Social Security Benefits for Mental Illness

Thousands of people in the United States suffer from debilitating mental illnesses in the United States. What most of those suffering are not aware is the fact that if their condition prevents them from working, they may be eligible for federal Social Security benefits. Social Security payments are not limited to physical conditions alone, but include any debilitating condition that prevents a person from working.

The hardship in claiming a mental illness in an application for Social Security benefits lies in proving that the condition provides are hardship in holding steady employment. It must also be shown that the disability has lasted or is likely to last for more than 12 months. There is also a "Catch-22" involved in proving you have a disabling mental illness as explained by Martha A. Churchill in her article, "How To Prove You Have A Mental Illness." In completing the applications for Social Security yourself, the completed application itself can be proof against the fact that your condition is disabling. For this reason, you will have better chances if you hire a attorney or advocate of some sort to fill out the paperwork on your behalf.

You will also require help in the form of letters by any doctors or social workers who can explain how your condition is adversely affecting your life. It is also a good idea to have letters from friends and family as well who can corroborate the letters from the doctor. In so submitting these letters, you will be able to show the Social Security Administration that your mental illness gives you serious limitations in the four areas of functioning that they use to determine eligibility. These areas are: daily living skills, social functioning, Concentration and/or persistence, and episodes of deterioration. All letters should detail how each of these areas of your life are affected.

In applying for Social Security benefits, you may qualify for one or both of two separate forms of benefits. The first is SSI, or Supplemental Security Income. SSI is intended for the poor who are unable to work. As of 2007, the maximum SSI benefit was $623 per month for an individual. The second form of benefit is SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance. To qualify for SSDI, you must have been able to work in the past and have paid into the Social Security fund through employer withholdings. The SSDI benefit is determined by the average amount of your previous work and how much has been paid into the fund. According to www.nami.org, the average payment in 2007 was $900 per month. You may also qualify for medical insurance through either Medicare or Medicaid, which will be applied for in conjunction with the monetary benefits.

The simplest way to apply for Social Security benefits is online through the Administrations website at www.ssa.gov. Information about where to apply locally in person may be obtained through the toll-free national hotline by calling 1-800-772-1213. Once your initial application is processed, you will be called by a caseworker who will then either conduct an in-depth phone interview or ask you to come down to the local office for a face-to-face interview. After the interview, you will be playing the waiting game. Although it is said that applications will be processed within three months, the usual waiting time is normally around six months.

Even after the 3-6 month waiting, it is very likely that your application will initially be denied. The Social Security Administration is very scrutinizing and may deny applications for any number of minor reasons. You may therefore need to submit an appeal. This is crucial. Never accept a denial of your application without an appeal. Although the vast majority of applicants do not appeal, for those that do, over 60% are subsequently approved.

If you are suffering from a mental illness that prevents you from working, I suggest you apply for Social Security benefits immediately if you have not already done so. This is not a free handout and there is no shame involved. For the most part, you have probably already paid into Social Security a great deal of money and these are benefits that you deserve to receive. If you need additional information, call the hotline as previously mentioned at 1-800-772-1213.