Depression is no laughing matter. It’s not something to sweep under the rug and hope that it corrects itself. It needs to be dealt with quickly and in a decisive manner.
Depression can impact your life in many ways, from your personal relationships to your work performance. Should you find that this mental illness is making it difficult, or impossible, to hold down a job, it’s time to learn more about your options.
Do you qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits?
In short, you can apply for SSD benefits if you have depression. This doesn’t guarantee an approval, but you have the legal right to apply for benefits with the hope of receiving compensation to make up for what you’re not earning by holding down a job.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to apply for SSD benefits on the grounds of depression:
- You must have severe depression: Everyone is depressed from time to time. In order for this to qualify you for SSD benefits, you must have a medical diagnosis of severe depression.
- Get medical help: This goes along with the point above. You can’t simply state that you’re depressed and should, in return, receive benefits. You need to prove that this is true, and the only way of doing so is to obtain a formal diagnosis from a physician.
- The issue must be persistent: For instance, you must be able to prove that you’ve been dealing with the depression for a minimum of two years. And that’s another reason why you need to receive medical care. Your medical records can back up the fact that you’ve been receiving treatment for this condition for an extended period of time. Without records, this is impossible to prove, so a denial is all but guaranteed.
There’s no denying the fact that depression can make it difficult to work. And when that happens, you’ll find that your condition is affecting your ability to earn more and support yourself and family.
If you have reason to believe you qualify for SSD benefits on the grounds of a depression diagnosis, learn more about the claims process and how to position yourself for an approval.