The Social Security Administration recognizes a wide variety of mental disorders as having the potential to cause total long term disability. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits based on a mental disorder, your condition must be diagnosed by a doctor and meet the criteria which any other illness or injury must meet in order to qualify for disability, namely: Show
The criteria for disability based on mental health are the same, whether you are applying for SSDI or SSI. With these broad criteria in mind, the SSA recognizes several categories of mental illness which may be considered for Social Security Disability.
The list of recognized mental disorders is not entirely complete. Any mental disorder which renders you unable to perform gainful work may be considered for Social Security Disability benefits. Because diagnosing many mental disorders can be somewhat subjective, it can be difficult and time consuming to prove to the SSA that your mental disorder qualifies you as completely disabled according to the SSA definition. You will help your case immeasurably if you keep a running journal of how your mental condition affects your day to day life. Make sure not to limit yourself to notating the ways in which your mental disability has hindered you on the job. The SSA, when determining whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, will take many of your daily activities into account, including your ability to stay focused on household tasks. Is Mental Illness A Disability?Mental illness can be considered a disability by the SSA. Mental illness and mental health conditions qualify for disability benefits from the SSA. The SSA uses a medical guide, which is called the Blue Book, to determine eligibility. Mental disorders are evaluated under Section 12.00 of the Blue Book, which covers Mental Disorders. These disorders are evaluated under their own specific listings. Here are some of the listings:
Each listing has its own specific criteria that must be met for a disability claim to be approved per the Blue Book listing. You will need to provide hard medical evidence and other supporting documentation that confirms your condition meets the criteria. Evidence will include physician notes, test results, and imaging reports when applicable. Notes from a therapist or counselor can also be beneficial to a disability claim for a mental health condition. You will also need to show how the condition affects your daily lifestyle as well as your ability to work and earn a living. Statements from relatives, coworkers, and educators can also be beneficial in a disability claim for mental illness or a mental health condition. The more evidence that you have to support your claim, the more likely you are to have a successful disability claim. What Mental Disorders Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits?The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes several mental disorders that cause long term disability and may entitle the victim to disability benefits. The mental disorders that qualify for benefits can be found in Blue Book section 12.00. There are several categories of mental disorders that the SSA lists. These include the following:
Any mental disorder which results in you unable to take part in gainful employment may be considered for Social Security Disability benefits. The SSA, when reaching a decision on your eligibility for disability benefits, will assess your ability to undertake daily activities as well as your chances of being employed. Qualifying for SSDI and SSI With a Mental Health DisorderIf you have a mental health disorder and it can be found in the SSA’s Blue Book list, this offers you the chance to be eligible to receive disability benefits. There are two types of Social Security disability benefits, one is Social Security Disability Benefits or SSDI and the second is Supplemental Security Income or SSI for mental health conditions. To qualify for SSDI will depend on how many work credits you have accumulated and how old you are. You must have earned at least 40 Social Security credits to qualify for SSDI. You can earn these work credits when you work and pay Social Security taxes. In 2021, to gain one Social Security or Medicare credit you need to earn $1,470 every year. You must earn $5,880 to get the maximum 4 credits per year. Credits are calculated based on your total wages and self-employment income for each year. You may work a whole year to earn 4 credits, or you may only have to work part of a year. If you don’t qualify for SSDI you may be eligible for SSI. To qualify for SSI you need to be at least age 65 or blind or disabled and have the following:
The amount of income you can receive monthly and still get SSI depends partly on where you live. How Much Does Mental Health Disability Pay?The maximum amount you could be paid as a disability benefit depends firstly on whether it is paid through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The sort of disability you have, e.g. mental illness, does not affect how much your monthly benefit payment could be. SSDI benefits are paid to people who have been in employment for long enough to have accumulated sufficient work credits to be eligible for this benefit scheme. The number of work credits depends on how much you have earned each year and whether your employer deducted social security insurance when you paid payroll tax. The maximum number of work credits is 4 in any given year of employment. The actual payment through SSDI is determined by calculating your average earnings over the period you were in employment. This is called your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). The average benefit paid monthly ranges from about $800 up to $1,800, but each year this does go up a little dependent on the increase in the CPI. The maximum benefit through SSDI in 2022 is currently $3,148. The other pathway through which a disability benefit may be paid is the SSI scheme. This is only available for those people who have not worked for long enough to have accumulated sufficient work credits to be eligible for SSDI. Other criteria taken into consideration are an assessment of assets and any other income. This may include an assessment of the income of anyone you live with such as a spouse. A disability benefit through SSI will not be paid if you earn too much or have too much in assets. Currently, the average amount of monthly SSI benefit payment is $604. Have your psychiatrist, medical doctor, and former employers write letters on your behalf detailing how your mental condition has affected your ability to work. You should also consider contracting a Social Security lawyer or advocate who has experience working with cases involving mental disorders. Additional Resources
How much is Social Security disability for mental illness?Disability benefits for mental health condition also varies depending on if the person on disability receives SSI or SSDI benefits. The average SSI payment for adults in 2021 is $586 per month and the average SSDI payment for adults in 2021 is $1,277.
Is it hard to get disability for mental illness?Getting approved for disability by the Social Security Administration for anxiety disorders, an emotional disability or other type of mental disability is harder than getting approved for a physically disabling condition.
What mental disorders qualify for disability?Mental illnesses that can be covered by Social Security disability include depression, anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and intellectual disability.
Does Social Security disability cover mental illness?If you have a mental health condition that limits your ability to perform routine daily tasks and keeps you from performing work to earn a living, you may qualify for disability benefits administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
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