Even if you are diagnosed with a physical disability, this may affect you mentally. This is because your impairment may hinder you from participating in things you once enjoyed and overall change and diminish your quality of life. And so, if your physical disability makes you eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you may wonder if this can support the desire or need to seek the help of a mental health counselor. That said, please continue reading to learn whether SSDI benefits cover mental health counseling sessions and how an experienced New Jersey SSDI attorney at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can help you allocate these funds appropriately.
Can my SSDI benefits be used to cover my mental health counseling sessions?
To qualify for SSDI benefits in the first place, you must meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of a physical or mental disability, which inhibits you from returning to substantial gainful employment activity for the long term. Also, up until the point of becoming disabled, you must have gotten enough work credits from your employment history.
If all these factors align, you may begin receiving monthly SSDI benefits payments. At the end of the day, the SSA may recognize mental health counseling (i.e., sessions with psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, licensed counselors, etc.) as a critical part of your treatment plan, so that you may hopefully get the resources to return to the workforce sooner rather than later.
But this may be besides the point. That is, your SSDI payments are not made directly to the creditors of your medical treatments. Rather, they are given directly to you, so you retain control over how these funds are distributed. If you organize a sustainable monthly budget, you may have enough leftover to cover your mental health counseling sessions partially or entirely.
Can Medicare, Medicaid, or other programs pay for mental health counseling sessions?
It is worth mentioning that after receiving monthly SSDI benefits payments for 24 months, you may become eligible for Medicare. Now, Medicare provides coverage for a wide array of medical services, including mental health counseling sessions.
The same may apply if you are eventually a candidate for Medicaid. This program may support the cost of individual therapy sessions, group counseling programs, prescription medications related to mental health treatment, and rehabilitation services. You should look into New Jersey’s state-specific coverage rules before you bank on this support entirely.
Besides these federal programs, there may be other outlets and resources in your local community that you can reach out to. For example, this may be the option for nonprofit community mental health clinics, New Jersey’s Emergency Response System (call or text 988), and more. The point is, you are not alone, and help is available should you ever need it.
To conclude this blog, before you submit your SSDI benefits application, you must seek a skilled New Jersey SSDI attorney to support you. Please contact our office, The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur, as soon as you are ready.
