Mental Disorders and Social Security Disability Benefits

Physical injuries and diseases are much easier to see than those originating inside the human mind. While the effects of mental disorders can be every bit as encumbering as broken limbs or progressive genetic ailments, they don’t receive the same sympathy in the court of public opinion. “Just get over it,” some say to those who suffer from mental health problems – as if the decision to get well is all that’s necessary.

Recovery is often a long process, and the ill may need financial assistance to provide for basic needs during this time. Fortunately, there’s help.

Call our Pennsylvania SSDI lawyers at Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates at (215) 515-2954 for a free case evaluation.

Social Security Disability Impairment Listings

No condition, mental or otherwise, automatically qualifies or disqualifies an applicant for SSDI benefits under federal law. However, the Social Security Administration does maintain a list of recognized impairments for approval purposes.

The list, which includes mental disorders such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, is the first hurdle in the disability approval process. Receiving a diagnosis that’s present on the SSA’s impairment list doesn’t necessarily mean an application will win immediate approval. There’s still an examination process to go through before the checks begin arriving by mail.

What Mental Health Disorders Are Eligible for SSDI in Pennsylvania?

Under the “mental disorders” listing for disabilities, there are 11 categories of disorders listed:

1. Neurocognitive disorders – e.g., significant memory and learning disorders
2. Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
3. Depression and bipolar disorders
4. Intellectual disorders – e.g., severe low-IQ disorders and mental disabilities
5. Anxiety and OCD
6. Somatic symptom disorders – i.e., serious “hypochondriac” disorders producing physical symptoms
7. Personality and impulse-control disorders – e.g., paranoia and schizotypal disorders, borderline, etc.
8. Autism
9. Neurodevelopmental disorders
10. Eating disorders – e.g., bulimia, anorexia, binge-eating disorder
11. Trauma disorders – e.g., PTSD.

How Does the SSA Judge Mental Disorders for Disability?

Of course, many people have clinical diagnoses and may consider themselves “disabled” by their condition, but they are able to control symptoms and go about their day. People are considered “disabled” for SSDI when their condition is so severe that it stops them from being able to work.

Heightened Diagnostic Criteria

The way the SSA tackles this is by having its own definitions that include more advanced or severe symptoms than the clinical diagnostic criteria.

For example, someone might be blue and down a lot, but they are not typically diagnosed with depression unless they have five of a list of symptoms. For the SSA’s definition, you still need at least five of those symptoms, but you also need “extreme limitation” in certain life skills (e.g., understanding information, interacting with others), or the disorder must be “serious and persistent.”

This is what takes general clinical diagnoses beyond that to “disabilities” under the SSA’s definition.

Severity

Put another way, the SSA requires that any condition be “severe” to qualify. This means that it must be bad enough to stop you from being able to work to earn enough money to support yourself.

This is analyzed, in part, by looking at the symptoms and your lost abilities/impairment. It is also based, in part, on how much money you can earn with your disability.

Providing Proof of Impairment

Submitting psychiatric evidence that a given mental health disorder reduces the applicant’s functional capacity is still essential to obtaining approval for SSDI benefits. Some disability examiners may not understand the debilitating nature of mental disorders or might even have prejudices concerning them.

That’s why it’s essential to hire a legal team that can compile medical information on your behalf and present your application in as compelling a light as possible.

Mental Residual Functional Capacity and Inability to Work

Mental disorders often have a cyclical nature, meaning that symptoms may “disappear” for a time before rearing up again in all their incapacitating glory. For the SSA to approve an application, a claimant must show their mental illness affects their ability to work and that doctors expect that condition to last for at least a year.

Providing written document of the extent of the reduction in mental residual function capacity (FRC) is another important element of medical information necessary to obtain first-time application approval.

To determine this, disability examiners look at an applicant’s ability to understand their surroundings and interact with others, long-term and short-term memory, how well an applicant adapts to new situations and how long the applicant can concentrate on given tasks.

If an applicant is unable to sustain focus to complete tasks, their ability to maintain gainful employment is significantly limited.

How Much Do I Need to Earn to Be Considered “Disabled”?

Another indicator of qualifying for SSDI is that you cannot work to earn enough money. This income level is the “substantial gainful activity” limit, and it changes from year to year.

To qualify in 2025, you must make under $1,620 per month if you are not blind and under $2,700 if you are blind.

Can I Work and Still Get SSDI For a Mental Disorder?

As noted, your mental health condition needs to be severe enough to stop you from being able to work. If you can work a little bit but you are still under the SGA limit, you may qualify. However, this is not the only income restriction.

If you are on SSDI – based on your work history – as opposed to SSI – a need-based program – you can receive passive income and still get SSDI benefits. This includes things like investment returns and rental incomes.

However, you also have to stay under trial work period (TWP) limits. If you have a side job and you make enough money, you might trigger a trial work period. You can get a certain number of months where you make more money without penalty, after which you undergo reassessment to see if you are still disabled.

This means that making “too much” money can kick you off your benefits, even if it is from a side job or part-time work.

TWP limits are lower than SGA limits. For 2025, the limit is $1,160 in any month.

Do I Go on SSDI or SSI for a Mental Health Disorder?

Many people are confused by the differences between the two disability programs the SSA offers. While people often say “SSD” or discuss “Social Security disability” broadly, there are actually two programs the SSA administers:

1. SSDI is a disability insurance program that you pay into with your taxes, allowing you to recover disability benefits based on your work history.
2. SSI is a need-based program that you can only qualify for if you do not have enough work history and your income is too low.

The rules are often more forgiving for SSDI, and many people with significant work history can apply to this program.

Ultimately, the qualifying health/mental health conditions are the same for either program. You should simply talk to our Pennsylvania SSDI lawyers about your eligibility for SSDI, as this is generally the preferred program if you qualify.

Do I Have to Undergo Medical Exams to Get SSDI for Mental Health Disorders?

Before you even apply for SSDI, you should have a record of your diagnosis. This might require years of treatment and trying to work through your disorder before your doctor agrees that it is serious enough to potentially qualify as a “disability” for SSDI.

Additionally, the SSA may demand you see a doctor of their choice to assess you. This will confirm your diagnosis and its severity.

The function capacity analyses discussed above are usually administered as part of these medical exams, though some of that might also be self-reported. In any case, our lawyers can walk you through what appointments and exams are required, as well as what documentation you need to provide.

How Our Lawyers Can Help

A strong application for Social Security disability benefits depends on the completeness of medical information provided and comprehensive responses to questions asked by the federal government. The approval process is complicated by design. Don’t allow yourself to go without the money you desperately need.

Our attorneys can do all of the following:

• Analyze your claim and medical records
• Help you assemble your application
• Assemble the paperwork and records you need to support your claim
• Help you get medical appointments and exams necessary to support your claim
• Submit your application
• Help you deal with questions and requests for additional information from the SSA
• Appeal denials
• Appeal terminations and suspensions.

Generally speaking, applicants are more likely to have their application approved on the first try if they work with a lawyer. Our attorneys know what the SSA is looking for and can help you avoid any missing or insufficient information that might lead to a procedural denial.

If your claim is denied, we can immediately begin the appeals process.

Call Our SSDI Attorneys Today

Contact our SSDI attorneys in Pennsylvania today at Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates by calling (215) 515-2954 to discuss your case.