If I have been chronically depressed for years, can I get disability?

Answer 1

Getting on SSI for depression is next to impossible. It's much easier, albeit still difficult, to get rid of the depression. I did, and so can you....
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/AntidepressantThatWorks.html

Answer 2

If you can get a doctor's statement that says you are unable to work, or that your abilty to work is severely restricted, you might be able to get disability. You might get trurned down at first, but you can appeal the decision and meet with someone they call a "judge" (not quite the same as a court judge, they act as a judge within the Social Security system for these purposes.) If it gets too messy, you may have to hire a lawyer.

I work for a state mental health agency in Missouri, and I have helped several people apply for disability, sometimes I have written letters for people and they got accepted (even though I'm not a doctor or lawyer). It seems to be getting harder to get disability than it used to be just a few years ago. I have a very frustrating case where a guy who is mentally retarded was injured by a mugger (they cut the tendon in his ankle), he is unable to do the kind of work he did before (airline porter), and his low IQ limits his ability to learn another job. I have been waiting almost a year for them to hold an appeal hearing--I feel terrible about it but I'm doing the best I can.

Answer 3

You can sometimes, but it is an extremely hard and time consuming process. You will have to see a lot of doctors and take a lot of tests, and of course you will be denied several times, which is always diconcerting and makes you just want to give up. The problem with diasability, is that it is so much harder to prove a mental disability that effects your ability to work than a mental one. It took me three years, in which time I was hospitalized twice, visists to 19 of social securities doctors, not to mention regular visits to my own regular doctors, and I had three apeals, one of which occured after I had gotten myself an attorney. The attorney of course makes things easier because they start handleing the paper work and the appeals and such, and it takes a lot of the stress off you. If you are going for your disability now, I wish you the best of luck in your endevor, because you will most definitely need it.

Answer 4

Oh yes, if u can prove it. And the way of proving it is a Doctor uve been seein for years. U would really get it if u have been like this for years and uve been takin medication, and ur history of this is recorded.