Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, Autism: Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration arranges mental health disabilities into nine categories:

1. Organic disorders
2. Schizophrenic, paranoid and other psychotic disorders
3. Affective disorders
4. Mental retardation
5. Anxiety related disorders
6. Somatoform disorders
7. Personality disorders
8. Substance addiction disorders
9. Autistic and other developmental disorders

When reviewing the case, careful consideration will be directed towards the degree of limitation imposed on the claimant’s ability to work due to the mental disability. This inability to work any job must last for at least twelve consecutive months to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

Medical records must be provided for all the above conditions, as well as evidence of symptoms and professionally diagnosed psychological abnormalities that demonstrate the claimant’s inability to work.

1. Organic Disorders

Organic disorders stem from brain dysfunctions resulting in physical or behavioral abnormalities. For a claimant to receive SSDI benefits, medical records must prove a loss of specific cognitive abilities and demonstrate at least one of the following conditions:

• Memory impairment- short-term, intermediate or long-term
• Disorientation to time and place
• Change in personality
• Change in mood
• Emotional instability (sudden outbursts, unexplained sadness and crying)
• Perceptual and thinking disturbances
• A drop of at least 15 IQ points, showing a loss of measured intellectual ability

These symptoms must result in one of the following:

• Restrictions of daily living
• Difficulty functioning in social environments
• Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
• Episodes of decompensation

Your Freedom Disability Services Advocate will assist you in determining whether you meet these requirements. If the claimant does not demonstrate these symptoms they may also provide medical documents showing a chronic organic mental disorder of at least two years, which has caused more than slight limitation of daily life activities including one of the following:

• Extended episodes of decompensation
• A residual process causing decompensation when mental demands increase or their environment changes
• History of at least one year of being unable to function independently outside of a highly supporting living arrangement.

If you feel these symptoms accurately illustrate your symptoms, or feel they do not describe your condition, but you still deserve SSDI benefits, call Freedom Disability Services at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation with one of our trained Advocates. Back to mental health disabilities list

2. Schizophrenic, Paranoid and other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is characterized by the onset of psychotic features paired with deterioration from a previous cognitive level. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits with medical proof of intermittent or continuous presence of the following symptoms:

• Hallucinations or delusions
• Extremely disorganized or catatonic behavior
• Incoherence, loosening of associations, illogical thinking, or poverty of content of speech
• Emotional withdraw or isolation

These symptoms also must result in one of the following:

• Restrictions of daily living
• Difficulty functioning in social environments
• Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
• Episodes of decompensation

If these symptoms are not present the claimant may also provide a medical history of two or more years of chronic schizophrenia, paranoid or another psychotic disorder, which has caused more than slight limitation in daily life activities including one of the following:

• Extended episodes of decompensation
• A residual process causing decompensation when mental demands increase or their environment changes
• History of at least one year of being unable to function independently outside of a highly supporting living arrangement.

If you are unsure if these symptoms accurately describe your condition, be sure to call Freedom Disability Services today at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation with one of our specially trained Advocates. Our Advocates will help you through the application process to ensure you receive the SSDI benefits you deserve. Back to mental health disabilities list

3. Affective Disorders

Affective Disorders are characterized by a prolonged disturbance of mood along with a partial or full manic or depressive syndrome. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits when they provide medical proof of intermittent or continuous presence of the following symptoms:

• Depressive Syndrome including at least four of the following conditions:
  • Anhedonia or continuous loss of interest in daily activities
  • Substantial change in weight and appetite
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Retardation or psychomotor agitation
  • Loss of energy
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Paranoia, delusions or hallucinations
• Manic Syndrome including at least three of the following conditions:
  • Hyperactivity
  • Pressure of speech
  • Flight of ideas
  • Inflated self-esteem
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • Short attention span, easily distractible
  • Involvement in high risk activities without thought of the consequences
  • Paranoia, delusions or hallucinations
• Bipolar syndrome with a history of full symptoms of Manic and Depressive at the same time, and currently characterized by either or both syndromes

These syndromes must result in at least two of the following symptoms:

• Restrictions of daily living
• Difficulty functioning in social environments
• Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
• Episodes of decompensation

If these symptoms are not present, the claimant may also provide a medical history of a chronic affective disorder lasting at least two years that has caused more than slight limitation or ability to do basic activities. The claimant must currently be on medication or receiving psychosocial support for his or her symptoms including one of the following:

• Extended episodes of decompensation
• A residual process causing decompensation when mental demands increase or their environment changes
• History of at least one year of being unable to function independently outside of a highly supporting living arrangement.

If these symptoms describe your condition call Freedom Disability Services immediately to begin your SSDI benefits application today. If there is any uncertainty whether you qualify for benefits, call Freedom at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation of your claim with one of our Advocates. They will walk you through the process helping you understand how you qualify for SSDI. Freedom Disability Services will pay for the collection of all needed medical records and guarantees you wont pay a fee unless we win your case. Back to mental health disabilities list

4. Mental Retardation

Mental Retardation is characterized by a significantly below average level of general intellectual functioning. These adaptive functioning disabilities are typically acquired during the developmental stage. Claimants are usually approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits when medical evidence proves onset of the disability before the age of 22 in addition to evidence of one of the following symptoms:

• Dependence upon others for daily activities and inability to follow basic directions due to mental incapacity
• A valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of less than 60
• A valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of 60 through 70 paired with another mental or physical impairment rendering the claimant with limited functioning
• A valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of 60 through 70 resulting in at least two of the following:
  • Restrictions of daily living
  • Difficulty functioning in social environments
  • Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
  • Episodes of decompensation

