Disability Benefits for Schizoaffective Disorder

Receiving Disability Benefits for Schizoaffective Disorder

A mental health condition that significantly limits your ability to both perform your daily tasks as well as earn a living, could qualify you for SS disability benefits. There are strict medical requirements under SSDI for both mental and physical impairments. Additionally, you will also have to meet work history requirements as well as resources and income requirements.

The SSA uses an impairment listing guide to help determine whether an individual qualifies for disability benefits. Obtaining schizoaffective disorder and disability benefits can often be difficult and one can benefit greatly from having an experienced Social Security disability benefits attorney from Carmichael Law Group. We can guide you through the process, ensuring you have the very best chance possible for securing SS disability benefits. We have successfully helped clients nationwide get the benefits that they deserve.

What is Schizoaffective Disorder?

Schizoaffective disorder is characterized by hallucinations or delusions (symptoms of schizophrenia) in conjunction with symptoms of a mood disorder like depression or mania. Schizoaffective disorder is relatively rare. This disorder has not been studied to the extent that schizophrenia and bipolar disorders have, and depending on the type of mood disorder, the symptoms can vary widely. That being said, symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can be severe, and may include:

• Delusional thinking—false, fixed beliefs clung to regardless of evidence to the contrary
• Hallucinations—hearing or seeing things that are not there
• Manic behavior—feelings of euphoria and racing thoughts with increases in risky behavior
• Depression—feelings of worthlessness, sadness, or emptiness
• Disorganized thinking—switching quickly from one completely unrelated subject to another
• Sleep disturbances

Medical science has not pinned down an exact cause of schizoaffective disorder, although it is believed the following could contribute to the disorder:

• Schizoaffective disorder tends to run in families, so there could be a genetic component.
• Stressful events can trigger an onset of the disorder
• Psychoactive drugs—like LSD—have been linked to the development of schizoaffective disorder.

Schizoaffective disorder symptoms can sometimes be managed through the use of antidepressants, antipsychotic medications, mood stabilizers, psychotherapy, and certain self-management strategies.

Is Schizoaffective Disorder a Disability Under Social Security Disability Rules?

If you have schizoaffective disorder, employment may not be possible, even with proper treatment and care. The SSA recognizes the employment barriers schizoaffective disorder can present, in many cases making retaining a job impossible. While the impairment listing guide contains no “standard” disability listing for schizoaffective disorder, you could qualify under Section 12.03—Schizophrenia and Section 12.04—Affective Disorders. For those that do not qualify under one of these listings, a residual functional capacity analysis can show your functional capacity is severely compromised, preventing you from working.

Schizoaffective Disorder and Disability Benefits

Under the Schizophrenia listing, your medical records must show at least one of the following:

• You experience hallucinations or delusions
• Your speed or thinking does not follow logical paths, making communications with others difficult
• You are unable to appropriately interact with others because you are emotionally isolated