If you are applying for disability benefits for a mental health condition, you may be able to get help from your psychiatrist who will need to provide evidence that you are unable to work for at least 12 months due to your mental health.
In order to prove that your mental health condition is a disability you will need to provide medical evidence that documents your mental health symptoms. The Social Security Administration (SSA) may ask you to prove you are seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist and/or therapist if your mental health condition is your main disability.
Getting Help Applying for SSD From Your Psychiatrist
If you are not already seeing a psychiatrist for your mental health condition, then you should start seeing one as soon as possible if you don’t want any delays in receiving disability benefits once you have applied. There is specific evidence that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will require when you file your application which may include the following:
- proof that you are seeking treatment from a psychiatrist;
- the type of medication you are being prescribed;
- a letter from the psychiatrist stating that your mental health condition will prevent you from working for the next 12 months and that the current medical treatment is not working.
What Should I Tell My Psychiatrist So I Get Disability Benefits?
When you see a psychiatrist you could be suffering from one of many mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder or even depression that may prevent you from working. What you should tell a psychiatrist will depend on what symptoms you are experiencing such as problems with social interaction, outbursts of anger or violence, hallucinations, extreme sadness events, binge-eating, irrational fears, nightmares, flashbacks, suicidal thoughts or homicidal thoughts.
The best thing to do is tell a psychiatrist the truth about your symptoms. The psychiatrist can then calculate a diagnosis and recommend a treatment program to help alleviate the symptoms. The psychiatrist can then write a report for the SSA stating that your mental health condition will prevent you from working for at least 12 months.
Why Does the SSA Want Me to See Another Psychiatrist?
If you haven’t seen a psychiatrist the SSA will sometimes appoint a psychiatrist to conduct a consultative exam (CE). This helps demonstrate that you qualify for SSDI. Any questions you are asked should be answered honestly.
Get Help With Your SSD Claim
It is never easy winning disability benefits for a mental health condition but a disability lawyer may be able to help you gather the evidence you require so that your disability benefits application isn’t denied. It is failing to provide sufficient medical evidence that leads to a disability benefits claim being denied.
Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
