If you have a mental health disorder that significantly affects your ability to work and you have worked in the past you can apply for Social Security disability benefits. Applying for disability benefits for a mental health condition is just apply for benefits with a physical health condition.
Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety qualify for disability benefits just like physical health conditions do. As long as you meet the requirements listed in the SSA’s Blue Book for the condition that you have you are eligible to apply for benefits.
Qualifying For Disabilities With Mental Health Disorders
Mental health conditions are considered disabling when the symptoms of that condition are so severe they impact your ability engage in the world and complete daily tasks, including daily living tasks like getting up and getting out of the house.
To prove that your mental health condition is disabling you will need to show that you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition and that your symptoms are severe. Since there are not many physical tests that can determine the severity of your symptoms you can submit a mental residual functioning capacity form or MRFC with your application for benefits. The MRFC should be filled out by your doctor and list in great detail how your symptoms limit your ability to function.
Mental Health Conditions That Qualify For Disability Benefits
There are dozens of mental health conditions that qualify someone to receive disability benefits but the most common ones are:
Depression
More than 17 million adults in the United States have Major Depression, a type of depression that is considered to be debilitating and can be so serious that someone who has it can’t work. The symptoms can be so severe that people can no longer perform daily routine tasks like showering or getting dressed.
Anxiety
It’s estimated that a whopping 31% of the adult population in the United States suffers from anxiety. Anxiety can cause disabling symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and insomnia or other sleep disorders.
Bi-Polar Affective Disorder
About 2% of the adults in the United States have bi-polar disorder. Bi-polar disorder causes people who have it to swing between periods of intense feelings, both highs and lows. People who have bi-polar disorder often experience racing thought, distractibility, insomnia, sleep disorders, and depression.
Schizophrenia
Nearly 3 million adults in the United States have Schizophrenia. This mental health disorder can cause debilitating symptoms like headaches, delusions, hallucinations, and motor skills problems.
Dementia
Around 400,000 people in the U.S. have early onset dementia. Early onset dementia occurs in people under the age of 64 and it causes disabling symptoms like memory impairment and cognitive decline.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits with a Mental Health Disorder
If you have a mental health condition that makes it impossible for you to work, you can apply for disability benefits on the SSA’s website. It’s a good idea to walk with an SSD lawyer to find out more about the MRFC and what documentation you should submit to prove your claim. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
Additional Resources
- Mental Residual Functional Capacity Assessment
- How Severe Does My Mental Illness Have to be to Get Disability?
- How Much Does Disability Pay with a Mental Health Disorder?
- How To Apply For Disability Benefits With Anxiety
- How to Apply for Disability with a Mental Health Condition
- What Mental Disorders Qualify for Social Security Disability?
