How Much Does Mental Health Disability Pay?

Disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration help support millions of Americans unable to work because of mental health impairments. The eligibility rules and how much a mental health pays those who qualify for disability benefits depends on the program they qualify under and several other factors.

This article explains how someone with a mental health impairment qualifies for disability benefits, the available programs, and other factors affecting their monthly benefits. If you or a member of your family has a disabling mental health condition, reading this article gives you the information needed to make informed decisions about Social Security disability benefits and how to qualify for them.

Disability Programs Available Through The Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration has the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs for people who cannot work because of a mental health disability. The programs are very different, so even if you do not qualify for one, you could be eligible for the other.

SSI program is for individuals with limited or no income and resources with a combined value of $2,000. The resource limit for couples is $3,000.

The SSI program provides benefits to adults and children in the following categories:

• Disabled
• Blind
• Age 65 or older

Applicants seeking SSI benefits need no work history to qualify for the program, which makes it different from SSDI.

Eligibility for the SSDI program requires that you work long enough at a job or through self-employment before becoming disabled. You must have contributed to the Social Security Retirement system by paying Social Security taxes on the income earned. The amount you earn while working determines how much you receive in monthly SSDI benefits.

What Is A Mental Health Disability For SSI And SSDI?

The SSA defines a disability for adults applying for SSI and SSDI as a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents a person from doing substantial gainful activity. The impairment or impairments must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death.

Applications for SSI submitted on behalf of a child must prove the existence of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment causing marked and severe function limitations and expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.

The SSA has a listing of impairments, also called the Blue Book. The listing was created for claims examiners to determine whether an impairment is severe enough to meet the standard as being disabling. There are separate listings of mental health disorders for adults and children.

Mental health disorders contained in the listing of impairments for adults include the following:

• Neurocognitive disorders
• Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
• Depressive bipolar-related disorders
• Intellectual disorders
• Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders
• Somatic symptom and related disorders
• Personality and impulse-control disorders
• Autism spectrum disorder

The listing of mental health impairments for adults and children is similar except for the inclusion of a listing titled “Developmental disorders in infants and toddlers.”

Each listing contains requirements to prove a condition is severe enough to qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits. However, there are other methods to qualify for disability benefits with a mental disorder that can allow an applicant to qualify even when their condition does not match or equal a listing.

How Much Does Mental Health Disability Pay Each Month?

The maximum SSI federal benefit for 2024 is $943 per month for individuals and $1,415 for eligible couples. Most states offer their residents a supplemental payment in addition to the federal benefit. However, your federal benefit could be less than $943 if you have earned or unearned monthly income. The countable income reduces the monthly SSI benefits.

The federal government sets SSI benefit amounts annually, but SSDI benefits are based on lifetime contributions to the Social Security system. The maximum monthly SSDI benefits a disabled worker can receive in 2024 is $3,822, with the average SSDI benefits paid to workers being $1,537.

A disability lawyer or disability advocate can answer all questions or concerns you have about getting mental health disability benefits through SSDI and SSI.