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Mental conditions could affect your ability to work

by | Sep 27, 2017 | Blog |

Your ability to earn a living and provide for your Alabama family is contingent on your physical and mental ability to hold a job. When a mental condition affects your ability to hold gainful employment, it can take a significant financial toll on your life. You may not know that some mental conditions could make you eligible for disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration provides disability benefits for some individuals who cannot work because of medical conditions. Many people associate disability benefits with physical conditions or injuries, but they may also apply to mental conditions as well. If you believe that you may qualify, you can take action to better understand the options available to you.

Mental illness and your ability to work

There are many different types of mental illness, and there are varying degrees of severity. A mental condition does not always affect a person’s ability to work, but you may find that you are not able to hold the same job because of your struggles. The symptoms of your illness may come and go, but you may need substantial support to get care and provide for your everyday needs.

Two of the most common types of mental conditions are anxiety disorders and mood disorders. The specific conditions associated with these types of disorders include the following:

  • Anxiety disorders: Obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorders, phobias
  • Mood disorders: Bipolar disorder, major depression, seasonal affective disorder and dysthymia

From schizophrenia to OCD, there are multiple conditions that could leave you with symptoms you are unable to manage effectively. It’s overwhelming, even frightening, to be left in a place where you can no longer work, but it can be helpful to seek a full understanding of your options.

Benefits for the disabled

If you believe that your mental condition could qualify you for disability benefits, you have no time to lose in seeking the support you need and deserve. A mental condition could be keeping you from work, but that does not mean that you have no other options.

Seeking Social Security Disability benefits on the basis of mental illness is not easy. You have to include documentation and records of medical treatment, and it is normal for initial claims to come back denied. It could be useful to first seek guidance for the entire claims process in order to better understand what lies ahead and how you can deal with unexpected challenges.

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