Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) serves as a critical safety net for those dealing with an injury or an illness. People contribute to this program over the course of their working lives. When a condition is so severe that it prevents someone from working a job or impacts their ability to care for themselves, the Social Security Administration (SSA) might approve someone’s request for SSDI.
SSDI benefits will help someone cover their cost of living expenses while they remain unable to work because of a medical condition. While many people who apply for SSDI have physical ailments, mental health conditions can also potentially qualify someone for benefits. What kind of mental health conditions qualify for SSDI?
The SSA approves claims for many kinds of conditions
As with physical medical conditions, the exact mental health diagnosis is far less important than the impact that it has on a patient when it comes to the likelihood of an SSDI claim approval. For some people, depression or anxiety might be manageable conditions, while for others, their symptoms are so debilitating that they cannot reasonably work a job. They may not even be able to leave their home.
The SSA recognizes multiple different categories of mental health conditions, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar-style disorders, traumatic stress disorders, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disorders and personality disorders.
Submitting an SSDI for mental health conditions will necessitate plenty of documentation about the condition and its impact on your life. However, with the right help and the right evidence, those struggling with mental health conditions can potentially receive SSDI benefits.