Certain mental health conditions can make going through the daily tasks of life difficult. Severe mental health symptoms can significantly interfere with work performance. This is when someone may qualify for disability insurance. Find out whether you could be eligible for disability benefits by consulting with a Philadelphia individual disability insurance attorney.

Impact of Mental Health on Disability Claims

Not everyone realizes how common mental health disability benefits are. Mental health is often considered one of the fastest-growing categories of disability benefits recipients. Common examples of these mental conditions are bipolar, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosis.

The difficulty with filing disability claims for mental health conditions is how much they can fluctuate in intensity. Some mental health struggles improve in a short period of time on their own, then return with greater intensity a few weeks later. Mental health symptoms become increasingly hard to predict as a result.

Some mental health symptoms significantly interfere with work performance. This can lead to job loss, lost income, and financial difficulties. Finding new work can become challenging because employers may judge someone based on why the previous employer let them go. Future employers may not always consider the context of mental health symptoms.

Many people struggling with chronic mental health symptoms can become discouraged as a result. Depending on the type of mental health condition, this may worsen their symptoms. Over time, this leads many people in similar situations to turn to disability benefits for a financial solution. This has led to a growing number of disability claims related to mental health.

However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict rules for how they approve mental health disability claims so that people do not try to file false claims. The SSA only considers conditions that are not expected to improve despite treatment. Strict eligibility criteria have been created to help claims processors make determinations.

How Mental Health Affects Work Performance

Despite mental health conditions fluctuating in terms of improvement, there are numerous mental health effects on work performance. The most common mental health effects on work performance include negative impacts on:

• Communication with co-workers and customers
• Work task performance
• Time management
• Physical abilities
• Mental skills
• Productivity at work

The challenges of mental health are balancing a full-time job with continued treatment for mental illness. Unlike medical conditions that may only require a few appointments, mental health conditions often require weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly continued treatment. Psychiatric medications and therapy sessions can be expensive.

People in this situation may have no choice but to work full-time on top of trying to pay for psychiatric bills. When they lose their job because of their mental health, this often creates significantly more financial stress that can prevent them from affording psychiatric treatment. Consider contacting a Philadelphia disability lawyer about whether disability benefits could help.

Contact Edelstein & Nelson for Legal Help

Navigating the complicated disability benefits process can be confusing. Do not hesitate to ask a Philadelphia disability lawyer for guidance when applying for disability benefits. Feel free to contact Edelstein & Nelson by dialing (800) 300-0909 for a consultation today. Our dedicated team of attorneys is ready to help you increase your chances of receiving disability benefits.