Its base upon your GAF score .You need to be around a 35 to get ssd or ssi for mental illness most people are 80-100 so 35 means you function well take care of you self or work without possing a danger to yourself or others .If you drop below a 30 thats when things get weird thats when you need a payee and someone to take of your affairs . Below a 20 and you need 24 hour supervission ,also if you have kids anything below a 50 you can have your kids taken away or you could be removed from your house if there a other parent there to take care of them ,that happen to me i was removed and drop off at a bus stop and "Bam" was homeless.So well its nice to get a check each month in the mail it comes with a price .You become marked for life (Black listed).