Social Security Disability and Mental Health Disorders - How to get paid!

Living with depression or bipolar disorder can be extremely stressful. Often times many people who find themselves dealing with mental health issues find it difficult to maintain gainful employment. Social Security has programs available for those individuals who meet the listing of impairments. Having an attorney who is familiar with the list of impairments and the process of determining if a claim for disability will meet the list of impairments is crucial.

Depressive disorder is evaluated by five or more impairments such as, depressed mood; diminished interest in almost all activities; appetite disturbance with change in weight; sleep disturbance; observable psychomotor agitation or retardation; decreased energy; feelings of guilt or worthlessness; difficulty concentrating or thinking; thoughts of death or suicide.

Bipolar disorder is determined by three or more impairments such as, pressured speech; flight of ideas; inflated self-esteem; decreased need for sleep; distractibility; involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences that are not recognized; or increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation.

In addition to the initial listing of impairments you must also meet one or marked limitation of two of the following areas of mental functioning limitations. The ability to understand, remember, or apply information that has been presented to you, interacting with others, concentration, persistence, or maintaining pace during work, and adaptation or management of oneself during work.

If you have been diagnosed with depressive disorder or bipolar disorder and have medically documented history for over a period of at least 24 months, you may also qualify for benefits. If you have supporting evidence of both medical treatment, such as mental health therapy or a highly structured setting that is ongoing; and marginal adjustment, meaning you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or demands that are already not part of your daily life, these would be considered more extreme circumstances requiring strategic representation and production of evidence to help you obtain a favorable decision.

The Law Office of Jonathan W. Cole is able and ready to assist you with your disability claims. If you are ready to file for the first time, we are efficient in filing out claim forms and submitting vital information to support your claim. If you have already been denied, we are able to assist you with appealing your initial decision. Should you need to request a hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), we pride ourselves in our organization and punctuality of preparing you for your hearing and we are ready to appeal unfavorable decisions in the court system.

Should you believe you meet these listings or qualify for Social Security Disability Income please contact our office at your earliest convenience to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys ay (708) 529-7794. We will be happy to take time to sit down with you and help you determine if applying for benefits is for you.