PSYCHIATRIC IMPAIRMENTS

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Applying for disability benefits for a mental or psychological illness or impairment can be a complicated process. But the experts at the Law Offices of Sima G. Aghai can help you do so and gain those needed disability benefits.

 

You may qualify if you suffer from:

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• Anxiety

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• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Bipolar disorder

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• Personality disorder

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• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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• Schizophrenia

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• Severe depression

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You may also qualify if you suffer from any other mental illness that keeps you from getting and maintaining gainful employment.

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To meet the basic eligibility for disability benefits, you must:

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• Have a diagnosis of your condition from a physician, and

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• Have a mental illness or impairment that has lasted for the period in Plan Documents for LTD/STD benefits and for 12 consecutive months or is expected to last 12 consecutive months for SSA claims.

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After these two items are documented, there will be a review of your medical history and the extent of your functional limitations. 

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For LTD/STD claims, there may be a review by a medical expert who may contact your own treating psychiatrist/psychologist/therapist for a consultation regarding your condition and your functional limitations.

 

For SSA claims, the review will try to match your medical records to disabilities found in the SSA’s medical guide known as The Blue Book. The book spells out the level of severity of your mental illness must meet and spell out which specific medical records are required to claim benefits.

Comprehensive medical records will be needed to help you qualify, including:

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• Information on your diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist documenting your symptoms,

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• All treatment, therapy, and medication records, and/or

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• Documentation of increased symptoms and their effect on your activities of daily living (ADLs) such as being unable to interact with others.

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You may also be required to undergo a consultative examination by a psychiatrist or psychologist depending on your impairment.

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Gathering this information and ensuring that you meet the qualifying definitions are time-consuming and confusing. The attorneys and staff at the Law Office of Sima G. Aghai can take on these tasks, freeing you up from speaking to the LTD/STD Plan Administrator SSA (a chore we will handle for you) and increasing the chances your benefit claim will be successful.

 

We are able to represent you at any stage of your claim.