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Finding the Right Legal Representation for Your Company
Social Security Disability And Depression
Tracy Roberts
Many people suffer from the debilitating effects of depression in the United States. If depression has affected your ability to work at your job, you should realize that you are not alone. An estimated 14.8 million people suffer from depression. You may be eligible for Social Security disability payments if your depression has caused you to be unable to work.
Read on for more information about qualifying for benefits because of your depression:
SSDI Rules
Social Security considers depression to be an Affective Disorder and you must meet certain criteria to qualify. You must have a minimum of 4 of the following symptoms:
- Lack of interest in nearly all activities (work or otherwise).
- Change in appetite and weight.
- Problems sleeping.
- Psycho motor agitation or retardation.
- Lack of energy.
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
- Difficulty concentrating or thinking.
- Thoughts of suicide.
- Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking.
And two of the following:
- Restriction of activities of daily living.
- Difficulties in maintaining social functioning.
- Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace.
- Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of an extended duration. Decompensation means an episode of significantly increased symptoms.
To qualify for benefits, the SSA will require that the above symptoms have been present for at least 12 months and are expected to continue for at least the next 12 months. Your depression must be severe enough to make it impossible for you to do your job.
How to help your claim get approved:
- Seek treatment from a mental health professional. Make sure that you don't miss your appointments or refuse any type of treatment.
- Stay in treatment.
- Keep records of all appointments, prescriptions and treatments.
- Make sure you get copies of your medical records.
You should know that qualifying for Social Security disability benefits on the basis of mental illness is far more challenging than with other illnesses, but it is possible. You must be able to show that your depression is bad enough and has lasted long enough to impact your ability to do your job. Your history of treatment must be unbroken, or the SSA will rule that your illness is not severe enough to qualify for help.
Due to the extremely strict criteria the SSA uses for all cases, but especially for mental health issues, there is a good chance that your initial claim will be denied. This is very common and you should not give up, but you must seek the help of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer to assist in your appeal.
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