Qualifications for Social
What Mental Health Disorders Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
In recent years, Social Security has expanded its list of recognized mental health disorders that qualify for disability benefits.
Social Security keeps a list of mental and physical conditions called the “blue book,” and if your condition is there, it could help give you a map through the application process.
Social Security lists eligible mental health disorders under the following 11 general categories:
- Neurocognitive disorders
- Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
- Depressive or bipolar disorders
- Intellectual disorders
- Anxiety or compulsive disorders
- Somatic disorders
- Personality and impulse-control disorders
- Autism
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Eating disorders
- Trauma and stress-related disorders
Don’t worry if your specific condition isn’t there, it probably still fits into one of these categories. The key to Social Security Disability benefits is proving that your symptoms, taken all together, prevent you from holding a job.
You can do this with thorough documentation of both your medical and work history. If you want more details about documenting how your disability impacts your ability to work, see our blog on the three-step process.
You can also take comfort knowing you’re not alone and you’re not the first to apply.
In Utah, almost one out of every three people face mental health challenges at some point in their lives. When severe, mental health disorders are the third-leading reason why people seek disability benefits, according to data from Social Security.
If you’re wondering whether your condition qualifies, the attorneys at Barnes Disability can take a look at your case.
We have helped many people with these conditions and more:
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Personality disorders
- Brain injuries
- Learning disorders
Our Utah disability lawyers evaluate benefits claims at every stage of the process, and we do it free of charge.
How Do I Prove My Mental Disorder Qualifies for Social Security?
The process for proving that your mental health condition makes you eligible for Social Security Disability benefits in Utah follows the same steps as all types of cases.
Social Security evaluates your disability benefits application in two general ways: documentation of your illness and its impact on your life.
The documentation consists of your medical records and your work history. Social Security defines disability not just by your impairment but by how it prevents you from doing a job—any job—for at least a year.
They will want to see your charts, psychiatrist’s notes, the medications you take, hospital visits you have made, and records from any Utah medical clinics. You will want to show that you have kept up with your treatment plan. An interruption in care could be grounds for denial.
The impact on your life is an evaluation called your “residual functional capacity” or RFC. For mental conditions, your RFC measures the following:
- How you understand, remember or apply information
- How you interact with others
- Your ability to concentrate, persist, or keep pace performing a task
- Your ability to adapt to changes or manage your daily life
If your impairment seriously limits these functions, you may qualify for disability benefits.
Living with a mental health disorder is exhausting. It’s frustrating. It’s hard for others to understand what you’re going through. It can make navigating the Social Security system an even greater challenge.
You don’t have to do it alone.
The disability attorneys at Barnes Disability have helped thousands of Utah residents get the benefits they need to find peace as they manage their mental health conditions.
Do You Want to Know More About Our Disability Lawyers in Utah?
Barnes Disability also helps with long-term disability claims when you have a private insurance policy to protect your finances if you lose the ability to work. Our disability attorneys have decades of experience and a mission to help everyday people find peace and dignity in difficult times.
