Most people probably think first of physical conditions when considering those eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Yet mental health conditions can be just as debilitating. Can you claim SSDI if you have one of these?
The answer, as with physical conditions, is it depends. Some people with a mental health condition will qualify for benefits, while others won’t.
Does it prevent you from working?
This is the bottom line for any type of condition. If it is not debilitating enough to prevent you from working for at least 12 months, then you will not be able to claim SSDI. This does not just mean you are not able to do your current job. If it is easy enough for you to alter your role or find work in a different sector, you would be unlikely to be eligible to claim.
What condition do you have?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is in charge of processing SSDI claims. Their assessors use the Blue Book to guide their decisions. If your condition is one of the ones listed, then it should make claiming more straightforward as there is a clear path laid out as to the particular criteria you must fulfill. However, they can also approve benefits for other conditions that the book does not explicitly cover.
Even if you feel sure your condition should qualify, it is important to understand that claiming is rarely straightforward. Getting help to understand what kind of evidence you must collect and how best to present it will give you a much better chance of getting approval for a claim.