Certain mental conditions, including depression and anxiety, are considered disabilities under the Social Security Act. If properly documented and diagnosed, people suffering from mental and psychological impairments are eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

At Leland Law, our California Social Security Disability attorneys work closely with people suffering from depression or anxiety and who are no longer able to work as a result. We can review your case, prepare your Social Security Disability application and represent you through all four SSDI/SSI appeals levels if necessary. To schedule a free consultation and discuss your case, contact mental impairment disabilities attorneys at Leland Law today.

Who Qualifies for Mental Disability Benefits?

In order to qualify for mental disability benefits, you must first prove that you suffer from a mental impairment lasting more than a year and verify that you’ve been employed for a certain amount of time. As with physical disabilities, mental impairments must be severe and last long enough to prevent or interfere with a claimant’s ability to perform work. In this sense, people suffering from depression or anxiety should not automatically assume their case will be “weaker” or less likely to be accepted.

Mental Impairment and Social Security Disability Benefits

Our attorneys counsel and represent people suffering from the following mental impairments in Social Security Disability benefits cases:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Bi-polar disorder
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Panic attacks
  • Phobias – agoraphobia, acrophobia, etc.
  • Eating disorders

Sometimes, a mental impairment is not enough for a disability claim alone. However, when coupled with another mental impairment or physical impairment, the Social Security Administration may grant your claim. To learn more, please visit our page: A Combination of Impairments.

What You Should Know before Applying for SSDI or SSI

There are certain things that can negatively impact your application for Social Security Disability benefits. First, it’s important to have a documented medical history regarding your depression or anxiety. Especially in cases involving depression, too often disability applicants don’t seek treatment for their condition beyond having their family doctor prescribe an anti-depressant. To convince the Social Security Administration (SSA) of your condition, you need to see a psychiatrist or other mental healthcare professional.

Secondly, if you have been treated for depression or anxiety, and have been prescribed medication, it’s important to take your medication unless there is good reason not to. If your medical records indicate that you failed or refused to take your medication without good reason, SSA may decide that you would be able to work despite your impairment.

Lastly, if you haven’t sought medical treatment for your condition or taken the medication prescribed to you, the SSA may decide your condition isn’t severe enough to be considered a disability. This is made even more difficult by the fact that both depression and anxiety have a tendency to ebb and flow, depending on the pressures and general health condition of the person in question. For these reasons, it’s important to make sure all your medical records and information are well-documented and established.

Contact Mental Impairment Disabilities Attorneys Today

If depression or anxiety has made it impossible for you to work, contact Social Security Disability benefits attorneys at Leland Law today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case. We can review your situation and explain the options available to you for receiving benefits and protecting your job.