About Mental Health and Social Security Disability Benefits

Mental health diagnoses are an important topic to cover with our team when discussing your case to apply for Social Security Disability. It is possible to receive Social Security Disability benefits based on mental health disorders or psychiatric disabilities. Typically, the Social Security Administration (SSA) arranges mental disorders into 11 categories, which include:

1. Neurocognitive disorders
2. Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
3. Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders
4. Intellectual disorders
5. Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders
6. Somatic symptom and related disorders
7. Personality and impulse-control disorders
8. Autism spectrum disorder
9. Neurodevelopmental disorders
10. Eating disorders
11. Trauma- and Stressor-related disorders

Mental Health Disorders Must Satisfy Certain Requirements to be Considered a Disability

There are many different criteria that a mental health disorder must meet in order to be designated as “severe” by the Social Security Administration. The process of determining severity is extremely complex, and will take into account both the effect the disorder has on your life and how it aggravates/increases the effects of any other mental or physical impairments you may be diagnosed with. 

In order to be found disabled by the Social Security Administration, a person must have one or more mental or physical impairments that are severe enough to keep the person from being able to work at a level where they could financially support themselves. When our staff at Nyman Turkish works to submit your claim for benefits, they will use information from your medical records and doctors notes in order to paint a clear picture of your situation with your disabilities. Both our team and/or the SSA may request that your doctor complete Residual Functioning Capacity forms in order to get a clearer idea of exactly how your disability hinders your ability to work. 

Examples of Mental Health Disorders

Below are a few examples of mental health disorders that may qualify you or a loved one for SSD benefits:

• Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders: These types of mental health disorders are often characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or disorganized behavior which can cause a severe decline in functioning. 
• Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders: These disorders usually involve irritable, depressed, elevated, or expansive moods or a loss of interest in activities that can cause a decline in functioning. Symptoms may include, for example, feelings of hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and sleep disturbances, among other issues.
• Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders: These disorders are characterized by issues such as excessive anxiety, worry, apprehension, and fear. Some symptoms may include restlessness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbance, panic attacks, and constant thoughts and fears, among other symptoms. 

Consult a Social Security Disability Lawyer at Nyman Turkish for a FREE CASE EVALUATION

Do you have a mental health condition that prevents you from working? If so, contact Nyman Turkish today for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. Nyman Turkish has decades of experience assisting tens of thousands of clients to get approved for Social Security Disability benefits. 

Our SSD attorneys assist clients at every stage of the process, from the initial application all the way through to appeals. Let our experienced team at Nyman Turkish fight for the benefits you deserve. Our Firm offers a NO FEE GUARANTEE, so you have nothing to lose by calling for a FREE CONSULTATION. We represent clients nationwide from our offices in California, Florida, and Michigan.