The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) lists depression as a psychiatric disability, protecting you from discrimination in the workplace and potentially requiring your employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has certain criteria that must be satisfied for an individual to qualify for disability benefits for depression. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial assistance under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
The experienced disability attorneys at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can help you examine what constitutes depression and how you can seek disability benefits for this condition.
What Are the Symptoms of Clinical Depression?
The Mayo Clinic defines depression as “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.” The condition affects how one feels, thinks, and behaves and can leave them with emotional and physical limitations.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), symptoms range in severity from mild to severe and may include:
- Sadness
- Loss of interest in daily activities
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Fatigue
- Suicidal thoughts
- Difficulty focusing
- Having trouble making decisions
If you experience these or any similar symptoms for over two weeks, it is best to seek medical care to be evaluated for clinical depression.
While depression is considered a disability, a diagnosis alone does not make you eligible for disability benefits or workplace accommodations. Under the ADA, depression must “substantially limit one or more of the major life activities” for someone to qualify. Likewise, the SSA requires that you meet several criteria backed up by medical documentation.
How Long Can You Be on Disability for Major Depressive Disorder?
Social Security benefits can last as long as you are unable to work. However, SSDI will end when you reach the age you become eligible for retirement benefits. If you are seeking disability benefits through a private long-term disability insurance policy, different limitations may apply. You should carefully review the policy to determine whether there are any limitations to the length of coverage. An attorney can provide valuable assistance here.
How to Apply for Disability Due to Depression
Although you can apply for disability online or by making an appointment at a Social Security Administration office to complete an application, a disability lawyer can provide valuable assistance with your initial application. Having your attorney involved from the start can reduce the chances of a denied application. If your claim is denied, your attorney can handle the appeals process for you.
Regardless of whether you handle your claim yourself or work with an attorney, you should be prepared to discuss how depression affects your everyday life, how you function in society, your ability to concentrate and make decisions, and how often you notice your symptoms worsening. You should also provide medical records concerning any medical treatment or psychiatric care you may have received.
Contact an Experienced Social Security Disability Lawyer in Oklahoma to Help You
The experienced lawyers at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons are here to help with your Social Security disability claim. Because we have attorneys who focus on Social Security only, you will be working with someone who deeply understands the field. Contact us today for a free consultation with a skilled Social Security disability attorney.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
