Is Schizophrenia A Disability? Learn Who Qualifies For Government Benefits
According to the World Health Organization, schizophrenia is estimated to impact 24 million people on the planet, which is about one out of every 300 people. This disorder can cause major distress, as it typically disrupts the realms of work, school, social relationships, and family life.
Since individuals with schizophrenia may experience challenges with maintaining necessary resources, some people may wonder if schizophrenia could be considered a disability and if those who have it qualify for disability benefits and related government services. This can be the case for people with schizophrenia who experience certain symptoms and cannot engage in substantial gainful activity. Disability benefits may be helpful in providing for basic needs, and professional help in the form of medication and therapy can often improve the mental health of individuals living with this disorder.
What is schizophrenia, and what are its symptoms?
Schizophrenia is typically known for involving psychotic symptoms, such as the following:
Recurring hallucinations that involve seeing, hearing, smelling, or feeling things that are not actually there
Recurring delusions that involve believing something that isn't true
Disorganized thinking, which can manifest as convoluted or nonsensical speech
Unpredictable or unusual behavior that may appear to have no clear purpose or that may involve emotions that are inappropriate for the situation, which is sometimes called grossly disorganized behavior
Acting extremely agitated for unclear reasons
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
In addition to psychotic symptoms, which are sometimes referred to as positive symptoms, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders often involve negative symptoms. Negative symptoms may include not speaking or speaking very little, not engaging with other people or maintaining a social life, not feeling or expressing emotions, and moving very little or very slowly.
What is a disability?
The term "disability" can have different meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define disability as any mental or physical condition that makes it difficult to engage in certain activities or participate in the world. However, many people who have a disability under this definition do not meet the requirements to qualify for disability benefits in the United States.
Social Security disability benefits for anyone with a physical or mental illness
The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has its own strict definition of disability that a person must meet in order to qualify for disability benefits. In general, a person is viewed as having a qualifying disability if they meet these three requirements:
They are incapable of engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA) as defined by the SSA, which, in 2024, means they are unable to work enough to earn over $1,550/month.
They cannot do the work they used to do or adjust to a new line of work because of their condition.
Their condition has lasted or is expected to last at least one year or is expected to cause death.
What are Social Security disability benefits?
Disability benefits usually come in the form of monthly payments provided by the government to people with qualifying disabilities. These benefits are typically provided in situations where a person cannot work enough to earn an adequate income due to a mental or physical condition.
Two types of disability benefits
There are generally two different types of disability benefits: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI usually requires a person to have worked in the past, but SSI does not. Often, in casual conversation, SSI is just called "disability," while SSDI is referred to as "disability insurance."
Is schizophrenia a disability?
Schizophrenia can be seen as a disability for most people who have it in the sense that it tends to create limitations in terms of how a person functions and engages with their environment. However, not all people with schizophrenia have a disability as legally defined by the SSA, which means that not everyone with the disorder may qualify for disability benefits.
SSA benefits for many mental health conditions like schizophrenia
SSA disability benefits cover many mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, in which an extreme limitation keeps a person from doing much work. These disorders normally fall under the 12.03 category, which is labeled as "schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders." To qualify, a person must have delusions or hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech, or grossly disorganized behavior or catatonia, as well as be limited in terms of mental function or have evidence that the disorder is "serious and persistent."
Can people with mental illnesses like psychosis and schizophrenia work?
Is schizophrenia a disability? Psychosis symptoms and employment challenges
Although people with schizophrenia often cannot work due to their symptoms, the biases of other people may also play a role in the low employment rate among people with schizophrenia. Research shows that many people assume that anyone who experiences psychosis is unemployable. The belief in this myth could keep people with schizophrenia who can work from being hired if they divulge their diagnosis.
Why can schizophrenia make working difficult?
Having schizophrenia can make it difficult to work for many reasons. Sometimes, schizophrenia negatively impacts a person's cognitive ability and, in those moments, may result in them being unable to think in the ways needed to do their job. Schizophrenia can also make it difficult for a person to communicate and interact with superiors and coworkers in ways that are considered appropriate and professional.
Negative symptoms can interfere with workability
Negative schizophrenia symptoms, like not talking or talking very little, can also interfere with a person's ability to work. Sometimes, people with the disorder think slowly and take longer to process what is going on around them. This slow processing may interfere with their work performance or lead to a communication style that others may misinterpret or fail to understand.
