Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health condition that can significantly affect your daily life. It can cause feelings of depression and anxiety and can make it hard for you to earn a living as well. However, you may be eligible for social security disability benefits and should talk to a lawyer to know more about easing your burdens.
Is bipolar disorder a disability?
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), bipolar is considered a disability. However, some specific symptoms and requirements need to be met, which are outlined in the Blue Book of the Social Security Administration.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
The symptoms of bipolar disorder are many and can vary from person to person, but some of the most common ones are:
- Anxiety
- Depersonalization
- Lack of motivation
- Fatigue
- Isolation
- Irritability
- Chronic pain
Can you get a disability for bipolar disorder?
If you meet the medical requirements mentioned in the Blue Book of the Social Security Administration, you can get disability benefits for bipolar and other similar mental disorders. There are two programs that can provide disability benefits for bipolar. They are:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): they provide disability benefits to people who work and can pay social security taxes
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): they provide disability benefits to people with a limited income
Do you qualify for bipolar disability benefits?
Your condition must have three or more characteristics mentioned in the Blue Book of the Social Security Administration to qualify for disability benefits. The characteristics are:
- Pressured speech
- Physical agitation
- Increase in goal-directed activity
- Flight of ideas
- Involvement in activities without regard to pain or danger
- Inflated self-esteem
- Distractibility
- Decreased need for sleep
Tips to win a bipolar disability case
If you have decided to apply for social security disability benefits, you want your case to be as strong as it can be. Some tips for winning a bipolar disability case are:
- Make sure you match at least three or more symptoms listed in the Blue Book of the Social Security Administration.
- Prove that your bipolar disorder negatively impacts your ability to work or that you cannot work because of your condition
- Document your debilitating symptoms and also show how they can negatively affect your ability to work
- Get a medical statement or a disability doctor’s letter about your bipolar disorder.
Is Bipolar Disorder impacting your quality of life?
If you have bipolar disorder, you do not have to keep suffering like this. Talk to an experienced social security disability attorney and learn how to ease your burden.
