What Benefits Do Mentally Ill Individuals Receive?

Social security disability benefits are often thought to be for physical disabilities only. Mental illnesses escape the realm of thought when it comes to SSDIs. This is because mental illnesses aren’t as obvious. Dealing with mental health issues makes it hard for individuals to live a normal life. In this case, a mental illness and social security disability Monroe LA attorney can help.

Are you looking to get benefits for a life-altering mental health condition? Read on below to learn about your legal options. 

Quick Summary:

  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides financial assistance to individuals unable to work due to disabilities. Benefits are payroll tax-funded and require meeting specific medical and work history criteria.
  • Both physical and mental health conditions can qualify if they severely impair daily functioning and employment. Examples include orthopedic injuries, depression, PTSD, and neurocognitive disorders.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months, sufficient work credits, and inability to perform previous or alternative work.
  • Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia are covered. Proving eligibility often requires extensive medical documentation and evidence of functional limitations. Working with a disability lawyer ensures proper documentation and strengthens applications, especially for complex claims involving mental health conditions.

What Are Social Security Disability Benefits?

Understanding how social security disability benefits work is important before filing. Social security disability benefits are government-provided financial assistance for disabled individuals. These affected individuals aren’t able to work long-term. SSDIs are payroll tax-funded and are available to those who meet set criteria.

What are the Common Conditions that Prevent You From Working?

Typical medical conditions that qualify for SSDI are those that impair employment. These conditions are either physical or mental. Each condition comes with challenges that impact daily functioning. Among them include:

  • Orthopedic Injuries. These injuries, such as broken bones, joint disorders, or severe arthritis, can restrict mobility or physical strength. Injuries as such make basic movements challenging. Chronic pain or permanent damage may further limit employment.
  • Neck, Back, or Spinal Cord Injuries. Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and paralysis are examples of these injuries. They need prolonged recovery times or ongoing medical care. Ongoing medical care may hinder consistent work performance.
  • Diabetic Complications. Severe diabetes can lead to other health issues. Conditions like neuropathy, vision loss, or kidney disease impact an individual’s ability to work. Frequent medical care or hospitalizations for managing complications can also disrupt regular employment.
  • Kidney Disease. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) often requires dialysis treatments and ongoing medical monitoring. The physical toll of the disease, combined with the time commitment for treatment, can make maintaining a job challenging.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). TBIs can result in cognitive impairments, memory loss, or difficulties with speech and coordination. These impairments can disrupt both mental and physical work capabilities, making it hard to perform even basic job functions.
  • Depression and/or Panic Attacks. Severe depression or anxiety disorders can make it difficult to concentrate, interact with coworkers, or manage work-related stress. Frequent episodes may require medical intervention and time away from work, impacting reliability and performance.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can cause flashbacks, heightened anxiety, and difficulty in maintaining focus, particularly in high-stress environments. The condition may also interfere with forming relationships and sustaining routine work tasks.

What Are the SSDI Qualifications?

Before filing SSD for mental illness Monroe LA, it is important to know the qualifications. Qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI requires applicants to meet SSA criteria. Qualifications are based on medical, work history, and financial requirements. This ensures assistance reaches individuals who genuinely need it. 

Medical Requirements

The applicant must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that significantly limits their ability to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA).The disability must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

Work History Requirements

Applicants must have worked jobs covered by Social Security and paid sufficient payroll taxes. Eligibility depends on earning “work credits,” which are based on total yearly income and years of employment. Generally, applicants need 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years (younger workers may qualify with fewer credits).

Inability to Perform Previous Work

The SSA evaluates whether the applicant can perform any work they’ve done in the past 15 years. If they cannot perform past work due to their condition, they move to the next step of evaluation.

 Inability to Perform Any Work

The SSA assesses whether the applicant can adjust to other work based on age, education, skills, and residual functional capacity (RFC). If the applicant is unable to perform any work, they may qualify for benefits.

Non-Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSDI is distinct from SSI, which is need-based and does not require work credits. An applicant’s financial situation does not impact SSDI qualification but is critical for SSI

Meeting these qualifications involves providing thorough medical documentation employment records, and completing the SSA’s application process. Appeals may be necessary, as initial applications are often denied. A mental illness and social security disability Monroe LA attorney can help with obtaining benefits.  

Can You File For Disability for Mental Illness?

Filing SSD for mental illness Monroe LA is an option to consider if you wish to obtain benefits due to life-altering mental health issues. Mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and schizophreni,a are SSA or Social Security Administration-recognized disorders that are potentially disabling. 

Qualifications require you to provide medical documentation as proof. This documentation highlights mental illness impact on daily functioning and employment. A social security disability lawyer Monroe LA helps you understand the processes involved.

What Mental Health Conditions Does SSDI Cover?

Mental illnesses covered by SSDI can grant you benefits if you suffer from them. Conditions ranging from neurocognitive to psychotic disorders are covered since they impact one’s employment and daily living. Here is a list of mental health conditions covered by SSDI you must know before filing SSDI for mental illness Monroe LA.

  • Neurocognitive Disorders. Neurocognitive disorders impair memory, judgment, or mental processing. Examples include dementia and traumatic brain injury.
  • Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders. Covers disorders characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and abnormal behavior, including schizophrenia.
  • Depressive, Bipolar, and Related Disorders. Mood disorders manifest through mood changes that impact daily functioning. Examples are major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
  • Intellectual Disorder. Refers to significantly below-average intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior limitations. These usually develop before adulthood.
  • Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. Includes generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and similar conditions that interfere with work and daily life.
  • Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. Covers disorders with physical symptoms that a medical condition, such as conversion disorder or factitious disorder cannot fully explain.
  • Personality and Impulse-Control Disorders. Includes conditions such as borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder. Refers to disorders characterized by challenges in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Includes ADHD and other developmental disorders affecting attention, learning, or motor skills that significantly impair functioning.
  • Eating Disorders. It covers disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder that severely affect health and work capacity.
  • Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. It includes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, and adjustment disorders caused by traumatic or stressful events.

Each category requires specific medical documentation and evidence demonstrating the severity and impact of the condition.

How Do You Qualify For Mental Illness SSDI?

Filing SSD for mental illness Monroe LA requires you to qualify for disability benefits first. Approaching it properly equipped with knowledge makes benefits attainable. With the proper evidence, you can qualify for benefits even without SSA guidelines.

Consulting a Social Security Disability lawyer Monroe LA can strengthen your case for the compensation you deserve. 

To qualify, you must demonstrate:

  • Enough work history and accumulated work credits.
  • A diagnosed mental health condition that meets SSA disability criteria.
  • A disability is expected to last at least a year or result in death.
  • Inability to perform your previous job due to the condition.
  • Failure to adapt to other work because of your disability.

Claims for mental health are difficult since they aren’t as apparent as physical disabilities. Proving the limitations mental disabilities set on your life through documentation helps in obtaining benefits. A helpful one is the Mental Residual Functional Capacity form completed by mental health professional. This outlines tasks you can and cannot perform.

Qualify for Mental Health Disability Benefits with a Monroe LA Attorney!

Mental health has garnered plenty of exposure in recent times due to its impact on daily life. One wonders if they can get compensated for mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder that prevent them from functioning properly. Social security disability benefits are available for individuals with mental health issues. 

Talk to a Mental Illness and Social Security Disability Monroe LA attorney from E Orum Young Law helps you get the benefits you deserve. Our attorney can explain to you terms you might not understand, inform you of requirements, and lobby for your right to compensation.

Our attorney helps not only with qualifications and benefits application but with eligibility and checking of disabilities as well. Talk to a Social Security Disability lawyer Monroe LA from E Orum Young Law Social Security Disability today for a free case review.