Your mental disability may not be as visible as, say, another person’s physical disability. But all the same, it may make it as difficult for you to retain and maintain gainful employment activity. In other words, it may make it just as qualified to receive monthly Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Because your mental disability is more difficult to identify with the naked eye, you may find it more challenging to assemble tangible evidence of it. If this is your primary concern, please continue reading to learn what proof you may require of your mental disability to become eligible for SSDI benefits and how an experienced New Jersey mental & emotional disability SSDI benefits lawyer at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can help you gather this necessary evidence.
How do I know if my mental disability qualifies for SSDI benefits?
First of all, the Social Security Administration (SSA), provides a list of mental disorders they typically evaluate for SSDI benefits eligibility. Within this list, there are neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, depressive disorders, intellectual disorders, anxiety disorders, somatic system disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, eating disorders, and trauma-related disorders.
Secondly, after confirming you have an eligible mental disability, you must ensure that all of the following circumstances are true to you:
- Your mental disability symptoms have affected your life for at least one year by now.
- Your mental disability symptoms have significantly shifted your employment status.
- Your mental disability symptoms have majorly hindered your ability to complete day-to-day tasks.
- Your mental disability has been formally diagnosed by your treating mental healthcare professional.
What proof do I need of my mental disability for SSDI benefits eligibility?
Contrary to what you may be fearful of, acquiring proof of your mental disability may not be so different from if you had a physical disability. For one, your primary source of evidence should still be your medical records. This means records provided by your treating mental healthcare professional (i.e., psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, etc). Generally speaking, they should disclose your official diagnosis, your diagnosis date, the symptoms associated with your diagnosis, and your prescribed therapies and medications.
After this, you must double down on how your diagnosed mental disability and its associated symptoms create functional limitations. This may require written testimonies from close family members and friends who can attest to how your ability to participate in daily activities, social interactions, and self-care regimens has drastically declined. Plus, written testimony by your former employer may solidify how your mental disability makes it nearly impossible to complete your previous job functions and responsibilities effectively.
Lastly, like with any other SSDI benefits candidate, you must provide proof of your work history. This is because you must have worked long enough and recently enough to collect from this government assistance program.
In conclusion, what matters most is that you retain strong legal representation to get you through this critical case. Please contact a skilled lawyer for SSDI eligibility in New Jersey at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur today.
