HIRE A MENTAL HEALTH SSD LAWYER TO WIN BENEFITS
TO WIN DISABILITY BENEFITS YOU NEED A MENTAL HEALTH SSD LAWYER
If you suffer from mental illness and need disability benefits, then you should hire a mental health SSD lawyer. If you cannot work at any job for more than one year due to mental illness, then you should file an application for SSDI and SSI benefits.
Many people in the United States struggle with mental illness. However, the majority of those people, through treatment, are able to work and participate in daily activities. For example, if you have anxiety symptoms then you can take medication that controls symptoms like panic attacks. Or, if you have depression, then you can attend counseling to help you with your symptoms. When mental illness becomes severe or cannot be controlled with treatment, then you need SSD benefits to replace your income.
However, do not think that you can work and receive SSD benefits. If you can work at any job, even part time, then the SSA considers your work activity to be evidence that you can work 40 hours a week. It is best to stop making multiple work attempts while you apply for SSDI and SSI benefits. SSD benefits are for people who cannot work at any job.
If you cannot work due to mental illness, then you should hire the best SSD law firm to help you win benefits. Hiring an SSD lawyer triples your chance of winning your mental health disability benefits.
WHAT A MENTAL HEALTH SSD LAWYER DOES TO HELP YOU WIN BENEFITS
A mental health SSD lawyer with years of experience dealing with the SSA will understand the five step disability review process. Your medical records can be turned into the SSA while you are receiving treatment. Your SSD lawyer will know which mental health records will help you win your case.
Additionally, your lawyer will be able to identify whether your file contains enough evidence to meet a mental health listing. She will also be able to help your doctor prepare a supportive statement about your mental health symptoms. If you have physical conditions, then your lawyer can also submit records about those. It is important for the SSA to understand both your mental and physical health issues.
Additionally, your SSD lawyer can submit written statements to the judge both before and after your hearing. Most importantly, your lawyer will prepare you to testify before an administrative law judge in court. The legal experience of your SSD attorney is the foundation to you winning your mental health benefits. Review the top ten signs you will win disability benefits.
YOUR SSD LAWYER CAN COLLECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS
Your medical records are the most important evidence for your SSD case. The SSA needs to see that you’ve been getting treatment for your mental health. They review your records to decide whether you should receive benefits. The medical records that your lawyer obtain should include:
- Progress notes from your treating doctor, counselor, or therapist
- Psychological evaluations
- Details about medications you are taking, including any side effects
- Records of hospital stays for your mental health conditions
- Medical records about group therapy
Each mental health listing contains symptom list that you must have in order to win benefits. The list of symptoms is Part A under each mental health listing. There is also a Part B and sometimes a Part C that you must meet.
The Part B criteria shows how severe your mental symptoms are. You must prove your mental symptoms are so severe that they meet the rules under Part B and/or Part C of the listing. You can learn how the Part B mental rules wins benefits. There are times where proving Part C is easier than proving Part B. This is particularly true if you are living in a mental hospital. Review the importance of medical evidence in your disability case.
If you live in a mental hospital or in housing that provides mental health treatment, then you live in a setting that structures your day. If leaving that setting would make your mental symptoms worse, then you meet the Part C rules. Therefore, you should win benefits.
YOUR SSD LAWYER CAN DETERMINE IF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION MEETS AN SSA LISTING
The SSA’s Listing of Impairments, or the “Blue Book,” contains a list of all severe mental health conditions for which the SSA will pay benefits. If your mental health symptoms meet the criteria under the listing, then you should win SSD benefits. Below is a list of the most common mental health conditions that qualify for benefits:
- Adjustment Disorder
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Attention Deficit Disorder -ADD/ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Bulimia/Anorexia
- Conversion Disorder
- Dementia/Early-Onset Dementia
- Depression
- Dysthymia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Learning Disorders/Intellectual Conditions
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Personality Disorders
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Somatic Disorder
- Traumatic Brain Injury
The above list does not cover every mental illness. Likewise, you may have one mental illness or a combination of conditions. Many people deal with more than one mental diagnosis. Whatever medical condition you have, we can help you win SSD benefits. Also, we can help you obtain the medical records you need to prove that you deserve SSDI and SSI benefits.
YOUR SSD LAWYER WILL GET MENTAL HEALTH STATEMENTS FROM TREATING SOURCES
When you first file an application for SSDI and SSI benefits, you should send a copy of your medical records to the SSA. Send in your records because the burden of proving you should win SSD benefits is on you. This is true even though the SSA states they will collect your medical records.
