When a person catches a cold or is feeling otherwise tired or un-well, they often check in with their body to see if there is something going on that’s causing them illness or injury. However, mental health isn’t always treated the same. Mental health is just as important as physical health but is often overlooked by the general public. Luckily, Social Security Disability benefits are not as biased.
This is because those who suffer from mental illness in which causes a disability and are unable to work can collect Social Security Disability Benefits for Mental Conditions. There is a list of diagnoses and mental disorders that if one has been officially diagnosed with, can quickly clear the person to receive benefits. However, certain conditions can appear intermittently in a person’s life or the disability itself can make it difficult or impossible to explain oneself to the SSA. Mental illness can also be more subjective than physical illness which can make it a bit tougher to prove.
The type of abilities measured by the SSA in psychological tests can test a person’s abilities in the following categories: Understanding and Memory, Social Interactions, Sustained Concentration and Persistence Adaptation. After an assessment has been completed, the SSA will enter a decision on a person’s ability to achieve gainful employment. If found ‘markedly limited’ in at least one of the categories, this is a good case for SSD benefits.
For those who are struggling with mental illness or have a loved one with a mental disorder, this process can feel entirely overwhelming. Even getting a mentally ill person to show up to an SSD benefits hearing can be difficult depending on a person’s impairment. A person’s cooperation is necessary to receive benefits. You can help yourself or a loved one get the benefits they deserve.