Denied Social Security for Bipolar Disorder.?

Question

I applied for social security for my bipolar disorder and they denied me. They said they didn't feel that it was severe enough to stop me from working as a cashier. I haven't had a job since Oct. 2005. Before that I hadn't held a job longer than 6mths. I didn't appeal their decision. I am now reapplying and would like some suggestions on what I should say this time. Since the last time I applied I am getting worse and am seeing a therapist until a little while ago I stopped. It's ruining my family life. I'm now on anxiety meds for panic attacks. I haven't started the antidepressants and mood disorder meds yet. My doc said theres a long wait to see the psychiatrist. So in the mean time I just take my Xanax. I talked to a lawyer but he told me to wait and see if I get denied again and if so then he will appeal for me. What kinds of things should I stress when applying for disability that would make them see my illness as extreme enough

Answer 1

Get the book "Social Security Disability" from Nolo Press, at nolo.com, or see if you can get it at your library (maybe even through an interlibrary loan?) It will give you a lot of background on how to apply, what criteria are used, and how to fill out the forms.

You have to be profoundly disabled to get disability, and if you are relatively young and educated, it will be harder. But if you really can't hold down a job, and you can document that, you should get it eventually. You will almost certainly be rejected the first time, and the process takes awhile, so somehow you have to manage your finances in the meantime.

****Keep in mind that once you go on disability, you will never get off of it, no one does. You will be in poverty the rest of your life unless you marry out of it or a miracle cures you. The ways the rules are make you dependent on the system, so keep that in mind when you are deciding if you want to do this. A lot of people have no choice, because they can't work at all, or they can't keep a job with insurance to get their pills. but it's still humiliating in America to have no job-people always ask when you are being introduced,"Oh hello, what do YOU do for a living?" which ends up being a very nosy question without meaning to. If you can get supportive help from social services (in my state, they will pay for support groups and a social worker to visit and help with paperwork) or tweak your meds some more, or from a local consumer group (google the words consumer, mental, and your state. Consumer=person getting mental health services) then maybe you won't have to go on disability. If you can possibly work well enough to keep yourself housed and fed, you should not go on disability. You should keep working on minimizing symptoms. You will not feel better unless you take mood stabilizers, I dunno why your doc didn't prescribe any for you. You can put yourself on the cancellation list at the psychiatrist's office, I suppose.

I'm on SSA myself, and need the Medicare, so I'm not being judgmental, I just want you to know what you're getting into. For me, there was no other way. The meds just don't work very well for me. I know a lot of people in the same boat. But there are even more folks with bipolar who CAN hold down a job. Get the book I recommended, it will give you all the legal and inside information to see if you qualify.

All the best to you! I hope you feel better soon!

Answer 2

There are many SSDI recipients who receive their benefits due to effects of bipolar disorder. However the Social Security Administration tends to have a policy of denying people on their initial application. If you apply and are denied, you should find some sort of representation. There are attorneys in every phone book who list help with obtaining Social Security benefits. They do not charge unless you are awarded so there will be no costs for this until the check is written by the SSA. After being denied, you will be given a deadline to appeal and if you do the appeal, there will be a 10-14 month delay before a hearing is set. If the decision is affirmative, you will be paid retro back to when you applied, if this is say 18 months, you will receive 18 months of benefits at once, perhaps $12.000 or so. The attorney can charge for up to one fourth of at amount.

Answer 3

First of all i know exactly how you feel! The same thing has just happened to me as well. I am currently doing the next step in which it is to ask for a reconsideration. it is a part of the appeal process.
What I am aware of is that having plenty of docuementation is what you need . The more professionals you see the better, evidence they can get on how your disability affexts youy daily functioning.
Do not give up and keep going through the whole process of appeals, that way you will not have to keep starting over with your claim. It is true that the majority of the time people will be denied their benifits and they are put through an enormous amount of stress just having to fight for the benifits.
Good luck to you, and keep working through the whole process until you get your benifits.

Answer 4

I have Bipolar Disorder, and it took me several years to get Social Security. I had to go to a caseworker and ask for help just to get through the process; the caseworker walked me through filling out the forms, which I could not sit still and do on my own, and she found me a lawyer.

So, #1 item in my advice would be, find someone -- social worker or counselor -- who is experienced with both bipolar disorder and The System, who you can trust, who will work for you. The more disabled we are, the harder it is to jump through all the hoops to get disability! You need an advocate working with you.

SS denies everyone for as long as possible. It is even harder in cases like bipolar disorder, because sometimes we *are* competent. It helps to work withone advocate over a long period, because they see you during ups AND downs. While on state disability, I was put into a "back to work" program, and cooperated fully; after a few months, the staff member I was working with was the one who said, "You aren't going back to work; we're getting you on Social Security."

