According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 18 million American adults suffer from depressive disorders including major depression, bi-polar disorder and dysthymic disorder. Depression manifests itself differently in every person but some of the common symptoms include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness or emptiness
- Fatigue
- Irritability or restlessness
- Loss of interest in activities
- Difficulty concentrating
- Weight changes
- Thoughts of suicide or attempted suicide
- Persistent unexplained aches and pains
People experience different intensities of depression; depression can range in severity from mild to debilitating. Studies have also linked physical illnesses such as osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, eye disease and back pain with depression.
If a person's depression prevents him or her from being able to work, the person may qualify for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI).
In order to be eligible to receive SSDI benefits, a person needs to be disabled, which the Social Security Administration defines as the inability to maintain substantial gainful employment because of a physical or mental condition that will last more than a year or end in death. If an SSDI applicant is claiming that severe depression prevents him or her from working, the applicant needs to be very careful to provide adequate documentation about the specifics of his or her condition.
How an Attorney Can Help
The regulations governing SSDI benefits are complex. When the SSA reviews an applicant's file to determine whether the applicant qualifies for benefits, it is looking for specific information. An attorney can assist an applicant in ensuring that the applicant provides the necessary information.
It is important for the applicant to provide the SSA with records from all the treatment providers that he or she has seen for depression, such as psychiatrists and psychologists, counselors, mental health clinics, treatment centers and even family physicians. The applicant needs to see a treatment provider regularly so that the SSA official reviewing the applicant's file gets a complete picture of the extent of the symptoms and severity of the condition. The SSA may question an applicant's claim of the disabling nature of the depression if he or she seeks only sporadic treatment.
The SSA is looking through the applicant's medical records for evidence of how the depression and the symptoms of it affect the applicant's daily activities, ability to care for him or herself and ability to perform work-related functions such as following directions, making decisions, and getting along with others.
Applying for SSDI benefits is a complicated process and can be overwhelming to a person suffering from major depression. If you have severe depression that prevents you from being able to work, do not hesitate to contact an experienced attorney who can discuss your condition with you and inform you of your options.
