New Law on Social Security for Mental Disorders

SSA Revises Criteria for Applying for
Social Security for Mental Disorders

Collecting Social Security Disability for a mental or psychological disorder has always been quite a bit more difficult than collecting Social Security Disability for a physical illness.

As experienced Social Security attorneys, we understand that people with mental or psychological disorders are in as great of need as individuals with other illnesses. But psychological symptoms can be harder to assess and document than physical symptoms – and the degree of severity of a mental disorder is harder to measure objectively.

However, the problem for SSD applicants with mental disorders was much bigger than that. Outdated prejudices and preconceived ideas about mental illness often resulted in deserving Social Security Applicants being denied benefits.

Finally, there is some very good news for SSD applicants with psychological and intellectual disabilities. On September 26, 2016, the Social Security Administration published the most comprehensive revision in over 30 years to the criteria used to evaluate disability claims involving mental disorders.

Long Beach Social Security Lawyers Explain
The New Law on Mental Disorders

This set of criteria, entitled:  “Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Mental Disorders” brings up-to-date the standards for evaluating claims involving mental disorders.  These new rules go into effect January 17, 2017, and are aimed at reflecting the current standards and practices used in the mental health community.

When crafting these new rule, the Social Security Administration under the Obama Administration consulted psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health treatment providers, disability policy experts, and vocational experts who work in the mental health field.

The new rules for collecting Social Security Disability for a mental disorder took into consideration comments from the public, and a comprehensive intellectual disability report that was commissioned from the National Academy of Sciences.

These new Social Security Rules are the most comprehensive revisions to the mental and psychological criteria used by the SSA since 1985. And while these updates were long overdue – because much has changed in the understanding of mental illnesses in the past 30 years – our Social Security Disability attorneys are encouraged by this progress.

In announcing these changes the Social Security Administration, in a rare display of compassion, stated that people with mental and psychological disorders are some of the most vulnerable members in our society, and that the SSA was taking its duty to provide them with “effective service and support seriously”.

As experienced Social Security Disability attorneys who have successfully represented hundreds of individuals who suffer from mental disabilities, we hope that these updated rules will positively influence the SSD process for applicants with mental illnesses. Hopefully, these new rules will mean that deserving individuals with mental or psychological disorders will be able to faster and more easily collect the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve.

Our Long Beach Social Security Lawyers Get Maximum Benefits

If you have been disabled and you live in Long Beach, Orange County, the Los Angeles area or anywhere in Southern California, we offer a free consultation with an experienced social security lawyer to help you understand your rights and obtain the maximum  disability benefits.

Click Here or call for a free consultation with a Social Security lawyer: 562-622-4800

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