Do I Qualify For Social Security Disability
You can receive benefits for a disability like depression through SSDI or SSI, but only through SSI if you dont qualify for SSDI because you havent paid into Social Security, dont have enough work credits , and/or made below a certain amount of money. SSI is only for disabled people who have limited income.
In order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits through SSDI, you must meet the following criteria:
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You are unable to work or earn less than $1,260 a month
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You have a qualifying disability that is considered severe
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You have been unable to do your previous job for at least one year due to your disability
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You cannot hold another job based on your age, education, work history, and skills because of your disability
To earn work credits, you must have held a job in the past where you paid into Social Security. The number of Social Security work credits that you earn are based on your annual wages. The amount of income required to earn a work credit changes from year to year, but you can earn a maximum of 4 credits per year. The number of work credits required to qualify for SSDI varies based on the age at which you became disabled.
If youre unsure if you qualify for SSDI, you can learn more online or by calling the Social Security Administration at . Social Security representatives are available to answer the phones Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
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Can Someone With Bipolar Disorder Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits
Yes, depending on the severity and other factors, Social Security disability benefits may be awarded to someone who is disabled due to Bipolar Disorder.
Known more commonly in the past as Manic Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder is a psychiatric illness characterized by periods of extreme euphoria followed by bouts of severe depression. Bipolar Disorder is considered a category of several mood disorders that affects 5.7 million American adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The Disorder normally manifests itself between childhood and late adolescence.
Signs of the depressive phase of this mental illness include persistent feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, anger, guilt, sadness, isolation, fatigue, irritability, lack of motivation, chronic pain, morbid suicidal ideation, self-loathing and depersonalization. In severe cases individuals can become psychotic.
Symptoms Of Depression And Bipolar Disorder
Clinical depression is a mood disorder marked by persistent feelings of sadness, isolation, and agitation that interfere with one’s daily life. Depression may also be manifested in physical symptoms that include fatigue, sleeplessness, and changes in appetite. Those with severe depression may experience crying spells, hallucinations, delusions, and suicidal thoughts or actions. The causes of depression are not exactly known, but are thought to include chronic pain, stress, substance abuse, and genetic factors. Treatment usually consists of talk therapy and/or medication.
Individuals with bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, experience feelings of depression alternating with episodes of mania. During a less severe “hypomanic” episode, individuals may be highly energetic and productive, while more severe “hypermanic” periods might feature racing thoughts, hyperactivity, sleeplessness, impulsive decision-making, or irritability.
Those with acute forms of bipolar disorder may experience psychotic symptoms, including delusions and hallucinations. Depression and manic episodes can cycle back and forth rapidly, over a period of a few hours, or slowly, over weeks or even months. People who experience mania and depression at the same time are said to be in a “mixed state.” Treatment for bipolar disorder often consists of a combination of counseling and mood-stabilizing or antidepressant medications.
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Bipolar Disorder As A Disability Under Ssa
When it comes to living with a disability, Social Security provides both Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income .
If youve received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, the SSA has a 5-step evaluation process to determine if you qualify for benefits.
Youll be asked:
- Are you currently working? As of 2021, earning an average monthly income of more than $1,310 often prevents you from collecting disability.
- Is your condition severe? This means that for a period of at least 12 months, bipolar disorder prevented you from performing basic work tasks such as lifting, sitting, walking, or standing.
- Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions? Yes, bipolar disorder is included in the list.
- Can you do work youve done previously? SSA will assess your residual functional capacity , or how your condition has affected your work abilities.
- Can you do any other type of work? Being unable to work one type of job doesnt always exclude you from other forms of employment.
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How Does Depression Qualify As A Disability
When determining if depression is a disability, the Social Services Administration asks for evidence to support the disability claim. Every applicant must provide three types of documentation:
- Medical documentation of a diagnosis of MDD or PDD
- Documentation of the life limitations faced and marginal adjustment
- Indications of ongoing treatment with therapists and marginal adjustment
Evidence in any of these categories may include:
- Confirmation that depression has been severe enough to cause financial hardship
- Indications that youve tried unsuccessfully to work
- Proof of functional struggles such as simple decision-making, following instructions, concentrating and remembering information
- Demonstrations of difficulties relating to people, including supervisors and coworkers
- Documentation that youve been living in a highly structured setting and/or have had extensive medical treatment or therapy yet are still unable to function well
Sometimes, people dont need social security benefits for depression, yet depression still disrupts their lives. In that case, it might be possible to receive accommodations from work or school.
