DISABILITY BENEFITS (ssd, ssi) FOR CHRONIC MENTAL DISABILITIES





Many claimants for social security disability (ssd) and supplemental security income (ssi) have the mistaken idea that it is much more difficult to win disability benefits for any one of a number of chronic mental disabilities.

However, the fundamental standards for cases involving mental disabilities are the same as for physical impairments. Disabilities of any kind must simply meet the following criteria:
  1. They must be severe;
  2. They must last long enough to prevent a disability applicant from engaging in past work (jobs a claimant has done in the past) or "other" types of work.
Now, in actuality, the social security administration's definition of disability is a little more complex than this. For example, an ssd or ssi claimant can work and be considered for disability benefits as long as they are not capable of earning a certain level of income each month (to read up on this, visit the definitions section of this site and look under SGA, or substantial gainful activity).

Also, when the social security administration talks about "other" work, they really mean work that a claimant might possibly be capable of doing, after giving consideration to whatever physical and mental limitations a claimant might have as a result of their cumulative condition.



Simply put, though, assuming that a benefit applicant's disabling condition meets the criteria listed above, that claimant can be approved for ssdi (social security disability insurance) or ssi, regardless of what their various disabilities are.

Having said all this, it may be useful to note that a large percentage of applications for disability list mental disabilities as well as physical ones. For instance, many individuals who alleged carpal tunnel syndrome or degenerative disc disease also list depression, panic attacks, or anxiety disorder as one of their chronic disabilities.

And claimants whose alleged impairments are of a mental nature only (i.e., they are not alleging any physical problems at all) should not be concerned that their claim will be weaker or less likely to win. Mental impairments are given the same range of consideration as physical impairments. And, in fact, all disability claims that indicate the existence of mental impairments are reviewed by DDS (disability determination services - the agency that evaluates claims for the social security administration) psychological or psychiatric consultants.



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SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY OVERVIEW PT 2 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS Q&A
MORE DISABILITY QUESTIONS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY HOW TO 'S SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY TIPS
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DISABILITY EXAMINER ANSWERS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY OVERVIEW PT 1 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY MYTHS


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ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 3         ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 4












Additional Questions & Answers re: ssd ssdi ssi


  1. How hard is it to win a case for disability benefits?

  2. How do you get ssi disability benefits?

  3. Can you qualify for both ssd and ssi disability benefits?

  4. Can a disability award be retroactive ?

  5. Social security disability ssi - the phone interview

  6. How do you get social security disability or ssi the first time you apply ?

  7. How to guarantee yourself social security disability

  8. Social security disability ssi - office of hearings and appeals

  9. Social Security disability ssi - objective medical evidence

  10. What should I say at a social security disability or ssi appointment

  11. Case sent to disability quality branch. Does this mean it was approved or denied ?

  12. Can you win a social security disability claim (ssd, ssdi) without an advocate ?

  13. How do you know if your SSD disability attorney or lawyer is good?

  14. Filing a social security disability or ssi application as soon as your eligible

  15. What do i do if my application for disability benefits gets denied

  16. Social security application

  17. Denied disability ?


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