Do You Qualify For Disability Benefits For Depression Or Anxiety
An individual may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits if he or she suffers from a physical impairment or mental impairment that significantly affects his or her ability to work for a year or more. If you have severe depression or an anxiety disorder and are unable to maintain substantial gainful employment, you may have a right to receive SSDI or SSI benefits.
To speak with a Social Security disability attorney, contact the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing, Inc. CPC in Santa Fe Springs, California. We have helped thousands of clients throughout Southern California obtain disability benefits, including SSDI and SSI.
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.
Am I Eligible For Social Security Disability Benefits
Social security defines a disability as any medically determinable mental or medical impairment that has prevented an individual from performing substantial work for twelve months, is expected to prevent an individual from working for twelve continuous months, or is expected to end with death.
It can be difficult to bring a claim for disability benefits on the basis of anxiety or depression because the evidence used to support the diagnosis is based on subjective criteria. Objective measures, like an X-ray or a blood test, cannot tell your doctor what you are thinking or feeling in your day-to-day life.
To successfully claim social security disability for anxiety or depression, be prepared to show a history of medical treatment. If you havent treated with medical professionals for your mental health disorder, you can get a referral to a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist from your primary doctor.
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Can You Get Disability For Depression
Depression is considered a disability. The Social Security Administration has a listing for depression, and if you can meet those criteria by providing extensive medical evidence and other supporting documentation, your claim will be approved.
You will need to provide exam notes, any mental testing records, reports from your therapist or counselor, and notes from any psychiatrist or psychologist who has treated your condition. The more evidence and documentation that you can provide, the more likely you are to have a successful claim.
A residual functional capacity form completed by your physician can be essential to the success of your disability claim. It will detail what you can and cannot do physically and mentally. When it involves depression, it will detail your ability to focus, if you have difficulty concentrating, your memory skills, your social skills, and your overall mental state.
It will help the disability examiner get a full picture of what you can and cannot do. The RFC can help the disability examiner determine if you meet the criteria of disabled and qualify for disability benefits.
You will need to provide medical records detailing your treatment and whether it has helped. As an example, any prescription drugs you have taken, if you have undergone therapy, and whether the treatment has helped in any way.
Can I Get Disability Benefits For My Anxiety Or Depression
You can be entitled to SSDI benefits or SSI benefits if you suffer from anxiety or depression. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health impairments can have a significant impact on a persons life and career. These mental health impairments can make it impossible for an individual to work and earn a living. People with these severe mental health impairments are entitled to collect Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income .
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When Does Social Security Consider Depression As A Disability
To qualify for disability benefits for depression, your condition must:
- be severe enough to meet the requirements of Social Security’s Blue Book impairment listing on depressive disorders , or
- interfere with your functioning to such an extent that the Social Security Administration agrees that there are no jobs you can do.
How Can I Prove That I Qualify For Disability
If you apply for disability benefits under Anxiety-Related Disorders, you can prove your case through medical records, letters and reports from your doctor, and your own testimony.
Typically, there are two approaches to proving you qualify for disability:1. Using Social Securitys list of medical conditions and the criteria that prove them .2. Showing that you experience a severe impairment or a combination of impairments that prevent you from working a full-time job.
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Meeting A Disability Listing For Depression Or Bipolar Disorder
The Social Security Administration will automatically grant disability benefits for depression or bipolar disorder if you can show you have the symptoms and limitations listed in its official disability listing for depression or bipolar disorder. The SSA will consider treatment notes from your doctor or psychologist, mental status evaluations, psychological testing, and any reports of hospitalizations.
Symptoms. To qualify for either disability benefits on the basis of depression, you must show you have at least five of the following symptoms:
- distractibility
- involvement in risky activities with painful consequences that are not recognized, and/or
- increase in physical agitation or in in goal-directed activity .
Limitations. For either disorder, you must show that you also have a loss of abilities, either an extreme limitation in one of the following areas or a “marked” limitation in two or more of the following areas:
- adapting to change or managing oneself
- concentrating on and finishing tasks
- interacting with others using use socially appropriate behaviors, and/or
- understanding, remembering, or using information .
