What Are the Qualifications for a Mental Disability?

People with mental health disabilities can lead normal, productive lives. However, some symptoms of a mental illness can prevent an individual from engaging in the activities of routine life (e.g., problems with work and relationships). The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 2.5 million people file for disability due to a debilitating mental illness. The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists a host of guidelines online to help navigate people through the process of filing for disability benefits.

Social Security Criteria

• The designation of a mental disability depends on a person's symptom severity and the ability to meet certain criteria set forth by the SSA. The SSA determines disability for an individual who exhibits a significant impairment in several of the activities of daily living: social functioning, concentration (persistence and pace) and decompensation--a gradual worsening of symptoms. Examples of dysfunction in daily activities include: problems maintaining hygiene, inability to carry out daily tasks (e.g., errands) and difficulty holding employment.

Types of Mental Health Disabilities

• The SSA website displays a list of mental illnesses and diagnostic criteria that qualify a person for disability benefits, although this does not guarantee approval for benefits. According to SSA guidelines, a person may qualify for disability benefits if the mental illness affects the person's ability to work and has lasted for a year or longer. The most frequent types of mental health disabilities include affective disorders (e.g., bipolar and clinical depression) and schizophrenia disorders (e.g., paranoid schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder). Affective disorders can cause significant impairment in daily life, such as problems with sadness, dark moods, mania, suicidal thoughts and psychosis---psychotic depression. These symptoms strain a person's ability to cope and ultimately produce long-range complications like spotty employment.

Applying for Disability Benefits

• If an individual has a disability that interferes with daily living, disability benefits might assist the person with managing the illness. Persons with a disability can apply for benefits on the SSA website, apply in person or visit a local Social Security office. An individual must present supporting evidence like medical records and reports documenting the mental illness. Medical reports must clearly list the impairment and symptoms relating to the disability (e.g., hospitalizations and poor work history).