There are many different kinds of medical conditions that can affect someone’s ability to work. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits provide a crucial financial safety net for those who cannot work anymore due to medical issues.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) receives contributions from worker paychecks and records credits based on the contributions people make. If someone has enough credits on record and evidence of a debilitating medical condition, they can apply for SSDI benefits.
The SSA provides a list of potentially qualifying conditions and evaluates each application on its own merits. A condition generally needs to last a year or longer and completely prevent someone from working. Can people with serious mental health challenges potentially qualify for SSDI benefits?
Mental health issues can be qualifying conditions
The SSA actually has an entire category of disabling medical conditions that affect someone’s mental health. Depressive disorders, bipolar disorder and other serious mental health challenges that should persist for 12 months or longer can potentially be serious enough for someone to qualify for benefits.
However, they need extensive medical documentation affirming not just their diagnosis but how their symptoms affect their ability to work. There needs to be objective evidence from medical professionals to support someone’s application.
Those with more serious conditions have a better chance of qualifying. Those who have required not just therapy and medication but hospitalization may also find that their chances of securing benefits are higher than those with less severe symptoms.
Typically, applicants have to demonstrate that their mental health challenges completely prevent them from maintaining any sort of gainful employment. Gathering documentation about the severity of a mental health condition and navigating the red tape of an SSDI application can be very difficult for someone coping with mental health challenges. Many SSDI applicants benefit from securing assistance during the application process, as it is a complicated undertaking and much is at stake.