Social Security & Bipolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorder might unknowingly lead stressed, difficult work lives in which the front office door is frequently swiftly closed behind them for good on a moment's notice, and they are left wondering why. They see few options, but to try not to be dismissed from their job. Still, it always comes out the same way. Few recognize that this is a clue to a true disability in the eyes of our Social Security Administration system and its disability severity guidelines.

Significance

• Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with bipolar disorder? In many, the treatment is so effective and the disorder so mild or sporadic, that the bipolar sufferer, with ongoing treatment, experiences no presence of symptoms--or perhaps only very mild symptoms, and disorder significance is unremarkable.

  Alternately, if the sufferer has a difficult-to-treat form of the disorder and experiences intense and frequent episodes of bipolar disorder expression in a continuous manner, the disorder is of great significance. It colors the whole spectrum of the sufferer's life and livelihood. This second disorder expression is likely to be considered totally disabling by U.S. Social Security Administration guidelines.

Misconceptions

• A connection between bipolar disorder and Social Security disability is not often thought of in the same sentence. Disabilities are for people unable to work a normal workday or even manage menial tasks for several hours at a time. Bipolars can work, some would argue. Although they can work, in profound treatment-resistant cases of bipolar disorder, the government agrees the individual is unable to work a full workday or even perform several consecutive hours of a given menial task without undue hardship.

Social Security Disability Evaluation for Affective Disorders

• Go to the Social Security website listed in Resources. Link to Section 12, Mental Disabilities. Affective Disorders are listed as 12.04 within that section. The evaluation uses a type of "criteria" system, wherein, if you meet or exceed a certain number of the disabling criteria, you are automatically considered disabled, and your claim will most likely be swiftly approved.

Winning Your Case for Disability

• First, when applying at a local Social Security office, over the phone or via online application, understand that in all likelihood your claim will be immediately rejected if you are currently employed.

  You must be out of or unable to work or hold employment because of your disability. In addition, you must simultaneously, with your doctor's historical notes on your case, substantially back up what you claim about your condition and currently be under a psychiatrist's care. These are called "Evidentiary Requirements."

Warning: Your Mileage May Vary

• It is your choice whether to hire an attorney at the point of initiating a claim or waiting to hire one until you have been rejected a first time. Factors include time and money.

  You could hire a lawyer immediately and give her power of attorney over your Social Security case. Her knowledge might be beneficial, and she might push your claim through faster than you could alone. However, some lawyers will not take on a disability case until it has been through the whole process and denied once. This is a time issue for you and no different than if you had submitted the claim on your own, only to have it denied.

  Weigh your options. How long can you afford to go without any income? These cases can take months before an approval or denial is issued, but a lawyer might be able to help speed the process, although this won't happen in every case.