Can Mental Health Disorders Qualify for Social Security Disability?

What Mental Health Disorders Can Qualify for Social Security Disability?

You can qualify for disability benefits for many types of mental health issues.

When they think about Social Security Disability benefits, many people might picture physical limitations that are easy for others to see. But “invisible” mental health conditions are, in fact, one of the top categories of impairments among people who receive benefits.

You need to show that you meet Social Security’s definition of disability. People win disability benefits for these mental health conditions and more:

• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia

The SSA keeps an official list of impairments that spells out how it evaluates claims for many mental health disorders. The illnesses above are included. But you don’t need to have a diagnosis on the list to receive benefits.

Even if you don’t see your specific mental health issue on Social Security’s website, don’t assume that you can’t qualify for SSDI or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

The Fletcher Van Gilder team can help you show that you meet the general definition of disability, which is that your mental health symptoms will prevent you from working for 12 months or more.

Start with a FREE, no-obligation disability claim evaluation.

What You Need for a Mental Health Disability Claim

The SSA doesn’t take people at their word when they say a mental health issue prevents them from working.

You’ll need objective evidence—from sources other than yourself—when you apply for disability benefits. A local Fort Wayne disability attorney can help you identify the medical records and other evidence that supports your claim, including:

• Evaluations from a psychiatrist or psychologist
• Results of cognitive or psychological tests
• A list of prescription medications you’re taking and their effects
• Information about other treatments you’ve tried and how they have worked
• Records of hospitalizations or emergency room visits
• Your doctor’s assessment of your everyday functioning
• Evidence that you needed accommodations at work, like extra breaks or reduced workloads
• Statements from family members, friends and coworkers who have witnessed how your condition affects your life

Another key to your disability claim will be what Social Security calls “longitudinal evidence.” That means showing how you have faced mental health difficulties over time.

A claims examiner will look for evidence that you’ve dealt with this issue over the years and have a history of attempts to treat your symptoms.

It can be difficult to organize and collect this evidence without help, especially if you’ve seen a lot of doctors over a long period of time or if you lost insurance coverage at some point.

But you don’t have to be alone in your case for Social Security Disability.