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How Can I Apply For Disability
If you meet the above criteria, you may qualify for disability benefits for depression. Its important to apply as soon as you can. It can take several months to receive SSDI and SSI.
Youll apply directly at your local SSA office. You may choose to hire an attorney to help prepare and file your application. Just be aware that a percentage of your benefits will then be awarded to your legal representative as compensation.
It can take up to half a year to receive a decision on your application for disability benefits. If youre approved, youll receive retroactive pay based on the date you first applied.
Many applications for disability benefits are denied by SSA. If this happens to you, you can appeal the decision in court. It can take up to 2 years to get a hearing. During this time you may consider hiring an attorney to help.
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Filing For Social Security Disability With A Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
If an individuals Bipolar Disorder is constant and impairs all ability to function in a work environment, that person may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Any individual with Bipolar Disorder can be eligible for disability benefits if he/she meets the evaluation criteria listed in the Social Security Administrations Blue Book, and if he/she has received a medical vocational disability endorsement based on the person’s residual functional ability, education and age.
How To Apply For Ssdi Benefits For Bipolar Disorder
The fastest way to file your application for SSDI benefits for bipolar disorder is on the SSA’s website. You can fill out the online application from anywhere and at your own pace, stopping and restarting as often as necessary. If you’d prefer, you can apply by phone at 800-772-1213 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. . Or use the SSA’s office locator to apply at your local Social Security office.Before you begin your application, gather as much of the following information as you can:
- your birth certificate or other proof of birth
- the name, Social Security number, and birth date of your current and former spouse
- your marriage and divorce records
- your work history for the past 15 years
- income information for this year and last year , and
- any medical records you have including doctors’ reports, inpatient and outpatient treatment records, and recent test results.
SSA representatives can help you gather any documents you don’t have. So don’t delay filing your application because of missing documents. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or having trouble getting started or completing your application, you might benefit from working with a disability advocate or lawyer. Having an expert in your corner can ensure your application is filed correctly and has the best chance of winning your claim.
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What Do I Do If The Ssa Has Denied My Disability Claim
It is not uncommon for the SSA to deny claims, particularly for mental disorders which are more challenging to prove with medical documentation. Fortunately, you have the right to appeal the decision, so long as you act within 60 days of receiving your letter of denial.
Our disability lawyers can help. At Lunn & Forro, PLLC, we have dedicated our practice to helping those living with disabilities obtain the benefits they need. We have experience handling disability claims at every level and we will fight to win you what you deserve.
For questions about qualifying for disability benefits or for help with an appeal, call our office today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation:
How Much Will Your Bipolar Disorder Monthly Disability Payment Be
Social Security Disability Insurance determines the amount of your monthly benefit payment by looking at your average annual income over your 35 highest-earning years as reflected in your IRS tax returns. Your taxable income is what Social Security uses as the starting figure.
The SSA then indexes your average income by comparing each year to the national average income. The resulting figure is called your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings . Since everyones income varies over the course of their working life, the amount they receive in monthly benefit payments will be different. The reason is that the benefit amount is partially based on how much you paid into the system in payroll or self-employment taxes.
Next, SSD takes your AIME and runs it through a formula, one they use for every SSD claim. Heres how they apply the formula to your AIME:
- Start with 90% of the first $1,024 dollars, plus
- 35% of the amount between $1,024 and $6,172, plus
- 15% of the amount over $6,172
- Round down to the nearest $0.10 if not already a multiple of 10.
- The figure produced by this formula is your Primary Insurance Amount
The formula is exactly the same formula used to determine how much you will receive when you file for your retirement benefits once you reach your Full Retirement Age .
Lets use an example. If your Average Indexed Monthly Income is $4,600, your PIA would be figured like this:
Result = $921.60 + $1,261.50 + 0 = $2,183.10
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Qualifying For Disability For Depression Due To Work History Age And Level Of Education
Meeting the requirements of the clinical depression listing, above, isn’t the only way to receive an approval for disability .
