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Can You Get Social Security For A Mental Health Disorder?

18 January 2017

Arthur Young

Social security disability benefits are provided by the Social Security Administration. They are meant to provide financial support for people who have a disability that keeps them from being able to earn income through a full-time job. While it is typically reserved for physical disabilities, there are also some mental illnesses that can be considered under the social security disability coverage. Here are some things to know about getting this type of disability coverage for a mental health disorder.

You Must Meet the SSA's Requirements

Just like any applicant for social security, you must be able to meet the Social Security Administration's (SSA) requirements for benefits. They are strict about what a full-time job entails, what is considered a disability, and how you have to go about proving your disability and filing for benefits. If you aren't sure, you can visit your local SSA office to get the requirements in writing and know if you might be eligible.

In general, you need to have a mental illness that keeps you from working full-time hours in order to support yourself. There may also be partial benefits if you are able to work part-time hours, but it is still not enough to support yourself. There may also be other requirements, such as the severity of your illness.

Only Certain Mental Illnesses Apply

Not all mental illnesses are going to be covered by the SSA for social security disability benefits. The condition must be enough to keep you from holding any type of job for an extended period of time. For example, having moderate depression or some anxiety probably does not apply. This might make some things challenging, but you should still be able to hold down a job with these conditions. However, if you have anxiety so bad that you can't even leave your house without a major mental episode, then that might apply. Some other mental illnesses often included are:

• Schizophrenia
• Autism
• Asperger's
• Dementia or Alzheimer's
• Severe PTSD
• Severe depression

You Must Have Proper Medical Proof

Naturally, you need to be able to prove that you have the illness you claim and that it keeps you from working a full-time job. This requires not just one visit to a doctor, but multiple visits to a mental health professional that show you have tried to get counseling or therapy for the condition. You must show through your medical records that you actively have tried to get treatment, and continue to get treatment. That doctor must be able to provide written proof that your mental illness is a disability.

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