Applying for disability with depression can be hard. If you are dealing with depression, you may have lost interest in activities you used to enjoy, feel hopeless or sad, have difficulty with sleep, low energy, and difficulty concentrating. Your symptoms may be chronic or cyclical. You may have a hard time relating with others and taking care of your daily activities.
If you are depressed and unable to work, you should apply for Social Security disability benefits. You may qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits, depending on your condition and the medical evidence supporting your claim.
Do I Qualify for Disability?
As noted above, your medical records and condition will determine whether you qualify for Social Security. The medical records must indicate that you have marked restrictions in two of the following:
- understanding, remembering, or applying information
- interacting with others
- maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace
- adapting or managing yourself.
Then, if you meet two of those restrictions, you will also need medical documentation of five or more of the following:
- depressed mood
- diminished interest in almost all activities
- appetite disturbance with change in weight
- sleep disturbance
- observable psychomotor agitation or retardation
- decreased energy
- feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- difficulty concentrating or thinking
- thoughts of death or suicide.
Alternatively, if you have a medically documented history of the existence of the depressive disorder over the course of at least two years with additional evidence of marginal adjustment and a highly structured setting, you may qualify.
Additionally, the more convincing your medical records are, the better chance you have of being approved. When it comes to Social Security disability, you must prove that you are unable to work any job on a full-time basis.
Applying for Disability with Depression
If you have been diagnosed with depression and you are unable to work, you may qualify for Social Security disability. You can apply for Social Security benefits online here. Or, you can also apply for benefits over the phone or in-person with your local office.
You may also want to hire an experienced disability attorney to help you with your claim. At Wildoner Law, PLLC, we help those who are disabled and unable to work get the disability benefits they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.