What You Need To Claim Social Security Disability for Depression
Some people think you can’t get disability benefits for a mental health disorder, but depression absolutely can be grounds for a claim under Social Security rules
Social Security even recognizes it officially as an impairment qualifying for disability benefits.
Having depression on the list of official impairments is important because it gives you direction on what to include in your Social Security Disability application.
Social Security says you’ll need to provide evidence of your struggles with symptoms like these:
- Appetite changes
- Agitated movements
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of guilt
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Mood depression
- Lost interest in most activities
- Low energy
- Preoccupation with death
- Sleeping problems
- Subdued movements
- Suicidal thoughts
- Weight changes
Social Security also lists bipolar disorder as a condition qualifying for disability benefits as a “depressive disorder.”
With bi-polar, you can document symptoms such as easy distraction, erratic speech, exaggerated self-esteem, less need for sleep, over-fixation on goals, physical agitation, racing ideas, and risky behavior.
For these kinds of claims, you may also need to show difficulty remembering and applying information, being around other people, staying on task, handling changes, and managing your emotions and behavior.
And you could demonstrate to Social Security a long history of struggle with depression or bipolar, and a history of needing therapy, structured settings, or other treatments to cope with your condition.
You can get our Oregon disability law firm to look at your situation and let you know what you’ll need for your disability claim for depression. We provide initial evaluations FOR FREE.
How to Prove Your Symptoms of Depression Qualify for Social Security Disability
Because you can’t just tell Social Security that your depression is so hard that you can’t work—you have to prove it—you need to present documentation from other sources besides yourself showing the severity of your condition.
These are the kinds of records that can go into your claim:
- Details of medical visits
- Records of hospitalizations
- Reports from psychologists or psychiatrists
- Description of your treatment so far
- A list of your prescriptions for depression
- Statements from people who know how your depression affects you
You may also be able to qualify for disability benefits by showing Social Security that you have multiple qualifying conditions, which include depression.
When physical health problems disrupt your life, depression often follows.
Also, if your case doesn’t exactly match the symptoms mentioned above, you may be able to get benefits by showing Social Security how the other symptoms you have limit your daily activities. Social Security calls that your “residual functional capacity.”
For any disability claim, the bottom line is that you must show you have serious health problems that stop you from working for the long term.
The disability lawyers at Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor are here to make this process easier for you.
Focus on taking care of yourself. We’ll handle the heavy lifting of going after disability benefits.
Let us help you make your life better.
We’re with You Every Step of the Way
Whether you’re trying to determine if you’re qualified for disability benefits, you need help filing your application, or you received a denial notice and want another chance, our law firm helps from the beginning and stays by your side.
Have a Question about Disability Benefits?
Your health is bad. You can’t work. Your financial stability is threatened. So your head is swimming with questions. How will you get by? How does Social Security Disability work? We’ve gathered answers. See them here:
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