What is the SSA Blue Book of Mental Impairments?

When applying for Social Security disability benefits, you’ll need to meet a number of different requirements in order to qualify. Your physical or mental impairment must meet the definition of what the SSA considers a disability. If you have a mental impairment and are planning to apply for disability benefits, then you can look through the SSA Blue Book to find out if your mental impairment qualifies.

What Mental Impairments are in the SSA Blue Book?

The SSA Blue Book lists of all of the injuries or illnesses defined as disabling. It includes a list of mental impairments, which include the following:

• Brain Disorders – This includes anyone who has suffered from cerebral trauma, brain cancer or advanced multiple sclerosis.
• Learning Disabilities – This includes anyone who suffers from a functional impairment in addition to a low IQ. It can also include autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
• Anxiety – This includes social anxiety, which can be so severe that it limits your ability to leave your home. It also includes PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
• Depression – This includes anyone who suffers from various forms of depression, such as major depression, manic depression or dysthymia.
• Personality Disorders – This includes anyone who suffers from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder or oppositional defiant disorder.
• Other mental conditions – The Blue Book considers other mental conditions, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, as disabling.

Proving You Have a Listed Mental Impairment

Remember, you can’t just check off a box saying that you have a mental impairment listed in the Blue Book. You will need to prove that you have the condition. You will also need to prove that the symptoms you suffer as a result of that condition disable you.

This requires that you have the medical statements (such as the professional diagnosis as well as any treatment you receive for the condition) to back it up. If you don’t have enough evidence collected, you may need to have further testing done in order to prove your diagnosis or to be professionally diagnosed.

What if Your Mental Impairment isn’t in the SSA Blue Book?

If you search through the SSA Blue Book and you don’t see your mental impairment specifically listed by name, it does not mean that your mental impairment isn’t disabling or that the SSA doesn’t consider it to be disabling.

Mental impairment not listed? Then you can still qualify if the symptoms that you suffer are similar to any of the symptoms considered to be disabling under the specific conditions and disorders that are listed in the SSA Blue Book. Can you prove that your mental impairment’s symptoms are similar to the symptoms of any of the conditions listed? You should be able to qualify. This is true as long as you have medical proof of those symptoms.

The SSA Blue Book is helpful in determining if you can qualify for disability payments because of your mental impairment. For professional assistance in determining your eligibility, contact Social Security Disability Advocates USA for a free consultation. Call us at 602-952-3200, and don’t forget to use our online LiveChat feature.

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