What Mental Illnesses Qualify for Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has outlined the mental disorders that qualify for social security disability insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These mental disorders are arranged into 11 categories for disability evaluation. To qualify for disability, an individual must have medical evidence for a mental illness listed in one of these 11 categories and must meet certain additional criteria.

However, sometimes, a mental health disorder that does not fall into these categories may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits. To get disability benefits for a mental health condition, you must prove, perhaps with the help of an attorney or referral service, that you cannot do even a simple, unskilled job due to your mental illness.

Please continue reading to learn what qualifies as a mental disability.

Understanding Disability for Mental Illness: What Mental Illnesses Qualify for Disability?

The Intersection of Mental Health and Disability Law

Mental health and disability are interconnected. People with mental health conditions are at a higher risk of developing disabilities, and people with disabilities are at a higher risk of developing mental disorders. It’s important to understand this complex relationship to support people living with both conditions.

The Role of the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Mental Health Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the largest disability system in the United States. The SSA extends coverage to people whose disabilities leave them unable to “engage in any substantial activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.”

Qualification Criteria: The SSA's Framework for Mental Health Conditions

Key Terms Explained: SSDI, SSI, and the Definition of Disability

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that limits a person’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis. Disabilities can be present from birth (congenital) or be acquired (caused by an illness or accident).

Mental health is a state of well-being that allows a person to cope with normal stressors of life and be a productive member of society. Mental health conditions affect a person’s thinking, mood, or behavior and can cause significant impairments in day-to-day life. Learn about the dangers and effects of chronic stress.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers two separate disability programs for people with disabilities due to mental health conditions:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

This program extends coverage to disabled workers who worked for 5 out of the 10 preceding years in a qualified job and who are below 65 years of age. The benefits are given in the form of a monthly stipend. They are for people who are considered totally incapacitated as well as their surviving family members (spouses and children). Social Security disability benefits help such individuals with medical bills and everyday living expenses, making it possible to manage without an income from employment.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

This program provides coverage to medically indigent persons who suffer from disability, blindness, or are over 65 years of age. Eligibility criteria do not require a work history and are instead based on a means test. Coverage is extended to disabled children who cannot function independently in an age-appropriate manner.

The Importance of the "Blue Book" for Mental Health Disability Claims

The Social Security Administration uses the “Blue Book” to evaluate mental disorders and whether they qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The listings in the Blue Book have mental disorders arranged into 11 categories. There are specific descriptions of impairments and medical conditions. The Blue Book is designed to help people applying for disability benefits to better understand if they qualify.

Evaluating Mental Disorders: What Medical Evidence is Required?

The basic eligibility to qualify for Social Security disability benefits include:

A formal diagnosis of a potentially disabling mental health condition
A diagnosed condition that will cause disability for at least 12 months

If you meet this basic eligibility criterion, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will review your mental health condition in detail to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for SSDI or SSI.

The SSA will try to match your medical records to a disability listed in the Blue Book. The listings in the Blue Book outline the severity of mental disorders and the specific medical evidence required to support a claim. Extensive medical records are necessary to qualify, including:

A diagnosis from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist.
If applicable, evidence of structural abnormalities found on brain scans that are the cause of your symptoms.
Treatment records, including medications, psychotherapy, and other modalities used and their effects. For most mental illnesses, you need to show proof that you have not seen improvement in your condition after taking medication or other treatments for two years or more.
Documentation of increased or decreased symptoms over time.
Documentation of how your symptoms affect day-to-day routine activities or activities of daily living (ADLs).

What Mental Disorders Qualify for Disability Benefits?

The SSA’s Blue Book lists the following mental conditions that qualify for disability benefits:

Neurocognitive disorders

This category includes mental disorders such as memory disturbances, impairment in higher-cognitive processes, disorders affecting language, speech, insight, or judgment, Alzheimer’s dementia, and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

These are mental disorders that typically have an onset during childhood and adolescence but may not be diagnosed until adulthood. Signs and symptoms may include learning difficulties, memory problems, impulse control, difficulty in organizing tasks, deficits in social skills, and repeated accidental injuries. Find out “When to Seek Therapy For Childhood Trauma.”

Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders

This category of mental health conditions includes delusions, hallucinations, catatonic behavior with a significant decline in the ability to function, social withdrawal, inappropriate behavior, odd mannerisms, mood disturbances, and paranoia.

Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders

This category for social security disability evaluation includes symptoms and mental disorders such as depression, sadness, loss of interest in most activities, social withdrawal, significant loss of ability to function, suicidal ideation, sleep disturbances, reduced impulse control, grandiosity, euphoria, and bipolar disorder. Learn more: Borderline Personality Disorder vs Bipolar: What's the Difference?

Check out “What Are The 10 Types Of Depression?”

Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders

Anxiety-related disorders and symptoms such as fear, worry, anxiety, apprehension, restlessness, hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and generalized anxiety disorder are included in this category of social security disability. Check out: “How to Know if Anxiety Meds are Right for You?”

Intellectual disorder

The symptoms that may be eligible for a disability claim under this category include below-average intellectual functioning, poor social and practical skills, and deficits in adaptive functional capacity (historically referred to as mental retardation).

Somatic symptoms and related disorders

This category of mental illness for Social Security disability benefits includes physical symptoms such as fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, abnormal sensations, seizures, and anxiety about personal health.

Personality and impulse-control disorders

Personality disorders and symptoms that may qualify for social security disability include distrust, suspicion, social detachment, hypersensitivity, perfectionism, impulse control, and anger that is grossly out of proportion to any provocation.

Eating disorders

These are a type of mental illness characterized by preoccupation with body weight and shape, restricted calorie consumption, binge eating, self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, social withdrawal, and mood disturbances. Mental disorders that may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits under this category include bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Find out: “Can Medication Help Treat An Eating Disorder?”

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

Some of the mental disorders and symptoms that may be considered for social security disability benefits under this category include impairment in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, stagnation in development, unusual responses to sensory stimuli, short attention span, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and aggressiveness. Learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Trauma and stress-related disorders

These mental disorders are commonly called PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder and may qualify for social security disability. PTSD includes symptoms caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as distressing dreams, flashbacks, avoidance, diminished interest in activities, fear, anger, aggression, anxiety, and irritability. Check out our Blog: “Which Medications Are Approved To Treat PTSD?”

Applying for Disability Benefits with a Mental Illness

How to Get Mental Health Disability: A Step-by-Step Guide

Start your application for Social Security disability benefits by completing a form on the SSA website, by mail, by telephone, or at your local SSA field office. You will need to provide the following information on this form:
1. Basic information such as demographics (age, marital status, employment status, social security coverage, and contact information).
2. Information on jobs held by you in the last 15 years before you became unable to work and the dates of employment.
3. Information on the nature of your potential disability.
4. The contact information of physicians, hospitals, and clinics where you have been treated, your patient ID numbers, and the dates of treatments related to your claim.
5. A list of your medications, prescribing physicians, and treatment dates.
6. A list of medical tests you have undergone and prescribing physicians.
The SSA field office will check if the information you provided passes the initial eligibility requirements. If so, they will transfer your file to the Disability Determination Service (DDS) team. This team consists of a disability analyst and a mental health professional. The analyst will obtain information about your mental health condition from your treating physicians, clinics, hospitals, and other sources.
Once the medical evidence has been compiled by the analyst, your file will be passed on to the DDS psychiatrist or psychologist. They will review the documentation and decide if your mental health condition meets or does not meet the criteria for mental impairments. If your condition falls somewhere in between, they may complete a Residual Functioning Capacity form. You may have to undergo a consultation with a vocational analyst.
The DDS team will then make a final decision about your legal eligibility for disability benefits and approve or deny your claim.

The Critical Role of Medical Documentation and How to Compile It

Medical documentation plays a vital role in being approved for disability benefits. You should work closely with your mental health professionals during the application process. Your doctors can help you understand the Blue Book requirements and ensure that your medical records include all the details required by the SSA to evaluate your claim.

To increase your chances of getting approved, make sure to include the following information:

All your medical records, including therapist sessions and hospitalizations.
Professional or expert opinions on your condition from doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals who have treated you for mental illness.
A complete list of the medications you have taken and their effects on your symptoms as well as any side effects you experienced.

Tips to Ensure a Strong Application and Avoid Denial

You will need to contact your current and past mental healthcare providers and obtain complete information from them. The following tips can ensure a strong application and avoid denial of your social security benefits claim.

Make a list of your treatment providers.
Identify the information that can be acquired from each source.
Find out the procedure for requesting medical records from facilities where you have been treated.
Sign the SSA-827 form for the release of medical information to the SSA.
Send the release to the medical records departments of the facilities where you were treated.
Prepare a request packet for each facility, specifying the type of information you need.
Confirm that the medical records department received your request.
State the vital importance of a quick receipt of your medical records.
Offer to assist the medical records department by bringing copies of your records, picking up the records at a designated time and place, and showing your appreciation for the staff.
Follow up every week on any information not yet received.
Identify any potential new sources of information (for example, new symptoms treated or recalled).
Maintain regular contact with the DDS team.
Ask DDS to follow up with sources that did not send information.

Legal and Supportive Avenues for Mental Health Disability Claims

Seeking Legal Support: When to Consider a Disability Attorney?

It can be a daunting task to gather all the information required to support your social security disability application. Hiring a lawyer can be helpful to ensure that you submit all the required documentation. Failure to do so could result in your claim being delayed or denied. Your lawyer can also help you obtain any documents that you don’t have on hand.

Resources and Hotlines for Immediate Assistance

You can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time. The wait times to speak with a representative are typically shorter in the mornings and later in the week and month. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use TTY equipment, you can call the SSA’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778. If you do not need to speak to a representative, you can follow the menu prompts on the SSA’s automated telephone services, which are available around the clock.

State-Specific Support Systems: How to Find Help Locally?

Find your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office here: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) is a national program that trains providers to assist people with SSI/SSDI applications. You can find providers in your state here: https://soarworks.samhsa.gov/state-directory
Access information on the status of your applications or appeals, estimates of future benefits, replacement cards, benefit verification letters, and other updates by creating a mySocial Security Account here: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
Obtain information on SSA Services for people experiencing homelessness here: https://www.ssa.gov/homelessness/
Get housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in your state here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/localoffices

Frequently Asked Questions and Misconceptions About Mental Illness and Disability

Should I apply for disability if my mental health symptoms are getting worse?

You can apply for Social Security disability benefits based on your ability to work. You may be eligible for disability benefits if you are unable to work and believe you will be unable to work for at least 12 months or more due to your impairments. In the meantime, you should continue with treatment for your mental health condition with the goal of improving your symptoms and ability to function. If the treatment makes it possible to return to work in less than 12 months, you can withdraw your application. You may be able to get past-due benefits for the time when you could not work due to your impairments.

Can I get disability benefits if I’m unable to do my old job?

If you are unable to perform work duties at your old job, the Social Security Administration will consider other types of work you may be able to do. They will keep in mind that people over the age of 50 face challenges in changing careers or doing new types of work. Therefore, if you are over 50 years of age, even if you have the physical and mental ability to do certain other jobs, you may be considered disabled because of your age.

Can I get disability for severe social anxiety?

If your mental health problems have caused you to isolate yourself, withdraw from society, or be unable to function outside your home, you may be eligible for disability benefits. However, the Social Services Administration will also consider other types of jobs that can be performed in relative isolation.

My child has special needs and is now of working age and working part-time with special workplace modifications. Can they apply for disability benefits?

Social Security disability benefits are available to people who cannot sustain full-time work with earnings of at least $1,130 a month. If your child is under 22 years of age, applying for disability could be beneficial. Your child may be eligible for an increased monthly benefit based on the earnings record of a retired, disabled, or deceased parent. Delaying your application may reduce your child’s chances of getting this additional benefit.