The reason you should submit your own records is that the SSA may not collect everything. For example, if you have a mental illness, then you may have been in the hospital because you tried to commit suicide. You may have even been in the hospital more than once. Unfortunately, the SSA will probably not collect your old hospital stay records.
However, these records are important to your case, because they confirm the beginning of your illness. They also show the impact of your mental health symptoms. Additionally, the older records show treatment and may contain objective medical testing. Learn how to obtain your medical records for free.
If you receive a denial at any stage of the review process, then make sure the SSA has a copy of all of your medical records. You may receive a letter that states your doctor has not sent your records. The letter might only give you 10 days to respond. Instead of worrying about the 10 day time frame, collect the records and submit them to the SSA. Or, have your attorney do it.
YOU NEED A DOCTOR TO TREAT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
If you need help getting your medical records, then contact us today. We can help you track down your medical records. Additionally, if you do not have a doctor to treat your mental health issues, then you need to get one. Your lawyer cannot go to the doctor for you. You have to find a doctor and visit them weekly or monthly. You also can’t quit treatment and still expect the SSA to pay you benefits. Finally, you must also follow their treatment plan.
If you cannot afford medical help or counseling, then we have a list of free resources:
- CALIFORNIA FREE AND LOW COST CLINICS
- COLORADO FREE AND LOW COST CLINICS
- IDAHO FREE AND LOW COST CLINICS
- NEVADA FREE AND LOW COST HEALTH CLINICS
- UTAH FREE AND LOW COST HEALTH CLINICS
Using these free resources, you could get treatment from a counselor, nurse or doctor. They can also give you medication. Choose your state you live in and then call the free clinic for mental health treatment. The resources on our lists will help you get the treatment you need. We also hope you use these medical resources to build the medical records to win your SSD benefits.
YOUR SSD LAWYER WILL PREPARE YOU TO TESTIFY ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
One of the main reasons you hire a mental health attorney is to prepare you for your disability hearing. Most cases will go through the entire appeal process and in the end, they have a hearing. Your hearing will be before a judge who works for the SSA.
At the hearing, you will need to explain your mental issues. If you have problems with concentration, memory, mood swings, attendance, or dealing with change, then your lawyer will ask you about those problems. Your lawyer will also ask you questions about your mental symptoms and how they impact your ability to work. If you have examples about mental health issues from past jobs, then you should discuss those in your testimony.
Your attorney will also ask questions of any expert witnesses at the hearing. Those questions will contain information from your medical records. If there is a medical expert at the disability hearing, then your lawyer will ask if you meet or equal a mental listing. If there is a job expert at your hearing, then your lawyer will use your medical records to show how your mental symptoms interfere with your ability to work at all jobs.
HIRE THE SSD LAW FIRM WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
It isn’t easy to get Social Security benefits for mental conditions and the application process can be frustrating for most people. But, hiring an attorney to help you throughout the SSA appeal process will help ease the frustration. It is our belief that when you have our law firm handling your Social Security case, then the SSA follows their own procedures.
Additionally, when you have an attorney with legal experience, they have access to Social Security’s decisions throughout the process. They can also submit medical evidence that may be missing from your case.
There is evidence that hiring an attorney with the proper experience raises your chances of winning your SSDI and SSI benefits by 30%. It is also smart to hire an attorney to help you at your hearing. After all, you are the star witness at your hearing. If you hire an attorney with experience, then they can prepare you to testify in court. Learn how to prepare for your SSA disability hearing.
HIRE OUR LAW FIRM TO WIN SSD BENEFITS
When choosing a Social Security disability attorney or SSD law firm, you should ask how many SSD cases the law firm has won. Also, you can ask your lawyer if they have experience helping people with mental illness. If they don’t have decades of experience, then don’t hire them.
If you need help winning your SSD benefits, then you have found the right law firm. For example, Dianna Cannon has been helping clients win SSD benefits for over thirty years. Additionally, Brett Bunkall and Andria Summers have also won thousands of SSDI and SSI cases.
Together, over the past 30 years, we have won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases for our clients. Our legal experts can help you file for SSD benefits using the SSA’s website. Also, when filing for SSD benefits, we need you to give us your medical information. For example, we will need the name, address and phone number of your doctors.
If you are at the point where need an appeal, then we can help you do that too. There are also many forms you will need to fill out. If you have questions about these forms, then we will answer them. You can learn about SSA’s appeal forms.
We want to help you win disability benefits for mental illness. If you need benefits because you cannot work, then you need an attorney to help you prove your case. Contact us today to win your Social Security disability benefits for you mental health. Put our legal experience to work for you.
