Step 1: Establish a Diagnosed Mental Health Condition

To qualify for SSDI based on mental health, consider:

• Diagnoses must be confirmed by licensed mental health professionals.
• Conditions like major depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anxiety disorders frequently qualify.
• The disorder must significantly limit work capabilities and daily living activities.

Step 2: Prove the Condition Has Lasted or Will Last

The SSA requires that mental health disabilities:

• Be expected to persist for at least 12 consecutive months or be terminal.
• Include detailed medical documentation showing treatment history and ongoing symptoms.
• Show professional assessments about functional impairments caused by the illness.

Step 3: Meet Social Security’s Work Credit Criteria

Eligibility needs:

• Enough work credits earned through paying Social Security taxes.
• Credit requirements vary based on age at disability onset.
• Most claimants require around 20 credits within the last decade to qualify.

Step 4: Undergo SSA’s Disability Evaluation

The SSA reviews:

• Medical evidence, psychiatrist or therapist reports, and functional assessments.
• Your residual ability to work in any capacity, not only your past occupation.
• The overall impact of your mental health condition on daily life.

Common Barriers to Approval

Watch for these challenges:

• Insufficient or outdated medical records lacking comprehensive evaluations.
• Mental health symptoms that are intermittent or mild, not meeting SSA’s severity threshold.
• Failure to participate in recommended medical examinations.
• Not having required work credits or gaps in employment history.