The veil is being lifted on mental health issues in California. For many years, a Californian who suffered from a mental impairment may have felt shunned, stigmatized or flat-out shamed. Some were simply committed to a mental health institution to live out their days. However, now that the American populace is beginning to become educated on just how prevalent mental health conditions can be, the Nation is seeking better ways to address this national issue.
But, for anyone who is attempting to apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits based on a mental impairment, the road is still daunting. Sure, applying for SSD benefits can be difficult for anyone, not just those suffering from mental health problems. But, is a mental impairment harder to prove than a physical disability?
In most cases, the answer is undoubtedly, “yes.” A physical disability is obvious in most cases, unless it is an internal issue, like cancer or heart disease. Though, even those conditions usually have readily apparent physical symptoms, such as labored breathing, fatigue or limited movement. The greatest difficulty that a person with a physical disability will usually have is proving that the disability is actually significant enough to prevent the person from working.
The symptoms of mental impairments are rarely obvious, or even observable. As a result, when a person with a mental impairment applies for SSD benefits, a great deal of evidence that documents the person’s diagnosis and treatment is typically required.
The question may come down to this: Can a person with no physical limitations whatsoever be declared disabled and unable to work? For Los Angeles residents who find themselves in this position, getting the right information about how to approach this question from the onset can be a good starting point.
Source: FindLaw.com, “Mental Health Disability Claims,” accessed on Nov. 8, 2015