If I Have a Severe Mental Illness, Can I Collect Social Security Disability?
The law provides for Social Security Disability benefits if a person can medically demonstrate an inability to work due to a severe medical condition. The major hurdle facing a person with a diagnosed mental illness is the inability to provide ‘objective medical evidence’ (such as an MRI, CT Scan, or lab work) that can clearly show the severity of the mental illness. Therefore, the adjudicators for the Social Security Administration look at other factors to determine the severity of a mental illness.
Such factors include:
– Hospitalizations
– Suicide attempts
– Psychological exams
– Quantity of work attempts
– SMI determination
– Length of treatment
– Type(s) of treatment
– Medical opinions
Statistics show that SSA denies claimants approximately 90% of the time. Further, statistics demonstrate that it is more difficult to get approved for Social Security Disability based on a mental illness than other conditions and impairments. If you are interested in seeking disability due to a mental illness, it is strongly recommended that you consult with an experienced representative who can clearly explain to you what will likely be needed for you to win your particular claim.
Examples of Conditions We Have Helped Clients Get Approved
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Severe Anxiety
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Intellectual Disorders
- Bipolar I and II
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder