Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) serves as a critical safety net for those with health conditions or injuries that prevent them from working or fulfilling their daily care needs. Many people who need SSDI benefits have physical conditions, like terminal cancer or multiple sclerosis, which make both self-care and employment prohibitively difficult.
However, you don’t need to have a visible injury to have a condition that prevents you from providing for yourself. Mental health conditions can be just as disabling as physical issues. Can you apply for SSDI because you have a significant mental health issue?
Yes, the Social Security Administration recognizes mental health disorders
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a relatively thorough approach to validating disability claims. It can analyze individual applicants’ medical records to determine if a condition meets the criteria necessary for SSDI benefits.
Generally speaking, an applicant has to show that the condition prevents them from engaging in necessary activities like work or self-care. They also have to show that the condition is either terminal or will persist for 12 months or longer. Many mental health conditions, if severe enough, meet these qualifications.
It can be slightly more difficult to claim SSDI benefits for a medical condition that is essentially invisible, so getting help from an experienced attorney the earliest stages of your claim may assist you in your hopes to secure benefits. You will also likely need legal help if you intend to appeal a denial of your benefits because of mistakes in your application or because you’ve been told you provided inadequate evidence to support your claims.