If you have looked into disability benefits for your mental health condition, then you may have come across episodes of decompensation. Learning what these are is important when it comes to filing your disability benefits application. Episodes of decompensation are part of the eligibility criteria that will help determine whether you will receive disability benefits. Consider asking a Pennsylvania individual disability insurance lawyer for help if you have questions about this.
An episode of decompensation is a phrase used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to describe periods of deterioration during a mental disorder. These episodes may involve both mental and physical symptoms, depending on the type of mental health condition the person is struggling with. Being aware of and documenting these episodes is essential.
What makes these episodes so important to keep a record of is the way the SSA uses these episodes to determine disability severity. When it comes to eligibility for disability benefits, the severity of the disability is a major determining factor. The SSA does not provide disability benefits for conditions that are not severe.
In order for a mental health condition to be considered for disability benefits, the condition must be severe enough to hinder work performance. This means the more episodes of decompensation someone experiences, the greater the chances are of that person receiving benefits. Keep a record of your episodes by writing down your symptoms each time you feel them become worse.
The more details you can provide about how your daily functioning is impaired by these episodes, the better. Alert your doctor as soon as possible to ensure the episode is medically documented. Unfortunately, the SSA may not consider your episode without proper medical documentation from your doctor.
Documentation of episodes of decompensation is not the only type of evidence the SSA will look for. There are several other types of evidence the SSA will explore when considering your eligibility for disability benefits. Common examples of mental disorder disability benefits evidence include:
· An official medical diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist
· Medical records on treatments, therapy, and medications
· Brain scans and other medical tests
· Therapy records
· Activities of daily living records
Consider working with your doctor and contacting a Pennsylvania disability lawyer to find ways to strengthen your disability claim. Do not hesitate to explain your goal to obtain disability benefits to your doctor. The SSA will consider your doctor’s professional opinion when deciding whether to approve your application.
Be sure to detail whether you have gone through treatments and the outcomes of those treatments. The less treatments have helped you, the more likely you might receive disability benefits. Submit as much of this information with your application as possible.
Filing a disability benefits application is not always easy. Feel free to ask a Pennsylvania disability attorney about your options if your disability benefits application was denied. Contact Edelstein & Nelson by dialing (800) 300-0909 for a consultation today. Our experienced legal team is ready to help you increase your chances of receiving disability benefits.