If Social Security finds that your depression isn’t severe enough to meet the listing above, the agency will determine if you can be approved for benefits by being granted a “medical-vocational allowance.” Social Security will consider how your depression symptoms affect your ability to do any type of unskilled work, by looking at your ability to:
- carry out simple instructions
- respond appropriately to supervision and to co-workers, and
- handle changes in routine.
Social Security will then give you a rating of the type of work it thinks you can do .
If depression is the only impairment you listed on the disability application, getting disability will be a long shot unless you have severe, disabling depression and can qualify under the listing for depression. But if you also have a physical impairment or another mental impairment along with depression, you have a better chance of getting benefits.
In bipolar disorder, patients may experience an elated mood that alternates with depression we discuss the disability requirements for bipolar disorder in another article. Also, to read about how children with depression can qualify for Social Security disability, read our article on getting disability for childhood depression.
How Much Money Do You Get For Bipolar Disability
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income federal disability benefit programs each have different eligibility requirements and pay different amounts in monthly benefit payments. But one important feature they both share is how they define a qualifying disability.
Bipolar Disorder is undeniably recognized as a qualified impairment on which a successful disability claim can be based. That is because in appropriate cases, it fits the Social Security Administration definition of a disability:
The Social Security Administration defines a disability is a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that lasts or is expected to last 12 months and that prevents the person from performing substantial gainful activities .
If your bipolar disorder is sufficiently severe to prevent you from performing employment activities enabling you to earn at least $1,350 per month , then you will be entitled to the same full amount of disability benefits as you would receive if you had any other qualifying physical or mental impairment.
Attorney Daniel Berger and NYDisability are committed to getting you the maximum disability benefits to which you are entitled. Contact our office today if you have questions about whether your bipolar disorder or other mental impairment entitles you to monthly benefit payments.
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Give Your Mind A Break
One of the integral symptoms of GAD is compulsive worrying. A powerful way to combat this is to engage in a relaxation method that calms the mind such as meditation.
But not only does meditation calm the brain but it also changes it. Over time, meditation increases activity on the left side of the prefrontal cortex. This just happens to be the area of the brain that generates feelings of peace, calmness, and joy.
There have been a number of studies showing a direct link between meditation and decreased anxiety. However one of the most recent studies has revealed that even just one session of mindfulness meditation can ease the symptoms of anxiety. And if you keep going, for a week, the findings suggest that it will only get better.
What Is Bipolar Disorder Disability
Also called manic depression, this condition is a brain disorder that can cause excessive mood swings, where a person cycles between depressive states and high states . These cycles can occur over long periods or may occur at the same time.
During mania, the person may experience euphoria, rage, sleeplessness, and rushed thoughts and speech. In severe manic episodes, the patient may become delusional or suffer hallucinations. In the depressive state, the person suffers extreme feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, too much or too little sleep, as well as suicidal thoughts and ideations. These unusual shifts in energy levels lead to an overall inability to function normally.
Many factors that are cited as causes of bipolar disorder disability include:
- Imbalance in brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters
- Hormonal imbalance
- Traumatic experiences or extreme stress
Bipolar disorder and depression can also accompany an illness or injury as a secondary condition.
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Ltd Limitations On Mental And Nervous Conditions
It is increasingly common for LTD insurers to limit payments for mental and nervous conditions to two years. This provision appears in virtually all employer-provided group plans as well as many LTD individual policies, though individual policyholders may be able to purchase a rider that will remove this term in exchange for a higher monthly premium.
A typical limitation might read as follows:
Disabilities, due to illness or injury, which are based primarily on self-reported symptoms, and disabilities due to mental illness, alcoholism, or drug abuse, will be limited to 24 months of benefits.
Self-reported symptoms are defined as “manifestations of your illness which you report to your doctor, including pain and fatigue, that are not verifiable with objective tests or clinical examinations.”
Note that many policies exempt certain mental illnesses from the two-year limitation, most often schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s Disease, organic brain disease, dementia, and occasionally bipolar disorder. If your policy exempts these disorders from the two-year limitation, you may be able to collect LTD benefits indefinitely, for as long as you remain disabled. The two-year limitation almost always applies to depression.
If you suffer from another disabling condition to which the two-year limitation does not apply, you should continue to receive benefits for as long as you remain unable to work due to that condition.