during a difficult time.
The attorneys at Levine Benjamin have years of experience helping people just like you win disability benefits for mental and physical conditions.
We’ll handle gathering all the information Social Security needs and file your application for you, so you can move on with your life.
If you’ve already filed an application and feel the process is taking too long, or you’ve received a denial, we can help you at that stage in the process, too.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.