Social Security Disability - Supplemental Security Income
Mental Impairments
Congress has defined the term "disability' for both the regular social security disability program (which appears in Title II of the Social Security Act) and the SSI disability program (which appears in Title XVI of the Act) as an inability "to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months."
The first requirement for evaluation of mental impairments is to determine that the claimant, in fact, has a medically determinable mental impairment. This is done by deciding whether certain medical findings are present. The second step is to evaluate whether or not the mental impairment is "severe". The third step is to evaluate not only the medical evidence pertaining to the impairment, but also to evaluate the degree of functional limitations caused by the impairment.
If the claimant's functional limitations are not severe enough under steps 2 and 3 to be found disabled, then one moves on to step four to determine if the the claimant's mental impairment involves an organic disorder, psychotic disorder, or affective disorder; and if these disorders impose any limitations in the claimant's ability to perform basic work activities.
If the claimant's disorder is not severe enough under step four to be found disabled, then one moves on to step five to determine if the claimant has the residual functional capacity to do substantial gainful activity.
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