|  | Mental Health | General Mental Illness

Social Security Benefits for Mental Problems

Social Security provides a number of benefits for people with mental problems, including Social Security Disability insurance, Supplemental Security Income and Medicare. Mental problems that might qualify someone for Social Security benefits include depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Social Security does not consider alcoholism or drug addiction a mental disorder and does not award benefits for those problems. People with alcohol or drug problems may still qualify for benefits if they have other problems, though.

  1. Social Security Disability Insurance

    • People who cannot work due to a mental problem like depression or bipolar disorder, may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if doctors expect their symptoms to last at least one year and if they previously worked and paid into Social Security enough. For instance, someone who becomes disabled before the age of 28 must have worked for at least 1.5 years. Someone who becomes disabled at age 44 must have worked for at least five years. The amount people receive each month for SSDI depends on how much they earned and paid into Social Security when they were working. The Social Security Administration mails out annual statements that indicate the amount you could receive for SSDI if you became disabled at that point.

    Supplemental Security Income

    • People who cannot work due to a mental problem who do not qualify for SSDI because they did not work or pay into Social Security enough in the past may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Doctors must still expect their symptoms to last for at least one year. To qualify for SSI, people must have limited income and resources. As of January 2010, the most SSI will pay is $674 per month for an individual and $1,011 for a couple. People with other sources of income may receive less than the maximum.

    Medicare

    • People who receive Social Security disability benefits qualify for Medicare after two years. Medicare provides health insurance that covers a variety of medical services, including mental health care and prescription drugs used to treat disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. Most people have to pay monthly premiums for Medicare parts B and D, the parts of Medicare that pay for outpatient health care services and prescription drugs. People with very low incomes may qualify for help in paying their premiums, though.

General Mental Illness - Related Articles