Qualifying For Disability Based On Reduced Functional Capacity
If you don’t qualify under the SSA’s requirements for bipolar disorder, above, the SSA must next consider to what extent your bipolar symptoms impair your ability to work . The SSA will give you a rating of the type of work it thinks you can do . This is called your mental residual functional capacity .
If the SSA finds that you cannot perform even unskilled work , the SSA might grant you benefits under a “medical-vocational allowance.” But if you didn’t meet the official listing above, it’s likely the SSA will find that you can do at least unskilled work. And since there are so many unskilled jobs in our economy, it’s unlikely that you’ll be granted disability benefits unless you are 55 or older and have no more than an elementary school education. For these reasons, most claimants applying for disability benefits for bipolar disorder either qualify under the official listing above or they don’t qualify at all. However, if you have a physical impairment in addition to bipolar disorder, your physical RFC combined with your mental RFC can rule out so many unskilled jobs that there aren’t any left you can do.
How Does The Process Work
You receive a Ticket in the mail. You take this Ticket to any Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency , and if you both agree to work together, the EN or VR will help you with job training, finding employers, information about work incentives, materials to send to prospective employers, and other tasks that will help you go to work. Participating in the Ticket to Work program means that youre protected from a Continuing Disability Review based on your potential ability to work.
Does Bipolar Disorder Qualify Me For Social Security Benefits
The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be extreme enough to prevent an individual from working. If this is the case for you, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression. There are two main types of bipolar disorder, Bipolar I and Bipolar II, and each may have slightly different criteria for diagnosis.
Bipolar I is characterized by distinct periods of mania and depression, though some individuals will also experience symptoms of hypomania, a state of mania where symptoms are milder. In order to be diagnosed with Bipolar I, manic symptoms must last at least one week and occur for most of the day every day or result in hospitalization. Approximately 30% of individuals diagnosed with Bipolar I experience severe symptoms.
Bipolar I is most commonly diagnosed around age 18. Individuals with Bipolar I are often diagnosed with additional mental health conditions, such as anxiety. In order to be diagnosed with Bipolar I, individuals must also experience a period of significant depression.
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Why Do Cats Bite Themselves Is It Normal
Weve all seen our kitties cleaning themselves and then start biting in the process. It can be not reassuring. Is it normal, or is it a sign of something more serious? Whats behind this bizarre behavior? Why do cats bite themselves?
Cats can bite themselves as part of the normal grooming process. Biting is used to clean the fur, get rid of bugs, and remove hairs. Biting can also be a sign of a physical or psychological issue.
Its essential to evaluate your pets symptoms to determine the cause. In this article, well take a look at this strange behavior, what causes it, and when you should intervene to stop your cat from excessive chewing.
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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Can You Get Disability For Anxiety And Depression
Answer. Depression and anxiety can have a profound and marked impact on a persons life and career. However, to qualify medically for SSDI or SSI benefits on the basis of depression and anxiety, you must show Social Security that your mental condition is severe and precents you from living a normal life.
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Anxiety Disorders And Symptoms:
Anxiety disorders can affect any person of any age, ethnicity, or social class, and if symptoms become disabling, many can seek financial support for treatment through the Canadian disability tax credit. There are six main categories of disorders categorized by type and severity of symptoms:
Each type of anxiety disorder can interact with one another, or multiple anxiety disorders can co-exist within one person. As symptoms progress, the condition can become disabling those needing treatment might wish to apply for the Disability Tax Credit offered in Canada. There are general disability credits as well as a child disability tax credit for youth or children who are suffering from a disabling anxiety disorder.
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Get Experienced Ssdi Lawyers To Make Your Claim For Benefits
If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or experience some of the disease symptoms, you might be eligible to receive disability payments. For a proper assessment and presentation of your claim, you should contact our social security law attorneys. The lawyers as Tabak Law LLC work hard every day to get social security benefits for deserving Americans. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
About Bipolar Disorder And Disability
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from serious mania to depression. Episodes of bipolar disorder can last a few hours to several months and consist of highs and/or lows . Others experience what is known as mixed mania or the combination of feeling manic and depressive at the same time. The individual feels all of the feelings of a manic high while also experiencing the negative feelings of depression . Many people consider mixed mania as the worst part of bipolar disorder.
