Mental illness can be a debilitating condition that affects a person’s ability to work and maintain a steady income. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers disability benefits for individuals with mental health conditions that prevent them from working. Let’s review the availability of Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits for mental illness with the help of a Social Security disability lawyer.
Disability Benefits for Mental Health
The SSA recognizes a wide range of mental health conditions that may qualify for SSD benefits. These include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disabilities.
Qualification for SSD Benefits
To qualify for SSD benefits, your mental illness must be severe enough to prevent you from working and engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Your condition must be expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death. Additionally, you must have paid into the Social Security system through payroll taxes for a sufficient period of time.
Working with a Social Security Disability Lawyer
Navigating the SSD application process can be challenging, especially when dealing with a mental health condition. Working with an experienced Social Security disability lawyer can increase your chances of success. A disability lawyer can help you gather the necessary medical evidence to support your claim, complete the application paperwork accurately and thoroughly, and represent you at hearings and appeals, if necessary.
How to Make Your Best Case to the SSA
To improve your chances of being approved for SSD benefits, it’s essential to provide the SSA with comprehensive medical evidence of your mental illness. This may include detailed medical records from your mental health providers, statements from family members, friends, or colleagues who have witnessed the impact of your condition on your daily life, and a detailed description of how your mental illness affects your ability to work and perform daily activities.
The Appeals Process
If your initial application for SSD benefits is denied, don’t give up. You have the right to appeal the decision. The appeals process consists of four levels: reconsideration, hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), review by the Appeals Council, and Federal Court review. Working with a disability lawyer can be particularly helpful during the appeals process, as they can present your case in the most compelling manner possible.
Contact Merryl Jones, Second Chance Lawyer, to Speak with a Social Security Disability Lawyer
If you’re considering applying for SSD benefits for a mental illness or have been denied benefits, contact Merryl Jones, Second Chance Lawyer, to speak with an experienced Social Security disability lawyer. Our team is dedicated to helping individuals with mental health conditions secure the benefits they deserve.