If these symptoms describe you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to call Freedom Disability Services at (866) 761-5942 to begin your application for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Our Advocates have the professional experience needed to help you apply or appeal for SSDI benefits. If you feel as though your symptoms are not accurately described here, but you are unable to work due to your condition, call Freedom immediately for a free evaluation with one of our Advocates. Freedom will fund the collection of all necessary medical paperwork, and assist you through the process of applying for SSDI benefits. Call Freedom today for the benefits you deserve. Back to mental health disabilities list

5. Anxiety Related Disorders

Anxiety Related Disorders are characterized by either an existing disturbance or the onset of one due to either an attempt to master symptoms or resisting obsessions or compulsions. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits when a combination of the following symptoms are presented with medical documentation:

• One of the following symptoms must be present:
  • General, constant anxiety including three of the following four symptoms:
    • Motor tension
    • Hypertension
    • Nervous expectation
    • Vigilance and scanning
  • A constant irrational fear of a specific object or situation
  • Frequent, severe panic attacks (occurring at least once a week)
  • Frequent compulsions or obsessions resulting in great distress
  • Frequent and invasive recollections of a traumatic experience resulting in great distress
• Resulting in at least two of the following symptoms:
  • Restrictions of daily living
  • Difficulty functioning in social environments
  • Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
  • Episodes of decompensation
• Or the inability to function individually outside his or her home

If these symptoms accurately describe your condition call Freedom Disability Services to begin your application for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits immediately. Also, if you have any questions or feel your condition is not illustrated here, but you still deserve benefits call Freedom for a free evaluation with one of our Advocates. At Freedom we dedicate ourselves to Social Security claims and appeals, giving you the professional assistance to win your case. Back to mental health disabilities list

6. Somatoform Disorders

Somatoform Disorders are characterized by having physical symptoms for which there are no known physiological mechanisms or demonstrable organic findings. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits when medical proof of the following symptoms is provided:

• A history of physical symptoms that have caused the claimant to be on frequent medication, regularly see a physician and significantly alter life patterns. These symptoms must begin before age 30.
• Persistent disturbance of one of the following:
  • Speech
  • Hearing
  • Vision
  • Use of a limb
  • Movement control
  • Sensation
  • Unrealistic comprehension of physical signs of a serious disease or illness

These symptoms must result in at least two of the following:

• Restrictions of daily living
• Difficulty functioning in social environments
• Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
• Episodes of decompensation

If you are unsure if these symptoms accurately describe your condition, be sure to call Freedom Disability Services today at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation with one of our specially trained Advocates. Our Advocates will help you through the application process to ensure you receive the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits you deserve. Back to mental health disabilities list

7. Personality disorders

Personality disorders are characterized by long-term, inflexible, harmful personality traits that cause significant function impairment in social and occupational environments. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits when they provide medical proof of deeply ingrained, harmful behavior patterns associated with one of the following symptoms:

• Autistic thinking or seclusiveness
• Hostility or pathologically inappropriate suspicions
• Oddities of thought, behavior, speech and perception
• Pathological dependence, aggression or passiveness
• Persistent mood disturbances
• Intense and unstable interpersonal relationships and damaging, impulsive behavior

These symptoms must result in at least two of the following:

• Restrictions of daily living
• Difficulty functioning in social environments
• Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
• Episodes of decompensation

If you feel you have a personality disorder that has or will prevent you from working for at least 12 consecutive months, call Freedom Disability Services today at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation with one of our Advocates. Their professional experience will help you complete you application for the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits you deserve. Back to mental health disabilities list

8. Substance Addiction Disorders

Substance addiction disorders are characterized by behavioral or physical changes associated with the regular use of substances that affect the central nervous system. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits when medical proof of any of the following symptoms is provided:

• Organic mental disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Personality disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Gastritis
• Liver damage
• Peripheral neuropathies
• Seizures
• Pancreatitis

If these symptoms describe you, or if you feel you have a substance addiction disorder not listed here, please call Freedom Disability Services at (866) 761-5942 today for a free evaluation with one of our Advocates today. If your condition has or will prevent you from working for at least 12 consecutive months, do not hesitate to call our Advocates and begin your application for the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits you deserve. Back to mental health disabilities list

9. Autistic and Other Developmental Disorders

Autistic and other developmental disorders are characterized by developmental deficits of both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, social interaction, and imaginative activity. There are also frequent, significant restrictions of interests and activities. Claimants are typically approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits when medical proof is provided for the following symptoms:

• For Autism:
  • Deficits in reciprocal social interaction
  • Deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication and in imaginative activity
  • Restricted repertoire of activities and interests
• For Other Developmental Disorders:
  • Deficits in reciprocal social interaction
  • Deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication and imaginative activity

These symptoms must result in at least two of the following:

• Restrictions of daily living
• Difficulty functioning in social environments
• Difficulty maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace when completing tasks
• Episodes of decompensation

If you believe autism or another developmental disorder has or will prevent you from working for at least 12 consecutive months, call Freedom Disability Services today at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation. Our Advocates have the professional case experience to help you through the application process and to win your claim. Back to mental health disabilities list

Remember, this is only a list of common mental disorders the Social Security Administration has predetermined severe enough to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. If you do not fall into one of these categories, but still feel your condition is disabling, call Freedom Disability Services today at (866) 761-5942 for a free evaluation by one of our Advocates. Our Advocates will provide you with further information about each category’s specific criteria and assist you in determining whether you qualify for SSDI.

The foregoing information is based on published materials from the Social Security Administration (“Disability Evaluation Under Social Security”). It is meant to serve as an introduction to some of the factors used by the SSA in evaluating cases. It is no way comprehensive. While Freedom Disability Services can help you prepare an effective application for benefits, only the SSA can determine whether or not you qualify. For more information call Freedom today at (866) 761-5942.

Share

Tweet