The Psychologist Exam for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Those who file for Social Security Disability with an alleged mental condition (physical and mental impairments listed on disability applications are classified as “allegations” until the examiner has decided the claim) are often sent for a mental consultative examination (CE).

Mental consults are like physical consultative exams in that they are used by disability examiners to help establish the claimant’s current medical state. Oftentimes, it is the case that those with mental disorders have received little if any medical treatment for their condition, so it’s difficult for a disability examiner to determine the nature and scope of the impairment and how it affects the claimant’s ability to work.

Before a disability examiner can make a decision on a claim for SSD or SSI, he has to have recent medical evidence; Social Security has defined “recent” as within the past three months. However, even if you have had medical treatment for a mental condition within this timeframe, the examiner can order a mental exam for further clarification.

The scope of a mental consultation is narrow, and does not include the evaluation of any physical symptoms, such as pain, inability to lift, bend, drive, etc. Instead, the mental consult is used to determine such things as memory function (the memory scale exam), impaired cognitive function (IQ tests, concentration tasks, etc.), and social skills (ability to function in a social or work environment).

Psychological exams are usually performed by psychologists with independent practices who do not work for the Social Security Administration, but who have signed a contract to perform mental exams for the SSA. Mental exams, like physical consultative exams, are usually brief, and their findings alone will not determine the approval or disapproval of a claim. However, they can be very influential to the disability examiner deciding the case, and for this reason it is important that those who are scheduled for a mental exam make every effort to attend, or to notify the Social Security office as soon as they become aware of a schedule conflict.

If you are able to gather medical records for your mental (or physical) medical condition and provide them to Social Security up front, it can make the process run more smoothly and efficiently, and could mean a faster turnaround on a decision in your case. Disability examiners sometimes request medical records several times before receiving them, and in a very few cases the records are simply not given to the examiner unless the patient himself picks them up and hand-delivers them to the local Social Security office.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

Qualifying for Disability - Who Qualifies for SSD or SSI benefits?

How Long Does It Take To Get Disability Benefits When You First File?

Will my claim for SSD or SSI Disability Benefits be denied?

How Quickly must you file an Appeal if a Disability Claim is Denied?

Can I Collect Unemployment While I File For Disability Benefits (SSD or SSI)?

How Far Back Does Social Security Look At Your Medical Records for an SSDI or SSI Case?

If I am Awarded Social Security Disability Will My Benefits be Cutoff Later?

List of Impairments for Social Security Disability

The Social Security Disability Approval Process

Will I Qualify For SSI, How Do I Get Approved?

Will An Attorney Be More Successful On A Social Security Appeal?

Applying for disability benefits in Missouri

Financial help when filing for Disability

Social Security Disability SSI and the Onset Date

Can You File For Disability While Receiving Unemployment?

Will my disability case be reviewed after I have been approved for disability benefits ?

How long does it take to be approved for Social Security disability ?

Filing for SSI Disability

Social Security Disability Approval

If you get Social Security disability benefits do you get Medicare or Medicaid?

What are the Odds or Chances of Being Approved for Disability?

Will a Disability attorney try to Help You get Your Medical Records?

Is there a time limit for how long you can collect Social Security Disability or SSI benefits?

Pemphigus and Filing for Disability

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Alabama

Social Security Disability Appeal Deadlines Are Always 60 Days

Can You Appeal A Decision By A Judge On A Social Security Disability or SSI Case?

What makes a person eligible to receive disability benefits?

Filing an Application for Disability Benefits under SSD or SSI

Does The Social Security Disability Reconsideration Have A Time Limit?

Peripheral Neuropathy, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

Can I Receive More Social Security Disability If I Get Another Condition Or Illness?

What Does It Mean If you Are Denied For Disability Because Of Other Work?

Social Security Denial Letter

Should I List My Past Depression Medications on My Social Security Disability Application?

What is the Process to be Approved for SSD or SSI Disability Benefits?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials