Crowe & Shanahan is a St. Louis law firm focused entirely on Social Security Disability matters. If a mental health condition prevents you from maintaining employment, our mental illness disability lawyers can help you understand your options and pursue the benefits you may be entitled to receive.
A diagnosis alone does not automatically qualify you for disability benefits. The Social Security Administration must have medical evidence showing that your condition limits your ability to perform substantial gainful activity, meaning work that involves significant duties and earnings. The condition must also have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 continuous months or be expected to result in death.
Some mental health conditions appear in the Social Security Administration’s list of severe impairments. However, applicants may qualify even when their condition does not meet every requirement of a listed impairment. Our attorneys evaluate how your symptoms, treatment history and functional limitations may affect your claim.
Our St. Louis lawyers assist people seeking Social Security Disability Insurance benefits . Social Security Disability Insurance, commonly called SSDI, is generally available to qualifying workers who have earned enough work credits through employment.
We also represent applicants seeking Supplemental Security Income benefits . Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a needs-based program for people who meet the Social Security Administration’s financial and disability requirements.
Unlike nationwide practices, our law office focuses on people in St. Louis, eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. Our attorneys provide personal attention, take time to understand your circumstances and treat you as a person rather than a case number.
While other Social Security Disability practices provide a nationwide practice, we pride ourselves on focusing all our efforts on residents in St. Louis, eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. To schedule a meeting with one of our St. Louis mental illness disability attorneys, contact our office online or call us at 314-231-6660.
The Social Security Administration evaluates many types of mental health conditions. The agency considers the medical evidence as well as the ways your symptoms affect your ability to understand information, interact with others, concentrate, complete tasks and manage daily activities.
Common diagnosed mental conditions accepted by the SSA include:
Our mental disability attorneys do not rely on a diagnosis alone. Our St. Louis law firm examines how often symptoms occur, how severe they are and whether you can function reliably throughout a normal workday and workweek.
Mental health disability claims often require different evidence than claims based on physical conditions. Symptoms may not appear on an X-ray or laboratory test, so the Social Security Administration reviews treatment notes, medical opinions, reported symptoms and evidence of day-to-day functioning.
Common roadblocks in mental health disability claims include:
Our mental health disability lawyers can review your medical history, identify missing evidence and help explain how your condition affects your ability to work on a sustained basis. Our attorneys may also work with your treatment providers to obtain records and opinions that clearly describe your functional limitations.
A Social Security Disability claim may involve detailed forms, medical records, employment information and strict deadlines. Our lawyers help clients understand each stage of the process while building a claim that accurately reflects the effects of their condition.
Depending on your circumstances, our law office may help by:
Our St. Louis attorneys represent disabled individuals and their families throughout eastern Missouri, the Metro East and southern Illinois. As a local law firm, we give each client direct, one-on-one attention throughout the claim or appeal.
Seeking disability benefits does not mean your condition is untreatable. It means that a medically determinable condition has prevented you from performing substantial gainful activity for at least 12 continuous months or is expected to do so. If you return to work after a qualifying period of disability, one of our lawyers can determine whether a closed period of benefits may apply to your circumstances.
If you are struggling to maintain employment, speak with our St. Louis mental health disability lawyers today. Our attorneys serve clients throughout eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. Use our online contact form to request a free evaluation from our law firm, or learn more about our attorneys.
We take pride in the strong professional and personal relationships we build with each client. You will meet with the attorney early on and that same attorney will be with you throughout the process. You can rely on us to give you honest advice about your options because this is the right thing to do.
As your advocates, we will remain by your side throughout the process, developing a strategy that fits your specific circumstances. Your legal and financial issues are unique, so we tailor our advice according to your situation. Many individuals and families have benefited from this legal approach.
