Mental Illnesses That Warrant Disability

A mental illness is an illness occurring in a person's brain that affects the way in which a person behaves, interacts with others and thinks. A variety of psychiatric disorders are classified as mental illnesses. Depending upon the severity and type of mental illness diagnosed, as well as its effect on an individual's work history, a person may be eligible to claim disability with Social Security.

Mental Retardation

• Mental retardation is when general intellectual functioning is well below sub-average, with deficits in adaptive functioning demonstrated before the age of 22. To qualify for disability, the person must meet one of four criteria:

  1. Inability to follow directions with a low mental capacity level where a dependence on others is needed for eating, dressing, bathing and other personal needs.

  2. An IQ level of 59 or less.

  3. An IQ of 60-70 with an additional physical or mental impairment resulting in limitation of function.

  4. An IQ of 60-70 with two additional impairments, such as repeated episodes of decompensation and difficulties in maintaing social functioning.

Organic Mental Disorders

• Dysfunctions of the brain in association with behavioral or psychological abnormalities qualify as organic mental disorders. In order for organic mental disorders to grant disability status, specific requirements must be met. A disorder must result both in loss of specific cognitive abilities, such as disorientation to time and place, and in repeated episodes of decompensation, each lasting for an extended period of time. If a medical documentation can show that an organic mental disorder has caused limitation of ability for at least two years, disability will also be granted.

Pervasive Development DIsorders

• Autism and other disorders resulting in deficits in the development of social interaction, communication skills and imaginative activity are considered pervasive development disorders. To prove disability, medical documentation must prove a history of deficits as well as two additional difficulties or restrictions. Difficulties maintaing social function and concentration with additional repeated episodes of decomposition qualify as two additional difficulties.