Mental health illness and social security disability

On Behalf of | Feb 23, 2022 | Blog, Social Security Disability Insurance |

You may qualify for social security disability insurance benefits if you suffer from a mental health illness. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes certain mental health conditions as disabling.

If you have a diagnosis that meets one of the categories listed by SSA, you will also have to show evidence of significant impairment.

Types of mental health diagnoses

The categories of mental health disorders recognized by SSA are:

  • Neurocognitive
  • Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic
  • Depressive, bipolar and other related
  • Intellectual
  • Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive
  • Somatic symptoms and related
  • Personality and impulse-control
  • Autism spectrum
  • Neurodevelopmental
  • Eating
  • Trauma and stressor-related

You would need to have a documented diagnosis from a medical professional to qualify for one of these categories. Many different mental health conditions fall into one of the listed categories.

Additional criteria for qualification

Each diagnosis category has different criteria listed that an applicant must meet. You must show medical evidence of your condition for all of the disorders. You must show that the condition significantly impacts your functionality for some illnesses. The SSA uses a rating scale to determine how the affliction affects a person’s functioning.

If your mental health disorder is severe and persistent, you can submit evidence of your functional deficit or meet the third set of criteria. This criterion includes that you require ongoing treatment and cannot cope with changes or demands that are not part of your daily routine.

If you struggle with mental health to the point you cannot go to work, you should contact a professional to get a diagnosis.

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