Step 1: Assess Your Mental Health Condition

To qualify for SSDI with a mental health disability, consider:

• Diagnoses that meet SSA criteria such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, or schizophrenia.
• Demonstrating how symptoms limit your ability to function daily and hold employment.
• Keeping consistent treatment records from psychiatrists, therapists, or other licensed mental health clinicians.

Step 2: Document Duration and Severity

Your condition should be:

• Expected to last at least 12 continuous months or be terminal.
• Supported by detailed medical evidence and evaluations.
• Expert opinions on how the condition affects your residual functional capacity to work.

Step 3: Verify Work History and Credits

Eligibility requires:

• Sufficient work credits earned by paying Social Security taxes.
• The number of credits depends on age at disability onset.
• Most applicants need approximately 20 credits within the last 10 years.

Step 4: Understand SSA’s Review Process

The SSA will:

• Examine all medical documentation and reports from your treating mental health providers.
• Evaluate functional limitations including cognitive and social abilities.
• Decide if you can still perform any gainful employment, not just previous jobs.

Common Challenges

Watch out for issues such as:

• Insufficient or inconsistent medical evidence regarding the severity of your disability.
• Short-term or mild symptoms that do not meet SSA’s disability standard.
• Missed SSA-requested examinations or failure to follow treatment plans.
• Not having enough work credits due to employment gaps or recent disability.