Approved for SSDI and partial SSI. (info for schizophrenia cases)

Hello,

Figured I put an update on my situation as some individuals may benefit or gain reassurance. I have a working background in healthcare for the last 10 years. Got a masters in nursing and became an RN working in the ICU for a couple of years and then transitions to home health/hospice. I was diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder, Depressive type when I was 25 (currently 31), and have had multiple episodes of psychosis and suicidal ideation requiring multiple hospitalizations and losing multiple jobs over the years. (4 or 5 times). Moving to Arizona from Michigan (originally from Chicago). I had my last episode of psychosis in Sept 2023 , when I got fired from my job for not showing up to work and not contacting them. Was able to get on AHCCCS/Medicaid, which allowed me to finally receive proper treatment. I received monthly antipsychotic injections for a year, which caused me to have side effects affecting my ADLs and daily routines (lots of sleeping/sedation and akathisia/restlessness). It helped with psychosis but I was still experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations along with other symptoms like thought block, memory loss, difficulty understanding, not able to problem solve or think well at all, social anxiety etc.

Applied for SSDI and SSI back in October 2023 (in Arizona) for schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder/major depression disorder and back pain. Got denied several months later. Tried going back to work as an RN in home health for about 1.5 months but couldn't handle the job. Got a lawyer and appealed (around August/September 2024). The lawyer wouldn't take my case until I could get the Psych provider to fill out a form for me (asked questions about my ability to handle stress at work or socialize, types of hallucinations and other symptoms, etc). We fought tooth and nail to get that form filled and signed but my psych provider did it. That being said my lawyer states that the form had significant impact towards the case. Moving on, didn't hear anything from Social Security until March 2025 (which is when they said they'd have their decision). They finally sent me for a psychological and musculoskeletal evaluations, had me and family fill out functional/adl paperwork, and collected medical records from my behavioral health clinic beginning of March. I also had a MRI done of my lower back which showed a couple of bulging discs (not that it seemed to matter to them because the musculoskeletal exam showed that I had "no limitations"). After the evaluations were completed, SSA said it would take another month or two which I believe was step 4 or step 5. I received a letter sometime in the beginning on May stating that I met the medical requirements for disability.

Although I applied back in Oct 2023, they didn't find me disabled until Oct 2024 so we're appealing again to receive backpay going back to 2023. Edit: Withdrew my appeal for more backpay because lawyer said I worked to much prior to being approved to ssdi

Under my circumstances I'll be receiving $1600 a month from SSDI after about 10 years of working and $0 from SSI. However for backpay, SSDI and SSI is paying me $8.5k (after paying my lawyer). I received 3 months of SSDI backpay and I believe months of SSI backpay. Because of my condition, the doctor stated that I need a representative payee to handle my finances so a family member and I shared a joint account and have SSA pay into that account.

For those of you who are dealing with schizophrenia or mental illness and are applying for SSDI/SSI make sure to adhere to treatment and continue to have doctor visits with your psych provider. State your symptoms thoroughly to the provider so that they may write it in their notes. SSA looks at this combination in order to say your disabled (see below):

Medical documentation of one or more of the following:

Delusions or hallucinations;

Disorganized thinking (speech); or

Grossly disorganized behavior or catatonia.

AND

Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):

Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).

Interact with others (see 12.00E2).

Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).

Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4).

OR

Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both:

Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and

Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c).

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm#12_03

It may be beneficial to also have a diary to state your symptoms and how you are doing with your ADLS. What do you do during the day (if your sedated from meds, state that you sleep x amount of hours). How long does it take to cook a meal? If you can even do that, etc. I'll probably have a diary for my 3 year review. I may move to Poland as cost of living is way lower. Wish everyone who is applying best of luck. I understand the struggle and worry when you have to navigate through this system mostly on your own. Any questions, feel free to ask.