Chances are if you have a personality disorder that keeps you from consistent employment, you would readily trade in your diagnosis if it meant you could get back to work.
For many people in this situation, traditional work just isn’t an option. Despite that, it’s easy to feel fear and stress about seeking disability benefits when a personality disorder is keeping you off the job.
The first step to greater financial stability could be working with a professional who can help you through the Social Security Disability benefits process.
DON’T BE AFRAID OR ASHAMED TO APPLY FOR SSD
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 9.1 percent of adults in the United States have been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
That means almost 1 in 10 people are affected. You definitely are not alone. And you should not be ashamed.
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 can’t sustain employment.
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.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND PERSONALITY DISORDER: A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP
Seeking benefits for any disability can be a long process full of paperwork. Making an error on a form or failing to understand the requirements of a program can mean losing out on benefits you should have won.
This is even more 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 can change from year to year. To win benefits, you must show you have not earned above the threshold over the past year because of a mental illness.
Even if you prove the income requirement, the Social Security Administration (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 even difficult for SSA employees to apply.
That means that your application could be denied in error. Unfortunately, it happens all the time.
GET HELP WITH YOUR SSD APPLICATION
A Social Security Disability attorney can help ensure your application is as complete and error-proof as possible and increase your chances of winning benefits. A positive result can provide 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. If you’ve already filed an application and feel the process is taking too long, or you have received a denial, we can work with you.
We’ll handle compiling all the information the SSD needs, so you can move on with your life.
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