why isnt a mental illness classified as a disability?

Question

some mental illness's can effect you life dramaticly and can become disabiling espcialy to your work so why dont employers wanna know if youve got a mental illness but care if you got a physical one.and if your mental illness puts you out of work why cant you claim disabilty benifits

Answer 1

It's more of a health insurance thing than anything else. Physical problems cost the company more than mental problems.

Unfortunatly, most peopel think that mental problems can be solved with a few pills. Those that don't suffer from them, really have no idea just how bad it can be.

And there in lies the problem.....It's really hard to prove how bad it can be, and incredibally easy to fake it. So untill they can have some hard definine parameters, the government won't get their hands dirty by trying.

Answer 2

Mental illness IS considered a disability, but many people have mild forms of it and can still hold down a job, or theirs is temporary, so they aren't disabled long enough to qualify. If you have a mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression, and you have gotten treatment and nothing works well enough, then you should qualify.

If you are applying for disability, or need to because you can't work, get the book "Social Security Disability" from Nolo Press, at nolo.com, or see if you can get it at your library (maybe even through an interlibrary loan?) It will give you a lot of background on how to apply, what criteria are used, and how to fill out the forms.

You have to be profoundly disabled to get disability, and if you are relatively young and educated, it will be harder. But if you really can't hold down a job, and you can document that, you should get it eventually. You will almost certainly be rejected the first time, and the process takes awhile, so somehow you have to manage your finances in the meantime.

Keep in mind that once you go on disability, you will never get off of it, no one does. You will be in poverty the rest of your life unless you marry out of it or a miracle cures you. The ways the rules are make you dependent on the system, so keep that in mind when you are deciding if you want to do this. A lot of people have no choice, because they can't work at all, or they can't keep a job with insurance to get their pills. but it's still humiliating in America to have no job-people always ask when you are being introduced,"Oh hello, what do YOU do for a living?" which ends up being a very nosy question without meaning to. If you can get supportive help from social services (in my state, they will pay for support groups and a social worker to visit and help with paperwork) or tweak your meds some more, or from a local consumer group (google the words consumer, mental, and your state. Consumer=person getting mental health services) then maybe you won't have to go on disability.

I'm on SSA myself, and need the Medicare, so I'm not being judgmental, I just want you to know what you're getting into. For me, there was no other way. I know a lot of people in the same boat. Get the book I recommended, it will give you all the legal and inside information to see if you qualify.

All the best to you! I hope you feel better soon!

Answer 3

Mental disorders can be classified as a disability and if so you could also be eligible for SSDI (social security disability insurance), SSI (Supplemental Security Income), State Disability, etc.

In case your question is really "why isn't my mental disorder classified as a disability?". Then I think you should talk to another psychologist or psychiatrist to get you on disability, if you really can't work. however if you are working why would you need to be on disability? Disability is only for those who cannot work. Even if you manage to get on SSDI (for example) you will lose the disability benefits after going back to work for 9 months.

Why don't employers want to know about your mental disability? Probably because knowing won't change anything. Let's say someone has a physical disability like a bad back. Then the employer will not be able to ask that person to lift heavy objects. The employer NEEDS to know this so they know what jobs can be assigned to this particular person, and which jobs can't. However no mental disorders prevent someone from lifting, typing, etc. etc.

Answer 4

Mental Health diagnoses absolutely can and are classified as a disability, but it depends on the degree of functional impairment. I've been writing disability paperwork for clients for 20 years (although the doctor usually signs it) and I can honestly tell you that I've only had one client who was denied disability. Although in the past 10 years I will say it has gotten harder and you get turned down automatically the first time and it often takes 3 times before you get approved, so persistence is the key. You also stand a far better chance if you have a doctor sign it, although private companies are more apt to accept a therapist's report more than SSI/SSD. The Feds want that MD after the signature to certify the statement and it does seem to carry more weight. Also, it seems you stand a better chance when your therapist/doc actually fills out the actual forms versus sending copies of their paperwork-that is one disadvantage if you see someone privately versus through an agency as it's my experience that folks in private practice rarely take the time to fill out the forms or answer the questions thoroughly because they aren't compensated for their time.

Answer 5

You can get benefits for mental illness. But since it is harder to prove you many need to get an attorney who specializes in doing so. As far as work, that is a good question, for some people with physical disabilities are better off emotionally then some with mental illness. I for one am glad they don't have a box for mental illness because of the stigmatism with mental illness it would prove harder to get a job.

Answer 6

Mental illness is considered a disablity, depending on how much it interfears with age-appropriate responsabilities.

For example, if you have obsessive-compulsive disorder, and can't leave your house because you are too afraid of contamination, you have a serious disablitiy.

However, a mood disorder that can be treated with 20 mg. of Prozac per day is not debilitating, to the extent that you can not work, under any circumstances.

Please don't file for disability unless you need it. Use the abilities God gave you, to contribute to society and pull your weight.

Answer 7

Um, my ex-husband is mentally unstable (depression/bi-polar), and he was been accepted for SSD. You have to prove it by appealing (you will generally get denied automatically the first time).

It does happen. Be ready to prove it with doctor visits, psychiatric prescriptions and visits, and other items to prove you cannot function at work.

Answer 8

it is. you can claim S.S.I. social security insuarance. even if
you have never worked. you must get a doctor to say you
have an illness that is mentally stopping you from working and
a lawyer who will work on your commision from the time you file for doing the work (back pay).

Answer 9

I'm a nurse and you can. If you were denied then seek the advice of an attorney that would take his fee out of your initial check. Take care and don't give up I have seen it done it is possible. Take care

Answer 10

Disabilities suggest permanence. Mental illnesses are expected not to be permanent.

Edit: Funny how I get the thumbs down for something that's absolutely correct. Maybe people need a long explanation to understand. Go read the DSM-IV and figure out the difference between Axis I and Axis II.