Like most mental health issues, bipolar disorder may or may not qualify you for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits. The outcome of an SSD claim based on bipolar disorder will depend on the nature and severity of the symptoms.
Bipolar Disorder is Listed in the Social Security Blue Book
The Social Security Blue Book lists a wide range of medical conditions that may qualify a person for SSD benefits, along with criteria for qualification. Bipolar disorder is covered by section 12.04 of the Blue Book. To qualify for SSD based on the Blue Book listing for bipolar disorder, the applicant must:
Have diagnosed bipolar disorder that is characterized by at least three of the following symptoms and limitations:
Pressured speech
Flight of ideas
Inflated self-esteem
Decreased need for sleep
Distractibility
Involvement in activities likely to have negative consequences, which the applicant fails to recognize
Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
AND
Extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two of the following:
Ability to understand, remember, or apply information
Ability to interact with others
Ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
Ability to adapt or manage themself
OR
The bipolar disorder is “serious and persistent
For purposes of the Blue Book listing, “serious and persistent” means that there is a medically documented history of the disorder spanning at least two years, with evidence that:
Medical treatment and/or therapy is ongoing and diminishes the signs and symptoms of the disorder, AND
The applicant has limited ability to adapt to changes in environment or new demands
Evidence of Symptoms and Limitations
As you can see, the requirements to meet the Blue Book listing for bipolar disorder are very specific. An applicant must generally provide thorough documentation from medical providers, in addition to their own detailed questionnaire and information provided by those who have an opportunity to observe the applicant in day-to-day life. Knowing what type of evidence is necessary and how to obtain it can mean the difference between approval and denial of your SSD claim.
SSD Benefits for Bipolar Disorder When You Don’t Meet the Listing Requirements
In some circumstances, an applicant who does not meet the listing requirements may still qualify for SSD benefits for bipolar disorder–especially if the applicant has one or more additional conditions that also contribute to their inability to work. This involves a more complex analysis that takes into account factors such as the applicant’s capacity to perform work, their age, their educational level, and their past work experience.
Get Help Pursuing SSD Benefits for Bipolar Disorder
Most SSD claims are initially denied. Assembling the right evidence and presenting it properly can make all the difference. Whether you’re just filing an SSD application or have been denied benefits and want to appeal, an experienced disability benefits advocate can be your best resource. To learn more, call 800-800-3332 right now or fill out our contact form.
About 1% of Americans suffer from schizophrenia. Like most mental disorders, schizophrenia varies in symptoms and severity. In other words, some people with schizophrenia will meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) definition of “disabled.” Others will not.
Establish that they are disabled through a more complex analysis involving information about their capacity to work, educational level, age and other factors
Either approach requires thorough medical documentation.
Demonstrating Disability for SSD Purposes
Schizophrenia is assessed under section 12.03, “Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. In order to meet that listing, an applicant must have medical documentation of one of the following three symptoms:
Delusions or hallucinations
Disorganized thinking
Grossly disorganized behavior or catatonia
In addition, the application must show either:
Extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two of the following:
Ability to understand, remember or apply information
Ability to interact with others
Ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
Ability to adapt or manage themself
OR
That the condition is serious and persistent, which means showing medical documentation spanning at least two years and reflecting:
Ongoing medical treatment that diminishes symptoms, and
Minimal capacity to adapt to changes in environment or new demands
If an applicant doesn’t meet the Blue Book criteria, they may still qualify for SSD through the “grid rules.” The grids take into account the applicant’s residual functional capacity (ability to perform work despite limitations caused by the medical condition), their age, their educational level, the type of past work they have done, and whether skills from that work are transferable.
An Experienced SSD Advocate Can Be Your Best Resource
When you apply for SSD benefits due to schizophrenia, the right evidence and documentation can make all the difference. It can be difficult to work out exactly what the SSA wants to see, and ensure that you provide everything required without overwhelming the record. Fortunately, our experienced advocates have an in-depth understanding of what the SSA is looking for and how to present that information. To learn more about how we can help, call 800-800-3332 right now, or fill out our contact form.
A spinal cord injury occurs when a trauma affects the spinal cord. This can happen when the vertebrae that surround the spinal cord break, shatter, or dislocate.
Some common effects from a spinal cord injury can include:
Paralysis
Loss of sensation
Difficulty with bowel and bladder function
Difficulty breathing
Chronic pain
SSD and Spincal Cord Inuries
If you are applying for SSD benefits for a spinal cord injury, the SSA will have you complete five steps to determine whether you meet certain requirements.
Determine whether your medical condition is severe enough to qualify as a disability.
Determine whether you meet certain non-disability requirements, such as whether you have worked long enough and paid into the Social Security system.
Determine whether the effects of your injury can meet or medically equal a listing in the SSA’s “Blue Book” of impairments.
Determine your ability to do past relevant work.
Determine the claimant’s ability to do other work. The SSA will determine whether you can perform any other type of work, considering your medical condition, age, education, and job skills.
