Disabled people sometimes have difficulty returning to work, and they rely on disability benefits from the government to make ends meet. While most people understand disabilities to include physical conditions, mental health conditions are also included.
If you have borderline personality disorder (BPD), you might be eligible for disability benefits. As with any other condition, you must prove that your BPD meets specific conditions. Primarily, you must show that your condition is pervasive and chronic, and it prevents you from doing certain things required to hold down a job. To begin applying for disability benefits, you must have records of your mental health condition ready. The application process is long and complex, and a simple mistake could result in your application being denied. One of the most common reasons applicants with BPD are denied is that they fail to provide adequate evidence of their condition.
If you cannot work because you have borderline personality disorder, our Arkansas disability benefits lawyers can help you apply for benefits. Call our offices at (479) 316-0438 for a free case review.
Are Disability Benefits Available for People with Mental Health Conditions in Arkansas?
Most people probably think disability benefits are only meant for those with physical conditions or limitations that prevent them from working. On the contrary, people with mental health conditions that prevent them from working can also take advantage of disability benefits.
To be eligible for disability benefits, your condition must be listed under the listing of impairments. Keep in mind that there are separate listings for adults and children. The list contains 14 categories of conditions that are eligible for disability benefits. Mental conditions, including borderline personality disorder, are included under category 12.
Each category of the list of impairments is broken down further into specific mental and medical conditions. Under the category of mental conditions, borderline personality disorder is found under section 12.00B7 with elements of the disorder listed under section 12.08. If your conditions meet the criteria set out under the listing of impairments, our Farmington disability benefits attorneys can help you get disability benefits for your borderline personality disorder.
What Do I Have to Prove to Get Disability Benefits for Borderline Personality Disorder in Arkansas?
If you are applying for social security benefits for borderline personality disorder, you must have proof of several crucial factors. First, you must prove that the condition includes pervasive patterns of at least one of the following:
- Distrust and suspiciousness of others
- Detachment from social relationships
- Disregarding or violating the rights of others
- Instability of interpersonal relationships
- Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Excessive need to be taken care of
- Preoccupation with perfectionism and order
- Recurrent, impulsive, and aggressive behavioral outbursts
Second, you must demonstrate how your BPD affects your ability to work. Specifically, you must demonstrate an extreme limitation or at least two of the following areas:
- Understanding, remembering, or applying information
- Interacting with others
- Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace
- Adapting or managing yourself
Essentially, you must show that your BPD exists by establishing the symptoms you experience, and you must show how those symptoms affect your ability to work. People with BPD often have difficulty holding a job because they cannot do things like interact with coworkers or customers, concentrate on work tasks, or understand information about their jobs.
Our Greenland disability benefits attorneys can help you gather the necessary evidence and records to begin your application for benefits. If you have not done so already, you should arrange to meet with a medical professional about the status of your condition and obtain your records.
Applying for Disability Benefits for Borderline Personality Disorder in Arkansas
The application process for disability benefits can feel like a very daunting task. People with BPD or other mental health conditions might have trouble understanding the application process. Our Arkansas disability benefits lawyers can help you compile and submit your application materials in such cases.
To begin, you should gather the documentation you need according to the checklist provided by the Social Security Administration. What information and documentation you need will vary based on your unique circumstances. Some information you might need includes marriage and divorce records, information about your children or other dependents, working history, education, and medical and mental health records.
When filling out your application, it is important to provide all necessary details about your condition and how it affects your life. Your application will be reviewed to make sure the requirements for disability benefits are met, and if anything seems off or information is lacking, you might be denied.
Our Johnson disability benefits lawyers have experience with these applications, and we know what kind of information the SSA is looking for. We can review your application before you submit it to check for anything that might be missing.
Common Reasons People with Borderline Personality Disorder Are Denied Disability Benefits in Arkansas
There are multiple common reasons why applicants are denied disability benefits in Arkansas. A lack of evidence about your condition often leads to a denial. You must provide detailed information about your borderline personality disorder and how it affects your life. Your application will likely be denied if you leave important information out or fail to attach pertinent medical records.
In other cases, the SSA might believe you earn too much money to qualify for disability benefits. These benefits are designed for people who cannot work and have little or no other income. If you have income above the monthly limit of substantial gainful activity, you might be denied. For 2022, this limit is $2,260 for blind applicants and $1,350 for non-blind. In many cases, money that should not be considered income is mistakenly counted as part of your monthly earnings. In that case, our Arkansas disability benefits attorneys can help clarify your application and hopefully get you the benefits you need.
Call Our Disability Benefits Attorneys for Assistance
If you want to apply for disability benefits but are unsure if your borderline personality disorder is covered, our Arkansas disability benefits lawyers can help you. Call (479) 316-0438 for a free case evaluation today.