Mental Health issues as a disability?

I work full time but I do have a number of mental health issues. I'm just able to copy, sometimes, and keep life going on. But my daughter (28) is another story. She has never been professionally diagnosed but she exhibits symptoms of social anxiety, generalized anxiety and clinical depression. I would bet that there are other but since I am not a doctor I don't want to go there.

My question to anyone is what does it take to be declared disabled by mental health issues? Mostly I'm concerned with the IRS and taxes as well as getting her medical care at a lower rate. Right now I declare her on my taxes as a dependent because I provide greater than 50% of her care monetarily. The only thing I don't provide is food as she is able to get food stamps. She lives with me and I pay all of the other bills to include medical.

Is there anyone out there who has dealt with something like this? What did it take to get that declaration/diagnosis/whatever for the IRS?

She can apply for social security disability through the social security office. They will send her to their doctors to decide if she qualifies. Here is a guide:
Apply for Social Security disability benefits

Thanks for the link but we have already done that and because she doesn't have enough work credits she doesn't qualify for disability payments. But we never got far enough in the process to find out what it takes for her to be declared disabled for tax purposes.

Maybe you can call your local SS office and ask them this question.

I have heard that a mental claim is easier to prove than physical. The sooner you start the process the better. The average claimant takes 2 years to get SSDI. Most people are denied the first time. You can also work while on SSDI. You can make up to $1040.00 per month for 9 months before you are reviewed and that 9months is any 9 months in 5 years I believe.

You're thinking of SSDI, she would probably qualify for SSI....not sure what you mean disabled for tax purposes, not sure getting her declared as disabled would lower your taxes any but I know nothing about taxes really. I'd look into the SSI though.

Agreed. SSI is Supplemental Security Income. It is for those disabled who have not worked long enough to qualify for SSDI. Sometimes, it cam mean they can also qualify for Medicaid. Taking part of the burden off of you.

Good luck!

I did not know about SSI. I thought there was only the one program, SSDI. I did a little research and will have my daughter make an appointment.

As for the tax benefits...if she is considered completely disabled and unable to work it means lower taxes for me because i will be able to declare her as a dependent.

Finally some good news today.

I would look into the idea of declaring her a dependent because that may also mean that if she applies for aid based on her income, your income may also have to be taken into consideration. And depending on how much you make, she could be denied. My situation was a little different, so this may not apply to you. But I was paying my own expenses and was getting medical help as someone who could not afford treatment. They refused me one year because when I put in my annual application, my room mates tax forms, which had to be provided because everyone in household had to prove income, showed she had declared me as a dependent on her taxes. Because of this, they declared that I was financially able to pay for my medical care without assistance. She had to correct her taxes and prove she'd had removed me as a dependent before I was approved back into the program.

Thanks reesecups. I do declare her as a dependent but after this year I will be stopping. I don't know what else I can do. It is going to hurt really bad at tax time but knowing she can get medical help is well worth it.

For IRS purposes, she is already a "qualifying relative" (not "qualifying child" because of her age), she's a deduction, does not matter why you support her, just has to meet income tests, etc.

Publication 17 (2013), Your Federal Income Tax

Sorry. I didn't think I said anything about her not qualifying as a dependent. Just that aid would sometimes be based on her income as well. Which, depending on her income, might prevent some assistance.

It usually all balances; your assistance counts as "income"; if she does not have to pay rent, etc. that means she needs less money. What you get/can claim will vary according to her income but not the other way around if nothing is going to change (she is still going to live with you, etc.). So you should keep claiming as much as you can or there will merely be less money all around, not a chance for more.

Thank you for clarifying.

I stayed home with my kids when they were little, so I didn't have enough work credit hours close enough to the time I was found to be disabled by the Social Security Administration. Thus, did not qualify for SSDI. However, I do qualify for SSI, and I was found to be disabled due to mental illness. I had to appeal the first denial. Sometimes I think they deny the first time just to discourage people from continuing the process. I had documentation from my therapist and my psychiatrist, but still had to go to the appeal hearing and be checked out by their own "expert". Hopefully the other info someone else posted about taxes is helpful for you.

She would qualify for SSI, which is a bit different from SSDI. SSI is based on financial need (but you still have to be qualified as disabled to get it, just like SSDI. You apply to the same place, the SSA--Social Security Administration).

As far as taxes go, the best thing to do would be to call a tax professional and find out. And call SS to verify this, but if you are providing for her, I believe it is counted as "income" and would reduce the amount of SSI she would receive, if any. If she gets SSI, she should automatically qualify for Medicaid.

For my ssdi they wanted 3 years past of medical records, and my atty to 25% of back pay

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