Akron Personality Disorder Disability Lawyer

If your personality disorder interferes with your ability to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Berger and Green can help you secure monthly payments, which supply financial resources to individuals with debilitating injuries and medical conditions.

Our Akron personality disorder lawyers in Ohio can file your SSD application and appeal denied claims. We will put our firm’s 40-plus years of experience behind protecting your future, health, and peace of mind. We offer free initial consultations and accept cases on contingency, so your current economic situation will not hinder seeking the benefits you deserve.

Is Your Personality Disorder a Disability?

According to the Mayo Clinic, personality disorders cause unhealthy thinking, functioning, and behavior patterns that can interfere with relationships, work, and daily living. These disorders include but are not limited to:

• Paranoid personality disorder
• Schizoid or schizotypal personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Avoidant personality disorder
• Dependent personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists conditions it considers disabling in the Blue Book. Personality and impulse-control disorders are in the section outlining mental conditions. 

The Blue Book also contains specific criteria for evaluating whether a mental disorder is severe enough to qualify as a disability. To be eligible for SSD, you must supply medical documentation proving a “pervasive” pattern of:

• Social detachment
• Distrust of suspicion of others
• Disregard for and violation of others’ rights
• Excessive emotionality
• Attention-seeking behavior
• Feelings of inadequacy
• Unstable interpersonal relationships
• Perfectionism
• Preoccupation with orderliness
• Extreme need to be cared for
• Recurrent behavioral outbursts, aggression, and impulsiveness

Does Your Condition Prevent You from Earning Income?

In addition, your personality disorder must also cause an “extreme” limitation in one or a “marked” limitation in two of the following: 

1. Ability to apply, remember, or understand information
2. Ability to interact with others
3. Ability to maintain pace, concentrate, or persist at a task
4. Ability to adapt or manage yourself

To qualify for Social Security Disability, the above limitations must interfere with your employment capabilities to the point they prevent you from earning at or above the SSA’s substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit for at least 12 months. According to the SSA, the SGA for 2023 is an average monthly income of $1,470. If the SSA determines you can make this amount, it will deny your benefits. 

Our Akron SSD lawyers can file your initial benefits application and ensure you include the information the SSA needs to make a correct determination regarding your personality disorder and its effect on your earning capacity. We can also help you appeal denied claims. 

What Social Security Benefits Can You Seek for Personality Disorder in Akron, OH?

The SSA administers two distinct benefits programs for disabled workers. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for individuals with work credits earned through employment. In general, you need a minimum of 20 work credits (or five years of work) before you can receive SSDI. However, younger workers may require fewer and older workers may need more. 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program for individuals with little income and resources. You do not need work credits to qualify. You will need to establish that you meet the financial requirements. 

Some recipients are eligible for SSDI and SSI concurrently, but you must apply separately for benefits. Our attorneys can ensure you file the appropriate claims. 

Expected Monthly Payments

Monthly SSDI benefits vary based on your earned work credits, with more credits equaling higher monthly payments. You can estimate what you may receive using the SSA’s online Benefits Calculator.

The federal SSI rate changes annually based on economic factors like the Consumer Price Index and Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The 2023 SSI rate is $914 per individual. Ohio also administers an SSI supplement. We can assist with applications for state benefits.

Our Akron Personality Disorder Attorneys Can File Your SSD Application or Manage Your Appeal

Our Akron personality disorder lawyers can help you file your initial SSDI or SSI application. We can ensure you include the necessary financial documentation and appropriate information about your medical providers. 

When Should You Apply for SSD?

As mentioned, for your personality disorder to qualify as disabling, it must prevent you from working for at least 12 months. But this does not mean you should wait a year to file for SSD. You can and should seek benefits as soon as your condition puts you out of work.

When Should You Appeal?

You have 60 days to begin the appeals process if you receive an unfavorable initial determination. Our SSD lawyers can help you understand why the SSA denied your payments, look for new evidence to bolster your claim and manage your case throughout the four stages of appeal:

1. Reconsideration. We can ask the SSA to review its decision for medical or non-medical reasons and introduce new evidence to support your claim. However, claim resolutions during this stage are rare. 
2. Hearing. If you disagree with the reconsideration’s outcome, you have 60 days to ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). We can request this court proceeding by phone, video conference, or in person and represent you throughout. We can also introduce new evidence and present witnesses to testify on your behalf. 
3. Review. We have 60 days from the notice of the ALJ’s determination to ask for an Appeals Council review of the ruling. At this stage, the council may deny the appeal, make a determination, or refer your claim to an ALJ. 
4. U.S. District Court. Our final option for seeking benefits is taking civil action in federal court. Again, we have 60 days from when you receive notice of the Appeal Council review to file your case. 

Contact Berger and Green for Social Security Disability Benefits Claim Help

Contact Berger and Green and learn more about how our Akron personality disorder lawyers can take your SSD case in Ohio for nothing upfront or out of pocket. We have four decades of experience helping injured and disabled workers we can put behind getting the financial resources you need and deserve. 

We offer risk-free, no-cost consultations. Reach out to us today and connect with an experience attorney.