Most people think of a physical disability when they think of disability benefits and disability insurance. However, in the last couple of decades, the definition of a disabling condition has been extended to mental disabilities as well. These are conditions whereby one’s mental health is affected, and as a direct or indirect result, the capacity to live one’s life fully is hampered. If you or someone you know has a mental disability and might qualify for disability benefits and are/is living in Knoxville, TN, you should consult a Social Security lawyer in Knoxville. Here is how to tell if the mental health condition qualifies for Social Security disability benefits.
Check Your Diagnosis Against the List
Social Security has a list of disabling conditions for which it accepts applications for benefits. There is a list for adults and a separate list for children, so be sure to navigate to ssa.gov’s list of conditions for adults. Depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and several others are listed. This is just the first step in many, which is why you need a lawyer’s help after you find your own conditions on the list.
It’s Not Enough to Have a Listed Condition
Social Security has a very stringent process for approving applicants for benefits. It’s not enough to have a listed condition. You must also show that the condition has negatively affected all aspects of your life and that it disallows you from working for at least three months or more. Even then, more than half of all applicants can be turned down. It is the number one reason for hiring a Social Security lawyer in Knoxville, TN and anywhere else in the United States. Be sure to contact Drozdowski & Rabin, PLLC today to discuss your case.