An Attorney Can Help You Through The Process
Anxiety and depression can make even the smallest task feel insurmountable. If you or a loved one is suffering from mental health conditions that prevent you from working, contact a social security disability attorney at Hawks Quindel for help completing an application, filing an appeal, or making your best case at a hearing. We work on a contingent basis, meaning you do not pay us unless we help you win financial benefits.
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Provincial Income Support Benefits For Depression
Each province in Canada pays income support benefits to people who cant work because of disability. If you qualify, you can receive fixed payments for life.
You can qualify for provincial benefits even if youve never worked. However, they only apply if your total family income falls below a certain amount. That amount differs from province to province. Family income doesnt affect the approval process for other types of disability benefits.
You apply for provincial disability benefits by applying through your provincial agency or program. As usual, your doctor will need to provide a report or certificate that confirms you cant work because of your condition.
If you get denied, you can appeal internally within the agency or program. In some provinces, you can also appeal to an outside tribunal for a final decision. Check with your province for the proper procedures.
Types Of Disability Benefits For Depression
If you become unable to work because of depression, you have a few options. You might be eligible for disability benefits from the government, your employer, or your insurer.
This list covers the possible options for depression disability benefits in Canada:
- Employment Insurance sickness benefits
- Short-term disability insurance
- Provincial disability benefits
- Disability tax credit
Lets go over each so you can find out if you qualify. As well as how to apply, and how to appeal if they deny your claim.
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If Your Application For Ssdi Or Ssi Has Been Denied
If you applied for disability benefits and were denied, do not despair. Most initial applications for SSDI or SSI benefits are denied. The government knows that most people will not appeal.
Our attorneys have helped thousands of clients obtain disability benefits, including success with mental health impairments. We have extensive experience in SSDI and SSI appeals. Let us put our experience to work for you.
When Does Depression Count As A Disability Under A Listing
Social Security publishes a list of common, serious illnesses that qualify for disability if they meet the specified criteria. The purpose of the list is to be able to grant disability benefits quickly for severe impairments. Clinical depression is covered in Social Security’s impairment listing 12.04, for “Depressive, bipolar and related disorders.” The listing includes a set of symptoms and a list of functional problems you must have to qualify for either Social Security disability or SSI disability benefits on the basis of depression.
First, you must show you have severe depression by having at least five of the following symptoms:
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- thoughts of death or suicide, and/or
- a slowing of physical movement and reactions, including speech, or increased physical agitation, such as hand wringing or pacing.
In addition to having at least five of the above symptoms, you must also meet “functional” criteria to show that you have a loss of abilities due to the mental disorder. Generally, you must have an extreme limitation in at least one of the following areas, or a “marked” limitation in at least two of the following areas:
- understanding, remembering, or applying information
- interacting with others
- concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace in performing tasks, and/or
- adapting or managing oneself.
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Applying For Disability With Depression
Basic requirements for disability claimsdepressiondisability evaluation processrequirements for SSI and SSDISGA level work activitysevere medically verifiable mental or physical conditionDepression is evaluated under the criteria of listing 12.04 Affective Disorders.Impairment listing 12.04 criteria may be satisfied by the following methods.andrepeated decompensationsorfiling for Social Security and/or Supplemental Security disabilityMore about the conditionMost popular topics on SSDRC.com
How To Apply For Disability Benefits For Depression
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- How to Apply for Disability Benefits for Depression?
Depression is an emotional disorder that causes people to feel perpetually sad, inadequate and helpless. Severe cases of depression can be disabling and may qualify a person suffering from such a crippling disorder to file a claim for Social Security disability benefits.
The Phillips Law Groups experienced Social Security disability benefits lawyers in Phoenix understand what it takes for those suffering from depression to receive disability benefits for their condition.
If you or someone you love needs help with your depression disability application or appealing a denied claim, we are ready to help. Do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
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Contact Mental Impairment Disabilities Attorneys Today
If depression or anxiety has made it impossible for you to work, contact Social Security Disability benefits attorneys at the Law Offices of Judith S. Leland today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case. We can review your situation and explain the options available to you for receiving benefits and protecting your job.
Social Security’s Alternative Listing For Depression
Social Security provides another way to meet the listing for depression for those who can’t show they currently have the functional limitations above because they’ve been living in a highly structured or protected situation or undergoing intense therapy.