Are some mental health disorders more likely to be approved for disability benefits than others?

Among the 11 Blue Book categories of mental disorders, seven are more directly associated with mental illness:

Depressive and bipolar disorders
Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Personality disorder and impulse control disorder
Somatic symptoms
Eating disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder

However, all 11 categories qualify for disability benefits for eligible individuals.

Does a mental health condition have to be present for at least 12 months to obtain disability benefits?

The criteria that the Social Security Administration uses to determine your eligibility for disability is the presence of an impairment that prevents you from working for at least 12 months or could result in death.

For some mental disorders, however, such as PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia, medical documentation that the condition is serious and persistent for at least two years may be considered instead.

Symptoms vs. Impairment: Understanding How the SSA Assesses Mental Conditions

To receive social security disability benefits for a mental health condition, you need to demonstrate objective medical evidence from an acceptable source. The source should confirm you have a medical disorder that is listed in the Blue Book and can be medically determined. The Social Security Administration will also assess the severity of your mental illness and its effect on your ability to function in a work setting.

To this end, the Social Security Administration collects medical evidence from both medical and non-medical sources to see if you meet the criteria for disability. Medical sources include physicians, psychologists, and other health care providers, as well as your medical record. Non-medical sources include evidence from you and people you know. Evidence is also collected from school, work, and related programs. The evaluation includes longitudinal medical evidence, i.e., your ability to function over time. The Social Security Administration also collects evidence of how well you function in supportive and unfamiliar situations. Also taken into account is the availability of services, support, and treatment and how they could affect your ability to function.

Each listing in the Social Security disability categories has two paragraphs designated A and B. To qualify for disability, you must satisfy the requirements of both paragraphs. Some listings have three paragraphs designated A, B, and C—to qualify for disability, you must satisfy the requirements of paragraphs A and B or A and C.

Debunking Myths: What It Truly Means for a Mental Illness to be Recognized as a Disability

Myth: If you have a mental health condition and cannot work, you qualify for disability.

To qualify for disability benefits, you need an official diagnosis of a mental health condition from a medical professional. Your belief that your symptoms are disabling, the results of online research, or the opinions of friends and family members are not enough to qualify for SSA disability benefits.

Myth: You can obtain disability benefits without undergoing treatment for your condition.

To qualify for disability benefits, you will need to show proof that you received consistent treatment for your diagnosis. For example, if you are diagnosed with severe depression, you will need to show records of psychotherapy sessions, medications, and other treatments you have received.

Myth: You may qualify for disability benefits even if you are able to work.

Simply having a mental health diagnosis does not mean it prevents you from working. To qualify for disability benefits, you will have to show that your mental health condition impacts your job and prevents you from doing it. The Social Security Administration will assess how your mental illness affects your ability to function in a work setting, including:

The ability to concentrate on tasks
Understand, remember, and apply information
Interact with coworkers
Manage behavior and emotions in the workplace

For a social security disability claim to have a good chance of being approved, your limitation should be rated extreme in at least one of these areas and marked as present in at least two areas. Learn about what is a mental health crisis.

Concluding Thoughts on Disability and Mental Illness

The Path to Disability Benefits for Those with Mental Illness

Mental health disabilities are usually more difficult to identify than physical impairments. It can, therefore, be challenging to get approved for disability benefits if you have a mental health condition. This is especially true if you do not precisely meet a Blue Book listing. But while it may take more time and effort, it is possible to have your disability claim accepted.

Persistence and Resilience in the Disability Application Process

Persistence and resilience are critical when navigating the Social Security disability system. It is also important to be patient and remain committed throughout the process, which can be lengthy and complex.

The Importance of Support in the Journey Toward Disability Approval

If you find the Social Security disability approval process daunting, a disability lawyer can help you. They will help you understand the process and present strong and comprehensive medical evidence to advocate for your rights. This will maximize your chances of a favorable outcome and approval of disability benefits for a mental health condition.