I have struggled with depression since about 1st grade, and I have never been able to hold down a job for more than about a year. I feel that I would be a good candidate for disability, but I don’t even know where to begin (not to mention feeling overwhelmed by it). Can someone please help?
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
yes depression is debilitating and it can affect a person’s ability to hold down a job, so take no notice of anyone who says otherwise.
What I did was talk to my doctor first of all. he wrote a letter to the social security offices, who then requested further information from the doctor at the hospital whom I see every three to four weeks and who is generally responsible for adjusting the doses of my meds and also oversees what sorts of talking therpaies are available for me.
She was very helpful and wrote (with my permission) quite a lengthy detailed letter pointing out the restrictions the depression places on me in relation to work. She sent me a copy, and after I had gone through it and agreed to any disclosures she made relating to my treatments etc, she sent it too the social security office. After that it took only a matter of weeks before I was assessed and awarded the lower rate of disability.
They will send you quite a bulky form to complete before assessing you, but don’t be intimidated by it, you can ask the local branch of MIND or your citizens advice bureau for help and they are very good at getting someone to go through the form with you to fill it in, mainly because it sounds stupid, but there are ‘required’ answers they look for. I was turned down the first time because I tended to make my depression sound better than it was because I felt that was what I should do. In reality you should complete the form giving details about how you feel on your WORST days, don’t be afraid to tell it like it is, however difficult it might be, and do get help to fill the form in because they are experienced with this sort of form and know exactly the information to give.
Good luck
you need to be diagnosed by your psychiatrist who will thoroughly document the history & prognosis of your illness then hire a lawyer who specializes in disability cases…[you'll have to, sorry]…they aren’t giving it out very freely these days & let the lawyer handle it from there…there’s a waiting period, but when you get your first check it is a big one retroactive to the time when you first filed….good luck…coming from someone who’s been through the process.
go 2 your social security office an fill out some forms,everybody always gets turned down the first time ,its a test i guess but you wait about a week an try again.might help if you got a doctor too.
Well first talk to your primary care physician. He/She can direct you to a psychiatrist who will help guide you through the process. You need documentation on your depression, ans the ability not to hold down a job. Then contact Social Services for help. Then you need to contact The Social Security Administration (your local office) And file the necessary paperwork. DO NOT GIVE UP!!!! IT TAKES TIME! 95% of all claims are denied the first & second time around. But percerver. It will be bennifecial in the long run. Once you get Social Security Disability, You also get Medicare for your health Insurance. Social Security will back date everything from the day you filed. So you will get a large check for all the back pay, Plus a monthly check. You are also allowed to work part-time (if you can) and make up to $860.00 per month without losing benefits. Good Luck!!! And DON’T GIVE UP! Keep pushing forward. You will eventually get it.
It depends on your situation. For my father who suffers from depressio, witch prevented to go to work on average 4 days a week. What he did was get his specaitist to fill the disability forms out saying that he can’t work on a regular basis becuase of his depression.
apply at the social security office. You should qualify if you have good doctors backing your claim. Good luck. It is a time consuming process so dont lose hope!!!
Actually it is very hard to get disability for depression alone. You mention a physical condition. You are much more likely to get disability for the combination of depression and physical condition.
Social Security will request all of your medical records if you list them all. They may also send you to doctors they have under contract for evaluation.They rarely approve someone the first time they apply, usually it is the third time. If you apply and they deny you, appeal the denial and keep appealing till they approve you–this will entitle you to back pay to the first application( if your case never closes.) there are lawyers who specialize in this for a contingency fee.
speak to your primary doctor first who will most likely be able to refer you to a specialist. to get disability you will need validation from a doctor at least. my friend recently went through this and his now starting his own business and doing much better now. good luck and hang in there.
you go to your local social security department and apply for disabilty,it takes along time and lots of paper work,and you normally get denied the first time and then you get a lawyer that deals with this and they dont charge unless they win ,,im in the process of this now for my 2 girls that have simalar conditions…be patient it takes time,but its there for us to use if truly needed.good luck P.S.THIS IS SERIOUS,IMAGINE RAISING A 11 YEAR OLD THAT CANT FIND A REASON TO LIVE,SO I CONSIDER SOME OF THESE COMMENTS STUPID THAT PEOPLE MAKE..MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A JOKE…I DO WISH YOU LUCK JUST BE PATIENT.DAWN
You have to have medical documentation of your disability, be out of work for 6 months. I was turned down 2 times, on the third time i received my benefits, without getting a attorney, we did not have to go to court. It is a process of paperwork interviews, testing with there doctors. When i finally recived my benefits they had to go back for backpay till the first time i ever applied, so i received a large settlement and now monthly benefits. Dont give up. If you are truly disbaled you will finally get it. You can apply online under http://www.socialsecurity.gov
Good Luck.
i cant believe people fill out forms to be disabled by depression, i get to part in the big butt spots since im sad, ah who cares, theres prolly worse off people then you that make out fine. be a hard ***, deal with it, bury the emotions and deal with em when your old and crazy. filing for depression, ha,
btw gfs help get rid of depression, so does interacting with people you “actually” like, huh go figure.
well why not ask jesus to help and not the government and the tax payers ok go to the dr and get some meds ok and then get a job any job but try something you like and if that don’t work oh well . if you serve him he should serve you . you just dont want to work go and get a job man and get over it or just give up and live in a box under a bridge but dont go trying to get a free check
Depression – The man worse enemy. I t is upto your courage and wel power, how to get rid of it.