Mental Illness and Disability Benefits: Understanding Your Rights and Options

Mental Illness and Disability Benefits: Understanding Your Rights and Options

Living with a mental illness can significantly impact a person’s life, making it challenging to maintain employment and carry out daily activities. Recognizing these difficulties, the United States provides disability benefits to individuals with mental health conditions. Disability Support Services (DSS) of Maryland aims to provide an overview of disability benefits for mental illness, including the types of benefits available, eligibility criteria, and the application process. Understanding your rights and options can help you access the support you need to navigate your mental health journey.

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Do You Know What Vision Problems Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Do You Know What Vision Problems Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Vision problems can affect both your physical and mental abilities to satisfy work requirements. You may struggle to perform basic administrative duties, such as reading communications or completing written tasks. This can make it nearly impossible for you to succeed at work. Your job could require reading product labels and related safety and care instructions, or the ability to drive a vehicle. Eye disabilities that impair these functions could make you a danger to yourself or others. Vision problems – and the resulting struggle through each workday – can also cause stress, anxiety, and depression. These mental hurdles can hinder your ability to focus on your work responsibilities.

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Your Comprehensive Guide to COVID-19 and Disability Benefits

Your Comprehensive Guide to COVID-19 and Disability Benefits

Like the rest of the country, the Social Security Administration is adapting to COVID-19. Millions of Americans depend on their disability benefits each month. However, the SSA has taken steps to ensure COVID-19 won’t disrupt those benefits. There are, however, a few things you’ll need to know about managing your benefits during this time. 

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Do You Need a Dire Need Letter?

Do You Need a Dire Need Letter?

A dire need situation is when an individual does not have the food, clothing, shelter, or the proper care or medicine that they need. They are also unable to get those things for themselves. A dire situation means that an individual’s health is immediately in danger based on their situation. It also shows that they lack the means and income to obtain what they need. If you find yourself in this situation, submitting a dire need letter may help your case.

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What Medical Conditions Apply to Disability Benefits?

What Medical Conditions Apply to Disability Benefits?

The Social Security Administration provides disability benefits for medical conditions that may affect an individual’s ability to work. The requirements for such benefits are dependent on the medical diagnosis, as well as the severity of the condition. It is essential to understand which medical conditions apply to disability benefits, so you can determine if you qualify for assistance. Below are some of the disabling conditions that are recognized by the SSA.

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Disability Benefits for PTSD

Disability Benefits for PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that is brought on by the resurfacing of memories related to a traumatic event. An individual can develop this condition when an event is experienced or witnessed firsthand that creates an intense fear or feeling of helplessness. PTSD is often associated with veterans of the military. However, this is not the only instance in which an individual will be affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In fact, experiencing the trauma of any kind can result in triggering PTSD. Luckily, these individuals may be able to receive disability benefits for PTSD. 

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Social Security Benefits for Degenerative Disc Disease

Social Security Benefits for Degenerative Disc Disease

After being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, you may be unable to work. Due to your inability to work, you have the option to apply for Social Security disability benefits. This type of disability insurance is provided to an individual who is disabled or to their dependents based on how long the individual has worked and if enough credit was earned to qualify. To qualify for benefits in this manner, you must have a permanent disability. You are not eligible for payments during the first six months you are not working. With the application process, information from the Social Security Administration determines if you meet the definition of disability as set forth by the administration and if you are eligible for monthly benefits.

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Multiple Sclerosis and Disability Benefits

Multiple Sclerosis and Disability Benefits

More than 400,000 individuals living in the United States suffer from the debilitating disease known as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune disease that affects your central nervous system. It causes problems with nerve impulses and the brain being able to communicate with the body. This can cause great impact the ability to complete everyday tasks, including working. This, in turn, leads to the need for assistance such as with disability benefits.

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