{"id":435,"date":"2022-12-16T15:52:56","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T15:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jackson-macnichol.com\/?p=435"},"modified":"2023-01-26T15:58:56","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T15:58:56","slug":"mental-illness-ssd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jackson-macnichol.com\/mental-illness-ssd\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Illness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mental Illness and Social Security Disability<\/span><\/h2>\n

Both physical and mental medical disorders qualify for Social Security disability benefits. However, it could be more challenging to qualify for benefits if you have a mental illness. Why? The nature of mental illness alone holds some of the answers. It can be challenging to assess the severity of a disorder objectively and to identify the signs of mental illness.<\/span><\/p>\n

A quarter of people who apply for Social Security benefits list mental health disorders or illnesses as their main medical issues that prevent them from working. For most people, <\/span>Mental Illness and Social Security Disability are complicated matters to tackle.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

With the help of our <\/span>Maine veterans benefits attorneys<\/span><\/a> at Jackson & MacNichol Law Offices, your concerns about mental illness and security disability will be further discussed, including eligibility for <\/span>veterans disability benefits<\/span><\/a>, types of VA appeals and more. Contact us now!<\/span><\/p>\n

What Social Security Thinks of Mental Illness-Related Disability Claims?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability claims examiners aren’t psychiatrists<\/b>, thus they frequently lack a thorough understanding of the limitations imposed by specific mental illnesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, some disability examiners may mistakenly believe you are cured if you aren’t overtly exhibiting symptoms of mental illnesses like bipolar disorder (manic depression), as they are cyclical in nature. But in truth, it’s possible that such symptoms have only temporarily subsided and may soon reappear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, some disability examiners could have a bias against mental illness-related disability claims. It is concerning because there are so many people suffering from mental diseases in the country, but it is also because most mental illnesses are evaluated using subjective criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Mental Conditions Make Someone Eligible For Social Security Disability?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>Blue Book,<\/b> the manual used by Social Security to assess disability claims, specifies 11 different categories of what it refers to as “mental disorders” as qualifying medical conditions for people to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).<\/span><\/p>\n

It is important to remember that not all of them are commonly regarded as mental illnesses. Autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and diminished mental function brought on by a medical condition like dementia are all listed in the Blue Book.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Categories of Mental Disorders<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Blue Book divides mental disorders into seven categories, seven of which group conditions more closely related to mental illness:<\/span><\/p>\n

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders<\/b> that are characterized by hallucinations, delusions, or extremely disorganized or catatonic behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n