How can a person apply for disability benefits?
Historically, people usually applied for disability benefits by visiting their local Social Security office. With advances in technology, however, this is no longer necessary if a person would prefer to apply from home.
Apply for government benefits
A person can apply for disability benefits online or by calling the SSA's toll-free number: (800) 772-1213. To apply, they must submit personal information, work history, and medical records. The application process can take months to be reviewed and approved. Individuals can reach out and request more information if their initial applications aren’t approved.
Can mental health therapy help with schizophrenia?
People with schizophrenia may want to consider mental health therapy conducted remotely. Remote therapy usually allows individuals to receive help at more flexible times and from the comfort of their own homes or any location they prefer. In addition, online therapy can be more feasible for individuals experiencing negative symptoms like a lack of motivation, although those experiencing acute psychotic symptoms may require in-person care.
Online therapy can help people with schizophrenia
Although research on the topic is limited, there is medical evidence that remote treatment can benefit people with schizophrenia. A review of 10 research studies found that remote treatment usually moderately improved the mental health of people with schizophrenia. After engaging in remote therapy, participants experienced a reduction in symptoms, an increase in functioning, and improved cognitive ability.
Takeaway
Do schizophrenics qualify for disability?
Medical conditions and mental conditions can qualify a person for disability. Yes, a person with schizophrenia can qualify for disability. In order to qualify, you need to have a disability evaluation with medical providers to prove you have a mental illness or medical condition that precludes you from working. This evaluation for disability determination can include noting reported symptoms and psychological testing. They will also make sure that you’ve been following your medical treatment plan. You will need to submit your medical documentation from an acceptable medical source to the Social Security Agency. They will want identification, such as your birth certificate, to prove your identity. You can hire a disability lawyer to help you. More than half of the applications for schizophrenia disability are accepted by the SSA.
Is schizophrenia a mental disorder or disability?
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that can qualify as a disability if it precludes someone from working, and the person may be able to receive social security benefits from the Social Security Administration, often in the form of monthly benefits. They have to fill out a disability application and meet the SSA criteria. You can find information online or at your local social security office.
What is the life expectancy of a schizophrenic person?
For people with schizophrenia, the average life expectancy is 64.7 years. Men’s average age of death is 59.9, and women’s average age of death is 67.6. According to a systematic review and meta analysis in World Psychiatry, the mortality rate of people with schizophrenia is derived from the fact that they tend to live 15–20 years less than people in the general population. This is one of the many reasons why mental health services are so important for people with schizophrenia.
What qualifies you as schizophrenic?
A person is qualified as schizophrenic after diagnosis by a medical professional according to the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
Schizophrenia is a mental condition involving psychosis, or inability to interpret reality, and can include symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, disordered thinking, lack of attention to personal hygiene, and marked limitation in daily functioning, among others. Its onset often occurs in young adulthood. Schizoaffective disorder is a schizophrenia disorder along with a mood disorder.
Will I get PIP if I have schizophrenia?
If your schizophrenia hinders you from being able to function independently or perform tasks in daily life, you may be eligible to receive PIP.
Can schizophrenia keep you from working?
In some cases schizophrenia can keep a person from performing work related activities, such as when they are experiencing an acute psychotic episode, the psychosis is severe, or when psychosis is long-term. If someone has a difficult time managing oneself and completing tasks of daily living, they will be unlikely to perform at work at a consistent pace, as well.
Is psychosis a disability?
Yes, psychosis can qualify for disability.
Is mental illness considered permanently disabled?
In some cases yes, and in other cases no. It depends how the mental illness affects a person’s life and their ability to work.
What qualifies as a disability?
According to the Social Security Administration, a disability is when you can’t work due to a physical or mental condition for a period of at least one year.
Can someone with schizophrenia work?
Some people with schizophrenia can work, while others have minimal capacity to work, with difficulty thinking and maintaining pace of work—whether or not they can perform their job duties depends on their level of mental functioning and how well they manage symptoms with therapy and medication. With treatment schizophrenia can be managed, and sometimes a marginal adjustment can be made that can influence a person’s ability to work.
That said, sometimes the side effects of medical treatment with antipsychotic medication, such as tremors, can make it difficult to work.
People with schizophrenia can also receive psychosocial support that includes job training and social skills training within a highly structured setting and case management with social workers.
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