Major Depressive Disorder and Social Security Disability Benefits

Lawyer for Social Security Disability Benefits Applications in Illinois

Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits If I Suffer From Depression?

Depression is absolutely recognized by the Social Security Administration! However, your depression must be diagnosed and of clinical significance. It can be very difficult to win a Social Security disability benefits case for depression. Unlike many physical conditions where a judge can actually look at you and tell right away how and where you are suffering, MDD is an unseen mental condition. The diagnosis itself comes from a person’s self-reported experiences. For this reason, it is imperative when you are applying for disability benefits to make sure that you are seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist regularly and that they are writing down all of your complaints and issues. Having your doctor fill out a Mental Impairment Evaluation can be especially helpful when applying for disability benefits with MDD. If your doctor refuses to fill one out, which is fairly typical for MDD claimants, make sure that your family members or anyone that you are close with provides the Social Security Administration with detailed information about how MDD limits your daily functioning.

If you suffer from depression and it is preventing you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI). When you apply for disability benefits due to depression, the Social Security Administration will first determine whether your condition is severe enough to meet a listing. If you meet a listing you will be found disabled. If you do not meet a listing, the Social Security Administration will then evaluate your residual functional capacity (the most work that you can do despite your medical condition(s)) and determine whether you are entitled to disability benefits.

Is There A Specific Listing For Depression?

The Social Security Administration recognizes depression under Listing of Impairments 12.04: Affective disorders, which can be found on the Social Security Administration website. However, because most of the listing is structured using medical terminology, it can be quite difficult to know whether you will meet the listing for depression. If you or a family member suffers from severe depression and are unable to work and want to know more about whether you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits, contact Pearson Disability Law, LLC.

If I Do Not Meet The Listing, Is There Another Way To Get Social Security Disability Benefits?

Yes! If you do not meet Listing 12.04 and depression is preventing you from working, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration will proceed with your case by evaluating your Residual Functional Capacity. To do this, the Administration will determine the most amount of work that you can do despite your limitations. The only way Social Security will understand how debilitating your symptoms can be, is if you are regularly seeing your psychologist and/or psychiatrist and talking with them about how you feel. Your doctors must document severity of your symptoms in their records whenever you visit. To schedule a free consultation, contact Pearson Disability Law, LLC at 312-999-0999.