If you are in this situation, you may be able to meet a second set of functional criteria. You can do this if your disorder has been medically documented as serious and persistent over a period of at least two years and you have either been living in a highly structured setting or you’ve been receiving ongoing medical treatment, mental health therapy, or psychosocial support that diminishes the symptoms of your mental disorder. You must also show that you have little ability to adapt to demands that are not already part of your daily life or to changes in your environment.
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Improving Your Chances For Obtaining Benefits
Its particularly important to see a psychologist or psychiatrist who can document the progression of your illness, because this can sometimes be the only official record of your PTSD. If you live with or frequently see family members or friends, ask them to document your behavior over time as well. Since severity is the key to determining whether or not your PTSD disorder qualifies you for benefits, tracking the frequency and nature of your symptoms can help your case.
- Keep a detailed journal, including a calendar of notes about how you feel each day
- Record any unusual activities you could not do on any given day
- Keep a detailed history of your current and past medications, as well as any side effects that you experience
- See a health care professional regularly and take the medication that he/she gives you so that he/she can support your application for benefits
- Ask your doctor or other health care professional to track the course of your symptoms and to keep a record of any evidence of fatigue, irritability, forgetfulness, unusual behavior, or other hard-to-document symptoms
- Keep records of how your illness affected you on the job.
What Are The Top 10 Conditions That Qualify For Disability Benefits
Submitted by Deanna on Tue, 07/12/2022 – 12:51
10 of the most common conditions that qualify for disability benefits are Arthritis, Heart Disease, Degenerative Disc Disease, Respiratory Illness, Mental Illness, Cancer, Stroke, Nervous System Disorders, Diabetes, Immune System Disorders.
There are thousands of conditions that may be approved for disability benefits. The SSA offers monthly resources to anyone in need who is unable to work due to their illness. That being said, some conditions qualify more often than others.
If you have any of the above disorders, there is a good chance of your disability claim being approved. Be sure to get help by taking a Free Case Evaluation to see if you qualify for disability benefits today. So what conditions qualify for disability?
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The Process For Filing Social Security Disability Claims In California
The entire process is pretty straightforward. The first step to take would be filling up an initial disability application. You can get this either from the local SSA office. Alternatively, you may also hop online or get on the phone to have this filled up. Once the application form has been completed and received, this will be then forwarded to the Disability Determination Service Division for assessment. This is where a disability examiner will carefully assess your living conditions and see if you are qualified to receive disability benefits.
Qualifying For Disability Based On Reduced Abilities Due To Depression
If you don’t qualify under the SSA’s requirements for major depression, above, you might still be able to get disability benefits. The SSA will consider your depression symptoms and how much they impair your ability to do the usual activities of daily living and if there’s any kind of work you can be expected to do.
The SSA will give you a rating of the type of work it thinks you can do:
- semi-skilled work, or
- unskilled work.
This is called your residual functional capacity , and in the case of depression, it’s called a mental RFC rather than a physical RFC.
If the SSA finds that you can do at least unskilled workwhich is likely if you didn’t meet the official listing aboveyou won’t get disability benefits. But if the SSA finds that you can’t perform even unskilled work , the SSA might grant you benefits under a “medical-vocational allowance.”
And if you have any type of physical impairment in addition to depression, your chance of qualifying for benefits can change. For example, let’s say you get a mental RFC for unskilled work and a physical RFC for sedentary work. There might be very few jobs you can do in this category, and you might be able to qualify for benefits under a medical-vocational allowance.
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Insufficient Objective Evidence Of Disability
Although insurers often cite insufficient objective evidence of disability to deny claims, this reason doesnt work with depression. Modern medicine has yet to find objective evidence for depression.
If you receive this as a reason, you should address it in your appeal letter. Fortunately, objective evidence is not a requirement under plans and programs.
Your letter should then focus on how your doctor followed best practices for diagnosis and treatment. Mention how you adhered to the recommended treatment faithfully. You should also emphasize all the things youve done to keep working. These aspects can make up for a lack of objective evidence.
Medical Evidence Required For Disability Based On Depression
Your treating doctor will need to submit a comprehensive psychiatric report and a well-documented psychiatric medical record to the SSA that shows the history of your depression. Your psychiatric record should include:
- all treatments you tried, including the types of medication and therapy
- how effective each treatment or medication was , and
- the side effects of each treatment.
Your doctor should also include detailed examples of how your depression affects your daily activities and your ability to hold a job.
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