Here are the symptoms related to episodes of mania and depression:
Symptoms of Mania
- Feelings of worthlessness and pessimism
- Inability to focus and concentrate
- Thoughts of suicide or death
- Repeatedly going over thoughts
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 5.7 million people are affected by bipolar disorder in a given year. There is no cure to the disorder but it can be controllable for some individuals with medication or psychotherapy. If the disorder cant be controlled through varies treatments, its symptoms can cause distress and disruption to an individuals everyday life.
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What Is Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is characterized by unusual shifts in mood, energy and activity levels. People who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder often have varying abilities to carry out daily tasks. Bipolar disorder involves clear changes in mood, from manic, highly energized periods to more depressed, sad times.
There are four primary types of bipolar disorder. They include:
1. Bipolar I Disorder: the most severe type of bipolar disorder, this type includes manic episodes that last for at least seven days or that are so severe that they require hospitalization. Depressive episodes usually last for at least two weeks.
2. Bipolar II Disorder: this type has both depressive and manic episodes, but with less extreme manic periods.
3. Cyclothymic Disorder: also known as cyclothymia, this type involves numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms for at least two years.
4. Other Specified and Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorders: this type involves bipolar symptoms that do not meet the criteria for one of the other diagnoses.
Signs and symptoms of a manic bipolar disorder episode include:
- Feel very up, high, or elated
- Have a lot of energy
- Have increased activity levels
- Eat too much or too little
- Feel tired or slowed down
- Think about death or suicide
Bipolar disorder affects people in different ways. While medication and psychotherapy can help to control the symptoms of bipolar disorder, it may not completely eliminate them.
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Types Of Bipolar Disorder
The insurance company may also want to know what type of Bipolar Disorder you suffer from. Health experts classify bipolar disorder into four types:
- Bipolar Affective Disorder 1: This type is diagnosed when you have had at least one manic episode, which could be followed or preceded by a major depressive or hypomanic episode. Individuals with Bipolar 1 experience full-blown mania. Symptoms may include high energy, insomnia, racing thoughts, extreme talkative behavior, hallucinations and delusions.
- Bipolar Affective Disorder 2: Sometimes referred to as Swinging Bipolar, you may be diagnosed with Bipolar 2 if you experience at least one depressive episode and one hypomanic episode. Unlike Bipolar 1, those diagnosed with Bipolar 2 arent known to have psychotic episodes. They can, however, suffer badly from depression.
- Cyclothymic Disorder: Cycolthymic Disorder is characterized by at least a two-year history of periods of both hypomania/mania and depression, but not to a major extent. Your manic and depressive episodes can go back and forth over a period of time, but not enough to meet full criteria of major depression. Those diagnosed with Cyclothymic Disorder do have trouble functioning at times.
- Bipolar Affective Disorder NOS : This type is diagnosed when you experience some characteristics of bipolar disorder, but none of which can be classified as one of the three other types.
Do I Have To Disclose My Bipolar Disorder To My Employer
Maybe. If you are taking medication to keep it under control and you do not need reasonable accommodation to perform the essential job functions of your occupation, you may not need to tell your employer because it may never be an issue.
If you dont take medications or are changing prescription/doses to your existing medication, you may not know how your psyche will react to such a change and may interfere with your ability to do your job. If you let your employer know about your bipolar disorder , your employer must A) keep it confidential and B) provide reasonable accommodation should you require it. If you need extra time during your lunch to take the proper medication and have it go into effect, your employer may legally be required to provide such accommodation.
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Is Bipolar A Disability
Yes, it is. To improve your chances of having your Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income claim approved, you should show a record of professional treatment for your condition. That is even more critical when the condition is bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. Unfortunately, the very nature of this disorder can prevent people from seeking out the help they need.Depression and hypomania are common in people with bipolar disorder II. Individuals with this form of bipolar disorder may become eligible for Bipolar Disability Benefits.
Social Security statistics show that almost two-thirds of SSD benefits applicants for major clinical depression or bipolar disorder end up getting approved for benefits.
