The Short Answer…. Yes.
If you’re suffering from depression, you can apply for Social Security Disability benefits (SSD benefits). That being said, the process could take at least a few months or maybe even years to get approved.
How Social Security Benefits Define Depression
Depression falls under the Affective Disorder category of the Social Security Administration’s impairment listing manual. You must prove to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) that you exhibit at least four of the following symptoms:
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Lack of appetite or binging
- Fatigue
- Decreased energy
- Physical inactivity
- Poor concentration
- Suicidal tendencies
- Delusions, paranoia or hallucinations
- Low self-esteem
Providing Evidence of Depression
To present your case effectively, you must have thorough evidence that your depression is severe enough to interfere with your daily living activities. The ALJ will examine your medical records and assess the details of your episodes of decompensation. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines what types of documentation is acceptable. A disability attorney who is well-versed in SSD laws can assist you in building a strong case for your claim.
Don’t Get Discouraged… The Rejection Rate is High
The rejection rate of first-time claims is high. Since it takes so long to get a hearing, it’s highly recommended to use this waiting period to gather as much evidence as possible with the assistance of a disability lawyer.
How An Attorney Can Help
Procurement of medical records, physician statements, testimonies, and lab results is much faster with a legal representative. Even though you could procure these documents on your own. If your documents are outdated, inconsistent, or incomplete, your personal attorney is ready and available to correctly fix things for you.
Social Security laws are also extremely complicated, and everyone’s case is unique. To increase your chances of success, consult a disability attorney for help. Having an advocate on your side will save you time. Plus give you peaceful reassurance that you’re not in this alone. Because disability attorneys are only paid if you win the case, you can be sure that your lawyer will do everything he can to help you get approved.
Depression makes it hard to do basic tasks, let people like us take care of the rest. For a free consultation, give our attorneys a call today!
