Free SSDI Evaluation
There are essentially two ways to win a Social Security disability claim for schizophrenia. The first way is if you meet
or equal the medical listing of impairments for schizophrenia. In order to be found to meet or equal the listing for schizophrenia
it helps a great deal if your psychiatrist reads the listing and is able to explain in a report exactly why he or she feels
you meet or equal a listed impairment. Along with this report it is important that you submit to Social Security all of your
psychiatric treatment records, emergency room records, and hospital records. To get a better understanding of how Social
Security determines if you are disabled in general visit my page called "
am I disabled". Below is the medical listing for schizophrenia.
Medical Listing for Schizophrenia
12.03 Schizophrenic, paranoid and other psychotic disorders: Characterized by the onset of psychotic features with deterioration
from a previous level of functioning.
The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements
in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.
A. Medically documented persistence,
either continuous or intermittent, of one or more of the following:
1. Delusions or hallucinations; or
2.
Catatonic or other grossly disorganized behavior; or
3. Incoherence, loosening of associations, illogical thinking,
or poverty of content of speech if associated with one of the following:
a. Blunt affect; or
b. Flat
affect; or
c. Inappropriate affect;
OR
4. Emotional withdrawal and/or isolation;
AND
B. Resulting in at least two of the following:
1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living;
or
2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or
3. Marked difficulties in maintaining
concentration, persistence, or pace; or
4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration;
OR
C. Medically documented history of a chronic schizophrenic, paranoid, or other psychotic disorder of at least 2
years' duration that has caused more than a minimal limitation of ability to do basic work activities, with symptoms or signs
currently attenuated by medication or psychosocial support, and one of the following:
1. Repeated episodes of decompensation,
each of extended duration; or
2. A residual disease process that has resulted in such marginal adjustment that
even a minimal increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to cause the individual to decompensate;
or
3. Current history of 1 or more years' inability to function outside a highly supportive living arrangement,
with an indication of continued need for such an arrangement.