Though people who do not have a mental illness cannot always see it, mental health continues to be just as important as physical health, a truth that is recognized even by the Social Security Administration (SSA). In fact, more than 25% of disabled workers covered by the SSA in 2017 received benefits specifically for a mental illness.
What Specific Mental Illnesses Are Covered?
Since there are so many different mental disorders to account for, the SSA actually covers quite a variety, breaking them down by organizing them into categories of impairment. These include:
- Neurocognitive Disorders
- Schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders
- Depressive Bipolar, and related conditions
- Intellectual Disorders
- Anxiety/Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
- Somatic Symptom, and related disorders
- Personality/Impulse Control Disorders
- Autism
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Trauma/Stress-Related Disorders
Each of these categories, of course, include different specific diagnoses that require unique evaluations to authenticate, such as PTSD, multiple sclerosis, schizoaffective disorder, agoraphobia, among many others. That means, the SSA recognizes that every person is different and every case unique, so really the best thing you can do is simply know ahead of time what criteria you have to meet.
SSD Benefits Requirements
Although every mental illness is assessed independently, “according to its own set of criteria,” the criteria for receiving Social Security disability benefits of any kind remains, for the most part, straightforward. In order to qualify:
- Every applicant must meet the criteria of the condition or illness they are attempting to receive benefits for;
- The sum of an applicant’s disabling conditions must be equivalent to the outlined criteria, or prevent them from “engaging in any gainful activity;”
- An applicant must prove that they are pursuing and complying with treatment for their condition or illness throughout the duration of their assistance.
Ultimately, however, evidence of your condition will be the most important thing. The SSA will demand “objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source to establish that you have a medically determinable mental disorder,” as well as evidence of the severity of your condition and its ability to impact your employment. You might need to collect such evidence from medical sources, people you know, vocational programs, and other unlikely places, but this will make up a bulk of your applicant information.
Just remember, through it all, if you ever need any assistance figuring out what you need/deserve, or how to get it, our remarkably capable Social Security disability attorneys at Aiello Law Group will always be here for you. No matter how frustrating or confusing your situation might be, we’re certain we can support you through it – always at no upfront cost! Call us, today, at 313.964.4900 or fill out the form in the sidebar or on our contact page, and learn more about how we can help you.
