Houston Social Security Disability Law Blog

Many people in Houston suffer from mental conditions that interfere with their ability to work. Some of these people may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, but they may also be unaware of how such benefits are granted. As with all SSDI applications, an application for benefits based upon a mental condition must prove the existence of the disability and the totality of the disability.

Proof of the existence of a disability caused by a mental condition or disorder can be difficult because most mental illnesses do not produce visible symptoms. Moreover, many mental conditions cannot be detected by objective measurement, such as by an x-ray, a CT scan or a laboratory test. Instead, proof of a mental disability usually relies on the observations and evaluations of health care providers that treat such conditions.

Many people in Houston assume without checking that Social Security Disability benefits are available only to adults. This assumption is incorrect, and it has prevented many parents from obtaining disability benefits for children who suffer from a disabling illness or injury. A knowledge of the basic rules of SSDI eligibility for children may help parents who are raising a seriously injured or ill child.

Unlike adults, children who are seeking Social Security Disability benefits must pass two tests: an income test and a disability test. Children must first demonstrate that they are eligible for Supplement Security Income, a program administered by the Social Security Administration. The SSA will review the child's income (likely to be negligible) and household income. A certain amount of household income will be imputed to the child. If the child's income is below a certain level, he or she can receive disability benefits if they are disabled.

Many people in Houston suffer from disorders of their neurological systems. The Social Security Disability insurance program provides benefits for many of these disorders. Covered conditions include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, early-onset Alzheimer's disease to combinations of physical and mental dysfunction. The evidentiary requirements of the Social Security Administration and the complexity of the human neurological system often make obtaining SSDI benefits for these disorders a daunting task.

The SSA has adopted regulations that apply to every form of neurological disorder for which benefits may be paid. The necessary medical evidence includes the claimant's medical history, examination findings regarding the disorder in question, relevant laboratory findings and the results of medical imaging, such as CT scans, MRI scans and electroencephalography. Some diseases, such as Parkinsonian syndrome and myasthenia gravis, may be eligible for benefits if the patient has adhered to a prescribed treatment regimen and if the symptoms persist.

Many people in the Houston area suffer from one or more mental disorders that could provide the basis for a successful claim for Social Security Disability Benefits insurance. The Social Security Administration recognizes a number of mental disorders as qualifying disabilities provided the claimant can provide the necessary supporting information.

SSA regulations define 11 different kinds of mental disorders that can support a claim for disability benefits. The kinds of qualifying disorders include neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, depression and bipolar disorder, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders and several others. Each of the disorders has different features, but the SSA has developed objective criteria that apply to all eleven.