Columbus Mental Illness Disability Lawyer

Living with a mental illness can make maintaining full-time employment very difficult. If you are living with a mental illness and have found that you can no longer work, Berger and Green would like to speak with you. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers disability benefits for those with mental health conditions. If you are looking for help with your disability benefits claim, our Columbus mental illness disability lawyers are here for you.

Berger and Green lawyers handle Social Security Disability claims. Our lawyers can guide you through the entire process of applying for benefits, including completing and filing your initial application, and appealing a denial, and representing you at your hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Our firm has over 40 years of experience, and we use our extensive experience to your advantage. Contact a Columbus mental illness disability lawyer today for a free initial consultation and learn whether you qualify for disability benefits.

How Columbus Mental Illness Disability Attorneys Can Help With Your Claim for SSD Benefits

If you have a severe mental illness that will prevent you from working for at least one year, you may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. However, securing those benefits is often easier said than done. Thankfully, our Columbus mental illness SSD lawyers can help. 

When you need assistance with your claim for benefits, our legal team at Berger and Green can: 

• Provide a free, no-obligation consultation
• Listen to your story with compassion and empathy
• Handle your claim over the telephone 
• Put your needs first
• Make the process of claiming benefits easier so you can focus on your health
• Fight for the compensation you need and deserve to treat your mental illness and provide for your family

Hear From One of Our Satisfied SSD Clients

Our experienced Columbus mental illness disability attorneys have assisted thousands of clients with SSD cases, including Arthur. Here’s what he had to say about his experience with Berger and Green:

• “I found Berger and Green watching their commercials on TV and researching them online. They seemed honest, sincere and they just had a trustworthy appearance about them. Everybody was just kind as could be. They had answers to my questions. If they did not have an answer at the time, they did research and [got] back to me… They were just very compassionate and understanding and they let me speak. They let me explain what was going on. They took the time, they took the effort and it was … a phenomenal experience… I couldn’t have asked for anything else.”

We look forward to adding you to our long list of satisfied clients. 

What Mental Illnesses Qualify for SSD Benefits?

Mental health disorders cover a wide range of conditions, and patients can be impacted in different ways. Many of these disorders may also include or lead to physical impairments that disrupt the patients’ lives. Some severe mental illnesses may qualify for disability benefits, including: 

• Neurocognitive disorders 
• Traumatic brain injury 
• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• Major depressive disorder (clinical depression)
• Bipolar disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Tourette syndrome
• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Somatic symptom disorder
• Agoraphobia 

Even if your mental disorder is not listed here or in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book, you may still qualify for benefits. Contact a Columbus mental illness disability attorney at Berger and Green today to learn more about your potential eligibility. 

What Benefits Does the SSA Offer for Those With Mental Illnesses in Columbus, Ohio?

The SSA offers two programs that provide monthly financial assistance for disabled individuals:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Per the SSA, you may qualify for SSDI if you have worked long enough and recently enough to earn a certain number of work credits. You generally need at least five years of prior work, but the requirements may vary depending on your age. You must also have a disability that prevents you from working for at least one year.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI provides financial benefits to those with a disability who have little or no income or resources. There is no work history requirement to qualify for SSI. 

Your Columbus mental illness lawyer can help you determine which SSD program you qualify for. In some situations, you may even qualify for both.

How Can You Prove Your Mental Illness Qualifies for SSD Benefits?

Unfortunately, proving you have a mental illness that prevents you from working may be challenging. However, our Columbus mental disability lawyers will build a claim for benefits that includes evidence regarding your disability and you inability to work, such as: 

• An official diagnosis from a qualified medical professional
• Medical records, including confirmation of consistent treatment for your mental illness
• Notes or information from your psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist
• Lists of any medications you’re taking and their side effects (if any)
• Documentation of your work limitations (such as an inability to concentrate or problems interacting with others)

Even though mental illnesses are medical conditions, many patients struggle to prove or even obtain evidence of how their condition impacts their daily life. You may benefit greatly from having an attorney from our team on your side to ensure your claim has a fighting chance of success.

What if the SSA Denies Your Claim for Benefits?

If the SSA denies your disability claim, this decision is not necessarily final. You have the right to file an appeal. We highly recommend hiring a disability lawyer to help you through the appeals process, which may involve one or more of the following steps: 

1. Reconsideration
2. Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) 
3. Review with the Appeals Council 
4. Filing a lawsuit in federal court

Our Columbus mental disability lawyers can fight for your right to benefits through the appeals process. We understand how important these benefits are for your future. 

Start Working With a Columbus Mental Illness Disability Attorney Today

We understand how debilitating mental impairments can be. If you cannot work because of your mental disability and want help with your SSD benefits application or appeal, our legal team is here to assist you. 

Contact Berger and Green today for a free consultation and learn more about the benefits of hiring a Columbus mental illness disability lawyer from our firm. We know you’re hurting. We can help.