Mental Illness and Social Security Disability

Mental conditions in combination with physical problems may lead to a finding of disability.

Mental conditions alone may also lead to a finding of disability.

These conditions range from intellectual deficits to bipolar syndrome, schizophrenia, anxiety, PTSD, and psychotic behavior.

It is virtually impossible to win a Social Security Disability mental illness case without treatment from a psychiatrist or mental health therapist.

This is because Social Security Judges usually do not give much weight to mental health treatment from a primary care physician.

The standard you must meet to prove you are disabled is that you are unable to work any job, including unskilled work. This may include jobs such as cleaning offices at night away from the public and with little contact with co-workers and supervisors.

The key is that if you miss more than one day per month, then no employer will keep you on.

If you will be off task more than 20 percent of the day, then you not be able to retain a job.

Most of the time a serious mental illness will result in excessive absences and loss of concentration and focus.

Other signs of serious mental illness are multiple hospitalizations, strong anti-psychotic medications, or shock therapy.

Questions about your Social Security Disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.

FAQ About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery | Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

FAQ About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery | Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.

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Some quick background information regarding minimally invasive back surgery. Some doctors are not convinced this is the best way to go.

Back Surgery and Workers’ Compensation Claims

Back injuries are a big deal in Workers’ Compensation claims.

The reason is that back pain can easily become chronic and bother you for many years.

The most important thing to do with a back injury is make an accident report immediately. This will insure that the employer does claim that you were injured somewhere outside of work.

It is also important to go to a doctor as soon as possible and report that you were injured at work and how it happened.
If you delay getting treatment, the insurance company may argue that your injury was not that bad because you waited too long.

In the situation that you must have surgery you will most likely need some weeks for recovery and physical therapy.

You cannot settle your case until you have recovered to the point of maximum medical improvement (meaning this is as good as you will get).

In back surgery cases especially, you must be very careful when settling your case.

Once you settle all future medical treatment will be your responsibility.

This means your medical card or own health insurance will have to cover the treatment.

Usually the only way to avoid this is to have a trial to leave open the possibility of access to future medical treatment.

If you have surgery for a back injury make sure that you consult with an experienced Illinois Work Comp attorney.

Questions about your case? Feel free to contact Illinois Worker’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.

High prevalence of opioid use found among Social Security Disability Insurance recipients | Orthotics Prosthetics

High prevalence of opioid use found among Social Security Disability Insurance recipients | Orthotics Prosthetics.

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This may mean that there are severe, chronic conditions that need extreme medications, or there may be a mix of inability to use cutting edge treatments because of limited Medicare funding.