Social Security Guidelines for Disability for Clinical Depression

Submitting a disability claim based on a diagnosis of clinical depression to the Social Security Administration will not automatically guarantee you benefits. Unlike a physical disability, a mental disability is difficult to prove, so you must be very careful to submit detailed documentation of your illness. The Social Security judge will expect letters and medical documentation that attest to your disability. More importantly, the judge will look at four "areas of functioning" in deciding whether your depression is severe enough to prevent you from working: daily living; social functioning; concentration, persistence or pace; and episodes of deterioration or decompensation. You must show that you are compromised in at least two of these four areas to be considered for disability benefits.

Daily Living

• Your depression has left you unable to attend to the normal, everyday tasks that healthy people accomplish on a daily basis. The severity of your depression has left you bereft of the energy or interest to clean, cook, shop, or even get out of bed and dress yourself.

Social Functioning

• Your depression has incapacitated you so severely that you are incapable of living normally among family, friends, neighbors or co-workers. Typical social functions like meeting new people, sitting in a meeting, having lunch with friends or co-workers or even initiating a conversation feel impossible to you.

Concentration, Persistence or Pace

• Your depression is so severe that it directly affects your ability to keep a job due to the fact that you are unable to concentrate, focus on and complete work and work-related projects.

Episodes of Deterioration or Decompensation

• You experience repeated episodes of feeling emotionally "out of control." You are unable to withstand even a little stress without isolating yourself or losing your temper.

Final Word

• Submit your claim with a letter and medical documentation your illness from your mental health professional. It is also advisable to submit letters documenting your behavior from family, friends and former employers.