Bipolar Disorder and Social Security Disability

Here you will find specific information about pursuing disability claims arising from Bipolar Disorder, case strategies that have proven effective in securing benefits for claimants with Bipolar Disorder, and ongoing dialogue about Bipolar Disorder and Social Security Disability (see the Bipolar Disability Blog).

Additionally, if you are interested in pursuing a disability claim based on Bipolar Disorder, or are currently in the process of a claim and would like our expert advice, please use the contact form on the right for a free case review.

Bipolar Disorder and Social Security Disability

Long recognized by the SSA (Social Security Administration) as being a legitimate qualifier for claiming SSDI benefits, Bipolar Disorder affects the lives of millions of individuals globally. It is defined as involving abrupt changes in behavior between periods of depression and periods of excitability/mania. These radical mood swings typically occur abruptly and without any warning. Imagine how badly that affects a person when they are trying to lead normal lives and perform daily activities and tasks. Now think about how their capacity to work and earn a living is affected.

There are several truisms where bipolar disorders are concerned. First and foremost, they affect men or women equally. There are no statistics stating that one gender is more prone to it than another or numbers available to document this. Additionally, it is known that this particular mental and psychological disorder stems from an area of the human brain that regulates moods. Typically, the onset of bipolar disorders occurs between the ages of 18 and 25, and as of yet, no exact cause for the condition has been discovered.

Where statistics about the condition are concerned, there is a much greater risk of bipolar disorders occurring with those individuals who have close relatives that also suffered with it. So it has been surmised that heredity plays a significant role in predicting the occurrence of bipolar disorders. As was previously mentioned, the determination to award SSDI benefits comes down to proving whether you are able to work at a regular job or not.

The application process is quite complicated and tedious for a majority of the individuals out there who are trying to obtain financial help to compensate them for not being able to work. Hence it oftentimes becomes necessary to hire the services of a qualified attorney who is experienced in similar Social Security Disability court cases. Your attorney will know how to argue your case if it meets the SSA’s listing for bipolar disorder (Listing 12.04). You will also need to provide written supportive evidence from your psychiatrist or psychologist, and disability attorneys are able to secure such records as well.

Enlist the support of your psychiatrist or psychologist by having them compose a letter which states that you meet the bipolar disorder listing. They will need to document that you are experiencing specific symptoms on a regular basis to clearly prove that there is a marked difficulty for normal mental function which ultimately hinders your ability to work. Additionally, you want to be aware of the fact that the SSA can be extremely demanding when it comes to proving this. This is the primary reason for hiring a Social Security Disability attorney who has considerable experience and knowledge in such matters.

If you think you have a bipolar disability claim, please use the form on the right side of this page. Either I or a qualified attorney near where you live will review the claim and get back to you soon about your options.