Drugs and Alcohol Addiction

If drug or alcohol addiction is found to be a material component of your disability, you cannot receive benefits. What does "material component" mean?

It means that if you stopped using drugs or alcohol for three months or more and you were therefore no longer disabled, it's a material component of your disability. On the other hand, if you stopped using drugs or alcohol for a period of three months or more, and you were still disabled due to other impairments, drug or alcohol is not a material component.

If you are actively using drugs or alcohol and your only impairment is mental, you are likely to have difficulty being approved for benefits.