 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
Mental Disability Benefits and What Social Security will ConsiderHow to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits While visiting an online disability forum discussing Social Security disability programs, I was surprised by how many individuals with mental impairments feel that the Social Security Administration does not consider their mental impairments as seriously as a physical impairment. Does the Social Security Administration evaluate mental and physical impairments in the same way? The simple answer to this question is yes. Social Security evaluates all impairments in the same manner, consequently a mental condition may be considered just as disabling as a physical impairment by the Social Security Administration --- as long as the condition has prevented you from working for the past year or is projected to prevent you from working for a year. What are some of the mental impairments that are considered to be disabling by the Social Security Administration? Depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, or any other mental impairment could be considered disabling by Social Security. What does Social Security look at when evaluating a mental impairment? Social Security gathers all the medical records from the physicians, hospitals, and clinics that you have provided during your initial disability evaluation. Additionally, they may request that you fill out informational forms, and they may contact your third party person (the person you listed on your initial application, who knows about your condition). If you were not able to provide current medical information (within the last three months) when you filed your claim, or your medical information was insufficient to make a medical determination, you may have to attend a consultative examination to determine your current mental status. What is a consultative exam? A consultative examination is an exam that is provided by a physician who is hired by Social Security to evaluate the severity of you mental condition. Generally, it is better to have mental health treatment with your own psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional, than to depend upon an consultative examination with a Social Security consultative physician. Why so? Simply because it is more advantageous to have your decision based upon information gathered over a long period of time verus just one short visit to someone who has never treated you in the past. 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Individual Questions and Answers 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 |