Be open about your problems, admit you need help, and don't overestimate what you can do. At the same time, don't dramatize your problems; it undercuts your credibility and also, you WANT to function as well as you are able to.

Persist. We're survivors, after all. Downs always come back up eventually. :)

Some additional sources:
* http://www.seniormag.com/legal/ssa_depression.htm
* http://bipolar.about.com/cs/experience/a/sfe_ssdi_menu.htm

Answer 5

Do a web search about this. I've read quite a bit about this very thing and there's a high chance for denial at first. Just file your appeal and don't pay a lawyer for it. Gather as many medical records regarding your illness as you can, meds, dr notes, gather it all up and copy and send it with your appeal. Good luck. Oh and you need to see a psychiatrist, there's more than one in the phone book.

Answer 6

You can almost expect to be turned down the first time. - From what I've seen. What you tell them isn't going to make as much of a difference as what NEW DOCUMENTATION AND DR.S FINDINGS OR TESTS YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR NEW EVIDENCE. They are also looking for a person to keep their case active, using appeals.
You really are not fully addressing your illness yet, and likely won't have enough documentation until you ARE TREATED BY THE PSYCHIATRIST.

I was disabled in 2001 - applied for worker's comp and was denied by the judge. It came down to my last SSI appeal, and SS didn't give me a new hearing - they saw there was a state judgement, and just used the workers' comp decision as their own. Dissapointing.

Answer 7

It's customary for Social Security to deny nearly everyone the first time. My brother shot himself in the head and was expected to be completely paralyzed on his left side, they said the part of his brain that controlled speech was destroyed, and that he basically wouldn't be able to do anything but sit in a wheel chair and drool. He was denied the first time! So many people are on disability benefits, and some of them not justifiably so, that SSA denies most people the first time they apply with the reasoning that those who truly need the help will keep fighting for it, and those who give up and go to work to survive, can work if they want to bad enough.

You are going to have to be in active treatment and if your doctor can't see you, get one who can. Cooperate in treatment and especially councelling if you're recommended to go.

When you fill out your portion of the disability application and they ask the questions about your abilities, be painfully honest (and it's depressing seeing it in black and white) but if the question asks

"Can you prepare your own meals?" Do not say yes unless you can do it consistantly and properly. If you're microwaving hot dogs because you're too depressed to do otherwise, or if you're skipping meals entirely because you cannot make yourself prepare something, then say NO. The question is intended to determine if you can do it at a normally functional level, and consistantly enough to maintain proper health and hygiene standards.

Answer 8

If you are not taking meds yet and not doing anything to try to treat the bipolar it is pretty slim that you will ever get disability. You have to at least make an attempt to treat your condition and then try working. You are not even trying meds to help. If you take the meds it could help you tremendously and help you be able to stay at a job. If I were to be looking over your application right now I would say no in a heartbeat as you are not making a full attempt at trying to help your condition. I am not trying to sound cold hearted but I don't see where you are even trying by taking medication that could help you.

Answer 9

1. make sure that you have all your medical records.
2. Be sure and tell them that you have tried to work and the reason why you can't keep a job.
3. Tell them the problems that you are having right now.
4. But the most important thing is just be honest with them and let them know all that is going on and this time dont stop it and you will finally get your diability. It takes some time to get this. Just keep fighting,

Answer 10

they denied u?!?! well, i get SSI, and i get it because of my bipolar disorder. i mean, it depends on the severity of it, but if u on medication, and get anxiety attacks, you need to ask them for more detail. ask them, "what makes u say that it aint severe enough? i havent been employed in a long time, and my bipolar disorder is preventing me from working." if u say it like that, in a powerful voice, they cant deny u. currently, SSI is playin me too, n im startin to wander if bush is takin SSI money n using it for the stupid war! he prolly is, i just know it. if bipolar aint a reason to get SSI, than y the hell do i still get it? u know, u gonna have to appeal. go to a mental health agency, actually, go to ur therapist. let people in that area that will work for u know whats goin on. IF UR ON PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION FOR A CONDITION SUCH AS BIPOLAR, U CANT BE DENIED! i asked this to SSI myself, and thats exactly what they said! maybe u dont fit another requirment. r u getting unemployment? usually unemployment can affect ur SSI, but i would ask ur therapist or a professional, willing to help in the mental health field. r u getting Medicaid? U NEED MEDICAID! they CANT tell u ur bipolar aint severe enough, thats PREJUDICE! SSI gets on my nerves sometimes too, n lately they been messin around too much. do u gotta case worker? u NEED one too for SSI. go getta case worker. call up a mental health agency and DONT give up until UR needs r MET! Bipoar is serious, n it aint no joke! get a case worker that u kno gonna back u up, tell him/her about yo problem with SSI, and how they denied you because they said they didnt feel ur bipolar is severe enough. DONT GIVE UP, AND FIGHT TILL U WIN!