Over 11 Million people around the country collect Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits including 1.6 Million children of disabled workers.
Many of these rely on SSD for many reasons, from physical ailments to mental challenges. Sadly, though SSD exists to help those in need, social stigma about mental illness has made many people reluctant to seek help. But it is getting better.
MENTAL ILLNESS COSTS IN MANY WAYS
Diagnosing mental illness is challenging and treating it is expensive. About $150 billion per year is spent on mental illness treatments including drugs, therapy, hospitalizations, and other medical applications. But the larger cost is economic; a recent study from the American Journal of Psychiatry noted that “people with serious mental illness earn, on average, $16,000 less than their mentally well counterparts, totaling about $193 billion annually in lost earning.”
Fortunately, knowledge about the brain has grown in recent years, verifying how mood disorders are no different than any other physical injury — with real biological components. All this newfound attention for mental health may ultimately have repercussions on Social Security eligibility and coverage rules. Right now, about 1.4 million Americans receive SSD support for mood disorders and other mental health challenges and treatments are more readily available,
WHAT IS A MENTAL ILLNESS ACCORDING TO SSA?
The Social Security Administration established guidelines for which conditions qualify a claimant for Social Security disability benefits. Section 12 of the Blue Book deals with mental disorders, detailing which types of mental disorders can qualify you for benefits, and under what circumstances. There are nine categories of mental disorders covered in the Blue Book. These include:
- Affective disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Autismand related disorders
- Mental retardation
- Organic Mental Disorders
- Personality disorders
- Schizophrenia, paranoia, and psychotic disorders
- Somatoform disorders
- Substance addiction
Each type of disorder is evaluated according to its own set of criteria” To qualify for benefits with that condition, a petitioner must be able to show that they meet the criteria or that the sum total of all of the disabling conditions is equivalent to the listed criteria or otherwise completely hinders one from engaging in any gainful activity.”
Regardless of which type of mental disorder individuals are dealing with, they will need to be able to show that they are receiving ongoing treatment or risk losing their benefits.
Filing for Social Security Disability benefits takes a long time and can be a challenging process. Feel free to call our offices @305-653-5555 or fill out our contact form here to speak with one of our experiences Social Security attorneys. Their are no charges for fees unless our firm wins your appeal. We are dedicated to helping our clients collect the benefits they deserve. Listen to one clients story here..
Good luck.