Social Security Disability and Qualifying Mental Disorders

The state of our mental health has a significant impact on how well we can manage our lives and how well we perform on our jobs. Mental illness, just like physical illness, can become disabling and debilitating enough to keep us from working, making it near impossible to support ourselves and our loved ones. That is why the Social Security Administration acknowledges certain mental illnesses as being disabling enough to warrant a person eligible for collecting Social Security Disability benefits.

How does the Social Security Administration evaluate mental health disorders?

In order to be eligible to qualify for SDD benefits from the Social Security Administration, your mental health condition must be severe and it must:

1. Keep you from working full time
2. Be expected to last for at least one year
3. Be potentially life-threatening

It is important to understand that simply meeting the initial criteria does not mean that you will qualify for SSD automatically. Every year only about 28% of applicants are awarded benefits at the initial claims stage. Working with an experienced SSD attorney may help improve your chances of getting benefits at the initial application or on appeal.

What kinds of mental illnesses qualify for SSD?

The SSA recognizes several mental conditions as inherently disabling. They have a “blue book” of official impairments, and some of the listings of mental conditions include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Autistic disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Identity disorders
• Mental retardation
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Psychotic disorders
• Schizophrenia

If you have been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with these or any other mental disorder you should be undergoing regular treatment and seeing your doctor on a consistent basis.

What information does my doctor need to supply?

You will work with your doctor to gather medical documentation of your impairments due to mental illness. Your doctor will be asked to provide a report that includes a mental status evaluation, psychological testing and a chronicle of your mental health history.

Your doctor will also supply a list of the medications you have been taking and are taking, whether they have been effective, and whether they caused any side effects or complications. Also, your doctor will supply records of your hospitalizations that include your admission and discharge summaries.

What impact will my chemical dependency have on my SSD application?

The SSA will first determine whether your chemical dependency or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability. Upon evaluating which of your physical and mental limitations would remain if you stopped using drugs and alcohol, they will then be able to ascertain whether or not the drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability.

If your addiction can be deemed immaterial to the mental condition for which you are applying for SSD benefits, then the addiction should not prevent you from qualifying for disability benefits.

What additional information will support my claim?

If your mental health condition caused any challenges on your job or in your workplace, you might ask your former supervisor for a statement. Relatives and close friends can also give statements about how their symptoms have had a negative impact on their ability to handle daily life and relationships.

Your best first step is to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable SSD attorney who will review your case and answer your questions. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we can help you with that. Please contact our firm if you live in or around Memphis, Jackson or West Tennessee and wish to pursue Social Security Disability benefits.