If an adult or child has a disability due to a mental disorder, they may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Since mental impairment affects a person’s ability to perform daily tasks and decreases their capacity to work, the SSA provides disability benefits to such individuals based on the severity of their condition.
On September 26, 2016, the SSA published a final rule, titled Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Mental Disorders, which will be enforced in January, 2017. This is a comprehensive revision made to the process for evaluating the disability claims of adults and children who have mental disorders.
The Key Changes
The following are the most significant changes made to the current rules and criteria to qualify for Social Security benefits:
Why is the SSA making these changes?
The Blue Book listings for mental health conditions was way overdue a full revision since 1990, which the SSA carried out this September.
“Updating our medical criteria for the disability program is a challenging task that has been complicated by deep budgetary cuts in recent years,” said Carolyn W. Colvin, the acting commissioner of Social Security. “We are committed to updating our regulations to reflect up-to-date standards and practices used in the health care community.”
The final rule includes changes made considering the public comments from the 2010 proposal, advances in medical knowledge and technology, and updates that were made to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
If your loved one has a disability due to a mental disorder, they may qualify for Social Security benefits as per the revised criteria. Harold W. Conick & Associates Ltd has been successfully representing clients for over 30 years to get their rightful benefits. Contact us today at (800) 608-8881 to schedule a consultation with our Social Security disability attorney.