Can I Work With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes severe mood swings. Those who suffer from bipolar disorder can have manic tendencies and bouts of depression, often with no readily identifiable cause. It is common for those with bipolar disorder to experience great emotional highs and lows, or for these mood swings to occur quickly and without notice or apparent reason.
One phenomenon common among those with bipolar disorder is a mixed state. When someone with bipolar disorder is in a mixed state, the persons inner moods become conflicted, creating sensations of anxiety and confusion. These mixed mood episodes all too often result in suicide or thoughts of suicide, manic behavior, clinical depression, fatigue, insomnia, delusions, excessive anger, and belligerence.
Individuals with bipolar disorder are at a much greater risk of suicide than the general population. Experts place the risk between ten and twenty times as high as the rest of the population.
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Can You Get Social Security Disability For Bipolar Disorder
Yes bipolar disorder is designated in the Social Security Listing of Impairments manual under Mental Disorders, Listing 12.04 Affective Disorders. If your affective disorder in this case, bipolar disorder is severe enough to meet or equal the listing, you will be considered disabled.
The listing characterizes bipolar disorder as:
a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life it generally involves either depression or elation.
As a claimant, you must be viewed to be unable to work any job for at least twelve consecutive months in order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
Claims for Social Security Disability for bipolar disorder will be approved or denied primarily based on medical records. You must provide sufficient records as well as evidence of symptoms and psychological abnormalities that demonstrate your inability to work. Besides medical records, these documents may be helpful in proving your claim:
- Letters or other records from your doctor and/or therapist detailing how the effects of your bipolar condition persists despite treatment and other efforts to manage the condition.
- Letters from friends and family members detailing how your condition affects your daily life
- Letters from current and former employers discussing how your condition impacted your job performance
How To Prevent Your Cat Biting Themselves
As you can see, there are many reasons why a cat might bite themselves. It is essential you find the particular cause and provide the appropriate treatment, something which can only be done by a qualified veterinary medical health professional. As with any health problem in cats, prevention is better than cure. Here are some general guidelines to help you prevent your cat from biting their tail, legs, tongue or any part of their body:
If you want to read similar articles to My Cat Keeps Biting Itself – Causes of Excessive Fur Chewing, we recommend you visit our Behavioral problems category.
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Consideration Of Your Residual Functional Capacity
If the SSA says you don’t meet the disability listing, the SSA will consider what you can do. It does this by writing up your mental residual functional capacity . An MRFC is a description of what tasks you can do in a work setting it explains your communication skills, your ability to relate to others, your ability to speak to the public, and whether you can be reliable in showing up to work.
For instance, say you have bipolar disorder and there is evidence in your medical records that you have moderate impairment in your social functioning caused by mood swings and you have a moderate level of difficulty with concentration. Your RFC might look like the following: you have no limitations in walking/standing/sitting, you are unable to work with the public, and you are limited to simple 1-2 step instructions. This RFC would prevent you from working in many occupations, but you still would not be found disabled since there are simple unskilled jobs that do not require working with the public. Read more about how the SSA makes this decision in our article on how the SSA evaluates an RFC for disability.
Impairments That Qualify For Bipolar Disorder Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration has established that a claimant with Bipolar Disorder must have a history of consistent symptomatic manic episodes, depressive syndromes, or a combination of both. Additionally, the claimants bipolar disorder should result in two of the following restrictions:
- severe limitation of daily activity,
- inability to interact with others in a normal way, or
- recurring episodes of decompensation, which last for an extended period of time.
If a claimant does not meet the aforementioned criteria, he/she may still qualify under a section in the Blue Book, which states that any individual with a medical history documenting at least two years of any chronic affective disorder, including Bipolar Disorder, can be granted disability benefits, despite the support of medication, if the impairment or ailment has resulted in:
- limitations of the capacity to perform basic work action, even when symptoms are controlled with psychosocial support and medication.
- the claimants condition must lead to persistent decompensation periods, or
- the residual illness process has caused a subsidiary adjustment that even a nominal boost in mental demands would cause the claimant to decompensate.
Because applying for disability benefits with a Bipolar Disorder diagnosis can be a complex and intimidating process, hiring a qualified Social Security Disability lawyer or disability advocate may be in a potential claimants best interest.
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