NAMI gives Texas a "D" on Mental Health

The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) is an important national organization advocating for Americans suffering from mental illness.  Mental illness represents the most frequent basis for social security disability benefits in the United States.

NAMI has graded US states for 2009 in their support for the mentally ill.  NAMI awarded the state of Texas the very unsatisfactory grade of "D".  http://www.nami.org/gtstemplate09.cfm?Section=Grading_the_States_2009&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=74935.

While I know many with the state of Texas, and the various MHMR clinics, who are working hard to assist the mentally ill, the state of Texas has little to be proud of in NAMI's assessment of how we provide mental disease services.

Recent Social Security Lawyer Blogs Worth Reading: Week of 5/24/10

Below is a selection of recent  posts from the Social Security disability blogs across the country that are well written and worth reading by Texas social security disability claimants:


 1.    Good Discuss at My Disability Blog about how Divorce would impact disability benefits.  The difference between Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB)  and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is critical since SSI is a welfare program where all household income comes into place and DIB which is an entitlement NOT related to household/spouse resources. 
http://disabilityblogger.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-happens-to-social-security.html

2.   Jonathan Ginsberg of Atlanta is a first rate social security lawyer and blogger.  His note on just how important treating doctors are to a social security disability case is a must read.  http://www.ssdanswers.com/2010/04/30/the-importance-of-doctor-support-in-a-disability-claim-and-why-this-is-the-case/

3.  Maine's Gordon Gates, who always presents strong and timely social security disability information, discusses the listing for mental retardation at http://www.socialsecuritydisabilitylawyer.us/blog/2010/06/social-security-adult-listing-1205c.html.