With the rising number of cases of mental illness, there are also cases of people who cannot work or stay employed due to their mental illness. The good news is that the Social Security Administration, or SSA, provides mental illness disability benefits for such individuals.
So, how long does it take to get disability for mental illness? Normally, the Social Security Administration (SSA) takes 3–5 months to approve your disability application. Once approved, you are provided with the amount almost immediately.
Keep reading below as we take you through more important information on this topic, including how hard it is to get mental illness disability.
Is Mental Illness a Disability?
If you have a mental health problem that makes it hard to work or do daily things, the SSA will consider it a disability.
The Blue Book lists illnesses that make a person eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The SSA’s Blue Book includes a wide range of mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia, among others.
If you have a mental disorder that is listed in the Blue Book, you must meet the medical requirements for that disorder for the SSA to consider it a disability. Once you have the Blue Book-required medical conditions, you must also show that your mental health condition is so severe that it will keep you from working full-time for at least a year.
For Social Security disability benefits, your mental illness must fit into one of the groups of mental illnesses that are covered.
If you can meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) medical requirements, your mental health will be considered a debilitating condition, and you can start getting social security disability payments.
How Much Do Mental Health Disability Benefits Pay?
People who are disabled because of a mental health problem get different benefits depending on how their condition affects them. Whether or not the disabled person is getting SSI or SSDI payments also affects the mental health disability benefits they can get.
Those receiving SSI will get an average monthly payment of $586, while those receiving SSDI will receive an average monthly payment of $1,277 up to a maximum of $3,627. If you have a mental health problem, how much disability will pay for your condition will depend on your income if you want SSI benefits.
The amount you might get if you’re qualified for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and have a mental illness depends on where you reside and how much money you make each month.
This is why SSI benefits, a needs-based program, are only available to people with extremely low incomes and resources and significant disabilities such as various mental health issues.
You must demonstrate that your mental health condition prevents you from working full-time if you request Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and have a mental health disability.
What are the Requirements for Mental Illness Disability?
You must provide proof of a medical condition that prevents you from working for the government to approve your application for disability benefits. Also, you should provide evidence that your disease is being treated by a professional.
The SSA will require you to gather and submit a ton of paperwork, attend any medical tests they request you attend, and send in follow-up paperwork. You must first make sure that you meet the technical requirements. For example, you must have the right work history or meet the income limits for the different disability programs.
When applying for benefits with the SSA, many documents will be needed. We advise obtaining all this documentation before beginning your application to keep you organized. You should include the following:
- Documents from doctors who managed your condition in the previous five years, including psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, or social workers.
- Hospitalization or emergency department visits that were brought on by your medical issue.
- Because they provide evidence that your condition is severe, hospitalizations can benefit your disability case. Make sure to mention it on your application if you’ve frequently used the ER or been hospitalized for mental health issues.
- Paperwork from the pharmacy listing the medicines for your illness (and who prescribed them).
- Names, contact information, dates of tests and treatments, patient Identification numbers, and names and phone numbers of all your providers.
Do not include medical documents from practitioners like your chiropractor or podiatrist who never treated you for a mental health condition. Your medical records should be copied. Things get lost by the SSA. Therefore, it’s crucial to have copies just in case.
Is it Hard to Get Disability for Mental Illness?
The burden of proof can be higher for people with mental illnesses than for those with physical disabilities.
Because each person’s mental health symptoms differ, it is harder for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to evaluate them. This is because it is harder to say what is enough of a problem for a mental illness than it is for something like back pain or a blood disorder.
Unlike physical symptoms, most mental health problems can’t be found through tests or other standard medical procedures, which are the standards SSA doctors are taught to use to evaluate.
Judges and disability examiners who don’t take mental illness as seriously as they should be skeptical and biased about mental health claims. Even though these cases can be more challenging to win, your chances of approval are higher if you are aware of the required supporting documentation.
Hiring a lawyer can make your chances of winning much better and reduce the stress of the application process.
For more information on how to increase your chances of winning a mental illness disability, watch this video below:
Winning “Mental Health” Social Security Disability in 2023
How Long Does It Take to Get Disability for Mental Illness?
The average time to decide on your application is three to five months. The SSA will start disbursing benefits immediately once approved, depending on when the claim was made and the date determined to be the beginning of your condition. Applicants for SSI and SSDI may both get back pay or retroactive payments.
Remember that the majority of claims are rejected, and the majority of applicants appeal. An administrative judge will hear your appeal after a hearing. These judges frequently grant benefits to several applicants whose applications were rejected.
To help you navigate the complicated hearings and appeals process, you might want to speak with a Social Security disability benefits lawyer or another expert. On average, it takes 22 months from when a person applies for benefits until they get a hearing.
Conclusion
Considering the rising number of cases, anyone can be a victim of mental illness. If you or a loved one is going through a mental health crisis that makes it difficult to work or stay employed, start working on your application today. How long it takes to get mental illness disability depends on how soon you apply.
