Canton
Mental Illness Disability Lawyer

Mental illness can quietly take over every part of your life, making it hard to concentrate, manage stress, interact with others, or keep a steady job. Serious mental health disorders are as disabling as physical injuries, yet many people struggle to be taken seriously when they apply for Social Security Disability benefits.

If mental illness has prevented you from working, a Canton mental illness disability lawyer at Berger and Green can help. We understand how overwhelming it can feel to ask for help, especially when your condition isn’t visible to others. Contact Berger and Green today to learn how our Social Security Disability lawyers serving Canton, OH, can support you in pursuing the benefits you deserve.

How Berger and Green Helps You Navigate the Disability Process

Living with a mental illness can make the Social Security Disability process feel overwhelming. Berger and Green helps make the process easier by guiding clients through each stage of a disability claim, whether they are applying for the first time or continuing after a denial.

Our lawyers complete and file the required paperwork, keep your claim moving forward, and help you understand what to expect as your case progresses. You don’t have to guess what comes next or worry about missing important steps.

For more than 40 years, we’ve helped people facing serious mental health challenges pursue the benefits they need. We focus on reducing stress, providing clear communication, and offering personalized support so you can focus on your well-being while your claim is underway.

The Social Security Disability Claim Process

The Social Security Disability process can be challenging, especially for people with serious mental health conditions. Berger and Green guides clients through every stage of the claim, handling the process and explaining what comes next as the case moves forward.

• Initial Application: This is where you first apply for benefits and explain how your mental illness limits your ability to work. Many valid claims are denied at this stage, often because symptoms are misunderstood or not fully captured in the paperwork.
• Reconsideration: If your application is denied, you can request Reconsideration. A different reviewer at the Social Security Administration takes another look at your claim.
• Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): If Reconsideration is denied, you may request a hearing before an ALJ. This is your opportunity to have your case reviewed more thoroughly. Hearings may be held by phone, video, or in person.
• Appeals Council Review: If necessary, you can ask the Appeals Council to review the ALJ’s decision. The Council may deny the request, send the case back for another hearing, or issue its own decision.

The disability process can move quickly and unpredictably, especially after a denial. Berger and Green helps manage each stage of the claim, providing steady guidance so clients are not left to handle deadlines or next steps on their own.

Disability Benefits are Available for People With Mental Health Conditions

Mental illness does not always stop work immediately. In many cases, symptoms gradually make consistent, full-time employment unrealistic. Under Social Security rules, a person may qualify for disability benefits when a mental health condition is expected to prevent full-time work for at least 12 months.

When this standard is met, benefits may be available through:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): This program is available to people who have a work history and paid into Social Security through their jobs. It is often used by individuals who were able to work for years before their mental health declined. Benefits are based on past earnings and are intended to replace income when symptoms interfere with steady employment.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI is a needs-based disability program for people with limited income and resources. Work history is not required. This program is commonly used by individuals whose mental illness began earlier in life or who were never able to maintain steady employment due to their condition.

Mental Health Conditions That May Qualify for Disability Benefits

Mental health conditions often affect aspects of work that are harder to measure, such as focus, emotional regulation, stress tolerance, and the ability to interact with others. People with serious mental illness may struggle to show how deeply their condition interferes with everyday job demands.

Benefits may be available for mental health conditions such as:

• Major depressive disorder, especially when symptoms include persistent low mood, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, or thoughts of self-harm
• Anxiety-related disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or social anxiety that makes regular attendance or interaction difficult
• Bipolar disorder, including periods of severe depression, mania, or mood instability that disrupt consistent functioning
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly when symptoms involve flashbacks, hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, or avoidance
• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, which may involve hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thinking
• Other serious and persistent mental illnesses that limit concentration, judgment, emotional control, or the ability to manage stress

The Social Security Administration evaluates many mental health claims using its Listing of Impairments, often referred to as the Blue Book. This guide explains how certain mental health conditions are reviewed, and the types of limitations the SSA considers when evaluating disability claims. While not every successful claim fits neatly within a specific listing, the Blue Book provides important context for how mental health conditions are analyzed.

Evidence Needed for a Mental Illness Disability Claim

Mental illness disability claims rely heavily on consistent documentation. Because symptoms are not always visible, the SSA looks for records that show how a condition affects daily functioning over time.

Medical records may include treatment notes from psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care providers, or other mental health professionals. The SSA also considers how symptoms affect concentration, memory, stress management, social interaction, and the ability to maintain a regular work schedule. Records showing ongoing symptoms, work difficulties, or failed work attempts can help demonstrate that full-time employment is not realistic.

Our Disability Lawyers are Ready to Help You Seek Benefits in Canton Today

If a mental health condition has made it difficult or impossible for you to work, you don’t have to face the Social Security Disability process alone. Berger and Green is ready to help you take the next step, whether you are applying for the first time or continuing after a denial.

We know you’re hurting. We can help. Contact Berger and Green today to find out how a mental illness disability lawyer serving Canton, Ohio, can help you.