Milwaukee Social Security Disability Attorney for Mental Health Conditions

Lawyer Securing Disability Benefits For Neurological and Mental Disorders in Milwaukee County and Surrounding Areas

Social Security disability benefits are not only for people who have health conditions that limit their physical abilities. In fact, mental health conditions can often have an even more severe impact on a person's work abilities due to their interference with important job tasks involving memory, cognitive processing, communication, social interaction, mood regulation, and the ability to simply make it through the workday.

If you have a mental condition that prevents you from working and earning a substantial income for at least 12 months, Attorney Jonathan Pearson can guide and represent you as you seek benefits through either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Jonathan will work with you personally by helping you complete your application and support it with in-depth evidence of your condition and its effects on your life and work. With Jonathan, you will pay no upfront fees of any kind unless he helps you achieve benefits.

Does My Mental Health Condition Qualify For Disability Benefits?

The first step in determining whether you are eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits is to consider your current employment and income. In 2022, if you are currently working and earning at least $1,350 in gross income per month, you will not qualify for benefits, because your mental health condition does not prohibit you from substantial gainful activity (SGA). You will next need to consider whether your condition will last for at least 12 months. Disabilities of shorter durations do not qualify for Social Security benefits, so it is important that you understand whether or not your mental health care provider expects your condition to improve in the near future.

If you are unable to work for 12 months or more, we will review the Social Security Administration's Blue Book with you to determine whether your condition appears in the listing of qualifying impairments. The Blue Book includes a full category dedicated to mental disorders, which is further divided into different kinds of mental health conditions. These include:

• Neurocognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's, other forms of dementia, and conditions like traumatic brain injuries and neurological diseases that cause a decline in memory and other cognitive processes
• Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders that cause delusions and hallucinations that significantly interfere with regular mental processes
• Depressive and bipolar disorders that affect mood, motivation, concentration, and social interaction
• Intellectual disorders that develop early in life and result in well-below-average intellectual abilities and practical skills
• Anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, which can cause extreme worry, fear, and panic attacks
• Somatic symptom disorders, which result in abnormal reactions to or fear of pain and other physical symptoms
• Personality disorders that affect the ability to control impulses or to trust and interact appropriately with other people
• Autism spectrum disorder, which can affect social interactions and communication abilities and may result in cognitive deficiencies in some areas
• Neurodevelopmental disorders that begin in childhood, including learning disorders, ADHD, and tic disorders like Tourette syndrome
• Eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating that involve abnormal perceptions of body weight and appearance
• Trauma-related disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, which are triggered by certain events or stressors

If your condition is listed, we will help you gather evidence to demonstrate that you meet the qualifying criteria. This evidence can come from physical and mental health professionals who are familiar with your condition, as well as from personal and work contacts who are familiar with the limitations your condition imposes. Even if your condition is not listed, your application for benefits may still be approved if we can demonstrate that your condition prevents you from sustaining any reasonable work that qualifies as substantial gainful activity.

Contact a Milwaukee Mental Disability Benefits Lawyer

For a free consultation to learn how we can help you secure Social Security benefits for your mental disability, contact us today at 414-240-4801. We represent clients throughout Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, and the surrounding areas in Milwaukee County and Waukesha County.