Social Security Disability Covers Many Mood Disorders The term disability often comes with connotations of physical

inhibitions that keep a person from doing his or her job. That isnt always the case! At the end of 2011, over a 1.3 million people were receiving Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits for mood disorders. That population represents over 15 percent of all workers collecting such benefits, according to the Social Security Administration. The SSA divides mood disorder claims into two primary categories that could be most relevant to SSD applicants: affective disorders and anxiety-related disorders. Affective Disorders: These mood conditions are characterized by a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life; it generally involves either depression or elation, according to the SSA. Anxiety-Related Disorders: In conditions such as these, anxiety is either the predominant disturbance or it is experienced if the individual attempts to master symptoms; for example, confronting the dreaded object or situation in a phobic disorder or resisting the obsessions or compulsions in obsessive compulsive disorders, according to the SSA.

To potentially qualify for SSD benefits, all applicants must meet at least some of the criteria enumerated on the SSAs webpage. If you suffer from a mood disorder or if you think you might you should consider applying for Social Security Disability if the condition keeps you from working. A qualified Social Security disability lawyer can help you do so. The SSAs Position on Mental and Mood Disorders Affective and Anxiety-Related disorders come in many sub-groups and categories. If you approach your potential claim with a full understanding of how the administration characterizes each disorder, the process will be easier and you might get your decision from the SSA sooner. A change or disturbance in mood can be a sign of an underlying mental disorder even a slight one that could prohibit someone from working. Affective Disorders The SSA has three subcategories of factors (labeled: A, B, and C) that determine if an affective disorder is severe enough to potentially merit SSD benefits. Each subcategory contains several symptoms. The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied, according to the SSA. A. To fulfill this requirement, a claimant must medically document signs of depressive syndrome, manic syndrome, or bipolar syndrome. a. Depressive syndrome includes symptoms such as sleep disturbance, decreased energy, or thoughts of suicide.

b. Manic syndrome includes symptoms such as inflated self-esteem, easy distractibility, and a decreased need for sleep. c. Bipolar syndrome is characterized by the full manifestation of symptoms of both depressive and manic syndrome. B. To fulfill this requirement, the symptoms documented in Subcategory A must cause two of the following conditions: a. restriction of activities of daily living; b. difficulty in maintaining social functioning; c. difficulty in maintaining concentration, persistence or pace; or d. repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration. C. Subcategory C comprises potential claimants with a chronic affective disorder that has been medically-documented for at least two years. The disorder must have caused more than a minimal ability to do basic work activities, with symptoms or signs currently attenuated by medical or psychological support, and it must also cause one of the following: a. repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration; b. a residual disease process, resulting in such slight social adjustment that even a minimal increase in mental demands or a minimal change in environment could cause the claimant to decompensate; or c. the inability to function outside of a highly-supportive living arrangement, which must be documented for one year before applying, and which must indicate that such an arrangement will be necessary in the future. Anxiety-related Disorders The SSA has a criterion schedule for anxiety-related disorders that is similar to the one it uses for affective disorders. The criteria are divided into three subcategories, and a person meets the required degree of severity when his or her condition satisfies Subcategories A and B or when his or her condition satisfies Subcategories A and C. A. To fulfill this requirement, a claimant needs medically-documented findings of at least one of the following conditions: a. generalized persistent anxiety accompanied by three of these symptoms: i. motor tension, ii. autonomic hyperactivity, iii. apprehensive expectation, or vigilance and scanning; b. Persistent irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation, which results in a compelling desire to avoid it; c. Recurrent severe panic attacks manifested by a sudden and unpredictable onset of intense apprehension, fear, terror, and impending doom; d. Recurrent obsessions or compulsions which result in distress; or e. Recurrent and intrusive recollections of a traumatic experience, which causes distress.

B. The conditions in Subcategory A must restrict a persons daily social and vocational abilities. C. Similarly to the Subcategory C for affective disorders, the conditions in Subcategory A for anxiety-related disorders must completely prohibit a person from functioning independently outside of his or her home. The Many other Mental Conditions Covered by SSD Many other disorders, not just affective or anxiety disorders, may qualify a person for SSD. A number of those disorders, such as mental retardation, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and organic mental disorders (brain disorders from birth) can sometimes be diagnosed before a person enters the workforce. Disorders resulting in a persons inability to utilize his or her senses or limbs might also result in a severe-enough disability to necessitate SSD benefits. Some of the more-severe variants of the autism spectrum may also qualify a person for SSD coverage. If you or a loved one suffer from a mood disorder, and if you are interested in pursuing SSD benefits, contact the Social Security disability lawyers at the Disparti Law Group. With offices in Tampa and Chicago, we handle cases nationwide. We are a family-owned business! To discuss your situation with an attorney, call (727) 934-7862 or visit our website, where you may complete our online contact form. We offer free consultations. These articles are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.