Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that is also known as manic depression. The condition is characterized by extreme mood swings. In order for you to recover disability benefits for bipolar disorder, your mood swings must meet the definitions that have been listed out in the Blue Book of impairments. Merely suffering from mood swings will not make you eligible for benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program.
Remember, that when a person is in his manic phase, he may be very impulsive, may quit his job, making it difficult to maintain consistent employment, may spend excessively, and sleep little. However, during a depressive phase, the same person may hardly get out of bed and may not want to participate in anything. During a depressive phase, the person will not go to work. Obviously, all of these impairments make it difficult for a person to continue holding a job.
The Social Security Administration recognizes a variety of mental conditions that can qualify for disability benefits. A full list of mental disorders in the Blue Book provides details on how each condition is evaluated, which can help clarify whether a specific diagnosis may meet the SSA’s criteria for disability.
If, however, your symptoms do not meet the criteria that are listed in the Social Security Administration’s listing of impairments, don’t lose hope. There may be other ways to qualify for benefits. Get in touch with a social security disability benefits attorney, and learn how you can recover benefits for your bipolar disorder. Remember, the agency will require that the condition have lasted at least two years and that you have received medical treatment for your condition.
To learn more about how to file a claim for disability benefits when you suffer from bipolar disorder, speak to a Los Angeles Social Security disability benefits attorney.