Can You Receive SSDI If Your Injuries Are Psychological?
When you’ve been hurt on the job, you can typically seek benefits through the state’s workers’ compensation system or in a personal injury lawsuit. But what if you have a condition that prevents you from working, but it wasn’t caused by your employment? Furthermore, what if it’s not a physical injury, but some level of mental or emotional distress that makes it impossible for you to work? Social Security is there as a safety net, but will it provide benefits when you can’t work because of mental health challenges?
What Are the Basic Requirements to Recover Benefits through a Social Security Disability Insurance(SSDI) Claim?
To be eligible for benefits through SSDI, you must first demonstrate to the Social Security Administration that you have a qualified disability. To meet that requirement, you must prove that you cannot work because of your medical condition. In addition, you must show that the condition will or has lasted a minimum of one year, or that it is expected to lead to your death. Furthermore, you must demonstrate that it prevents you from doing the work you did before the injury/illness and that it will keep you from doing other types of work.
Are Mental Disorders Sufficient to Make a Person Eligible for SSDI Benefits?
The Social Security Administration maintains a publication, known as the SSA Blue Book, that lists the different disabilities that may qualify an applicant for benefits. The Blue Book lists no less than 11 different categories of emotional/mental disorders that may be the basis of an SSDI claim, including:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorders, such as anxiety
- Depression and bi-polar disorders
- Schizophrenia and similar conditions
- Personality disorders
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder and similar conditions
A person may also qualify for SSDI benefits if he or she is diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.
What Must You Show to Qualify for Mental Health-Related SSDI Benefits?
There are a number of prerequisites for receiving mental health-related Social Security disability insurance payments:
- You must have the minimum number of work credits to qualify for benefits
- Your mental health issues must meet the Blue Book’s definition of disability
- You must have had the mental health issues for at least a year, expect them to last for a minimum of a year, or anticipate that they will lead to your death
- You must be unable to perform the work you did before you filed your claim
- Your condition must make it impossible for you to adapt to other types of gainful employment
Are the Most Common Reasons a Mental Health-Based SSDI Claim Will Be Denied?
The reasons most often given for denying these types of claims include:
- Failure by the applicant to comply with doctor’s orders
- An overly generalized diagnosis
- An absence of any treatment for the condition in the past
- Lack of evidence to support the diagnosis
Contact the Experienced SSDI Lawyers at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we have aggressively protected the rights of individuals across the state of Texas for over 40 years, including people seeking Social Security disability benefits because of an injury or illness. We have a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the Social Security laws, as well as the process, and know how to prepare and present your claim to maximize the likelihood of approval. We will be your advocate throughout the process, from the initial application for benefits to any appeals that may need to be filed. contact us by e-mail or 844-402-2992call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
