Mental Illness and Social Security Disability

Mental conditions in combination with physical problems may lead to a finding of disability.

Mental conditions alone may also lead to a finding of disability.

These conditions range from intellectual deficits to bipolar syndrome, schizophrenia, anxiety, PTSD, and psychotic behavior.

It is virtually impossible to win a Social Security Disability mental illness case without treatment from a psychiatrist or mental health therapist.

This is because Social Security Judges usually do not give much weight to mental health treatment from a primary care physician.

The standard you must meet to prove you are disabled is that you are unable to work any job, including unskilled work. This may include jobs such as cleaning offices at night away from the public and with little contact with co-workers and supervisors.

The key is that if you miss more than one day per month, then no employer will keep you on.

If you will be off task more than 20 percent of the day, then you not be able to retain a job.

Most of the time a serious mental illness will result in excessive absences and loss of concentration and focus.

Other signs of serious mental illness are multiple hospitalizations, strong anti-psychotic medications, or shock therapy.

Questions about your Social Security Disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.