Intellectual Disability and Social Security Disability Benefits

Social Security Disability Attorney in Illinois

Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits For Intellectual Disability?

Intellectual disability is absolutely recognized by the Social Security Administration! Having your doctor fill out a Mental Impairment Evaluation can be especially helpful when applying for disability benefits due to intellectual disability. If your doctor refuses to fill one out, which is fairly common, make sure that you have the results of an official IQ test demonstrating the criteria below.

If you suffer from intellectual disability and it is preventing you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI). When you apply for disability benefits due to intellectual disability, the Social Security Administration will first determine whether your condition is severe enough to meet a listing. If you meet a listing, fantastic, you will be found disabled! If you do not meet a listing, the Social Security Administration will then evaluate your residual functional capacity (the most work that you can do despite your medical condition(s)) and determine whether you are entitled to disability benefits.

Is There A Specific Listing For Intellectual Disability?

The Social Security Administration recognizes intellectual disability under Listing of Impairments 12.05: Intellectual Disability, which can be found on the Social Security Administration website. However, because most of the listing is structured using medical terminology, it can be quite difficult to know whether you will meet the listing for mental retardation. If you or a family member suffers from mental retardation and are unable to work and want to know more about whether you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits, contact Pearson Disability Law, LLC.

If I Do Not Meet The Listing, Is There Another Way To Get Social Security Disability Benefits?

Yes! If you do not meet Listing 12.05 and intellectual disability prevents you from working, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration will proceed with your case by evaluating your Residual Functional Capacity. To do this, the Administration will determine the most amount of work that you can do despite your limitations. The only way Social Security will understand how debilitating your symptoms can be, is if you are regularly seeing your psychologist and/or psychiatrist and talking with them about how you feel. In addition to mental health records, there are other forms of evidence that can be used to win your case. Some examples are school transcripts, IEP reports, job coaching records, or other therapy records. Your doctors must document severity of your symptoms in their records whenever you visit.

Contact Pearson Disability Law, LLC at 312-999-0999 to schedule a free consultation.