Getting Help Securing SSD Benefits
Navigating the SSD benefits process can be disheartening and time-consuming. Our experts have helped individuals secure SSD benefits for their spinal cord injuries among other disabilities for over 15 years. We know what it takes to have a successful SSD benefits claim. Contact our team here now or give us a call at 800-800-3332
The rate of new HIV infections in the U.S. has declined dramatically in recent years. Still, more than one million Americans are currently living with HIV. Fortunately, early and consistent treatment for HIV lowers viral loads significantly, allowing many people who are infected with HIV to live normal, healthy lives and never advance to AIDS.
Because symptoms vary significantly depending on the stage of the condition, treatment, and other factors, some people with HIV/AIDS will qualify for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits and others will not.
Establishing that You Have HIV
The Social Security Blue Book sets forth specific requirements for a disability benefits applicant to demonstrate that they have HIV. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will accept positive findings on one or more of the following:
HIV antibody screening confirmed by a supplemental HIV antibody test, an immunofluorescence assay, or an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay
HIV nucleic detection test
HIV p24 antigen test
Isolation of HIV in viral culture
Another test that is “highly specific for detection of HIV” and “consistent with the prevailing state of medical knowledge”
Of course, establishing your diagnosis is just the first step. You must also show that your condition prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA), and will either continue to do so for at least 12 months or will end in death.
Proving You are Disabled by HIV/AIDS
One way to show that you are disabled due to HIV or AIDS is to meet the criteria outlined in the Blue Book. To be considered disabled based on the listing, an HIV patient must show one of the following:
Multicentric Castleman disease affects multiple groups of lymph nodes or organs containing lymphoid tissue
Primary central nervous system lymphoma
Primary effusion lymphoma
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma
Absolute CD4 count of 50 cells/mm3 or less
Absolute CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3 or CD4 percentage of less than 14% AND
BMI of less than 18.5, OR
Hemoglobin measurement of less than 8.0 grams per deciliter
Complications of HIV requiring at least three hospitalizations of at least 48 hours each within 12 months, at least 30 days apart
Repeated manifestations of HIV infection resulting in marked limitation of:
Activities of daily living, OR
Maintaining social function, OR
Completing tasks promptly, due to deficiencies in concentration, persistence, or pace
If you don’t meet the listing criteria, you may still be able to qualify for SSD benefits by showing the SSA that your medical condition prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity.
As you can see, pursuing SSD benefits for HIV/AIDS requires extensive medical documentation, and some of that documentation is complex. Working with an experienced SSD benefits advocate from the beginning can help ensure that you’re providing the documentation the SSA will be looking for to approve your claim.
“Back pain” covers a broad spectrum, from the morning ache and stiffness many people experience with age to injury-related pain that makes it impossible to engage in normal daily activities. According to the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, nearly 65 million Americans report recent issues with back pain. Obviously, they aren’t all eligible for Social Security disability (SSD).
In most cases, it isn’t the back pain itself that qualifies a person for SSD benefits, but the underlying injury or condition that is causing the pain.
Listed Conditions Causing Back Pain
To qualify for SSD benefits, an applicant must show that their medical condition is so severe that they are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). There are two ways to do that. One is to meet or equal the criteria for one of the conditions listed in the Social Security Blue Book. The other is to show that your residual functional capacity is too limited to allow you to engage in SGA.
The Blue Book section on musculoskeletal conditions contains listings for some back conditions, but you may not immediately recognize whether your condition is listed. For example, the listing refers to “conditions of the skeletal spine resulting in compromise of a nerve root.” That may include conditions such as herniated discs, spondylosis, and spinal stenosis. But, they aren’t listed by name, and not every incidence of these conditions will be sufficient to meet the listing.
An experienced SSD benefits advocate can help you determine whether your condition falls within a listing, and what type of documentation will be required to establish that you meet that listing. If you don’t meet or equal a listing, you may still qualify for SSD.
Establishing Disability Outside the Listings
Sometimes, a person will meet the SSA’s definition of disability, but won’t fall within listing criteria. That may be because the medical condition is rare or newly discovered, or because it isn’t usually as serious as the applicant’s case. Or, it may be because the applicant suffers from two or more medical conditions, and is disabled by the combination rather than a specific condition.
If you don’t qualify based on a listing, the SSA will look at a combination of factors, including the level of work you are currently able to perform (residual functional capacity), your educational background, the type of work you’ve done in the past, and your age. These factors will help them determine whether there is still work you can do in spite of your medical limitations.
Medical Documentation is Critical
Whether you are aiming to show that you meet a listed condition or based on the grids, having thorough medical documentation will be critical. One challenge in securing SSD benefits for back pain is that pain doesn’t show up on an x-ray, and it can be difficult to prove how much pain limits your activities. Tests documenting the underlying condition, doctors’ notes, and other medical information is critical.
Get Help with Your SSD Claim for Back Pain
The success or failure of your SSD claim may depend on the quality of information you provide. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate the process alone. To learn more about how our experienced disability benefits advocates can help, call 800-800-3332 or fill out our contact form here.
