If you are having problems doing your job because you lack motivation and always feel fatigued, you may be suffering from depression. According to data compiled by the federal government, more than 17 million adults and about 2 million children have been diagnosed as affected by depression.
Although there are treatment options available, depression is difficult to properly diagnose. Depending upon its severity, depression can be a disabling condition preventing a person from continuing to work and earning an income through a job or through self-employment. If that happens, contact a depression disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC, to learn about how the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs can help by paying you monthly depression disability benefits.
Depression affects people in several different ways and with differing levels of severity, so it is important for you to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional who can make a proper diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan. Depression symptoms that may indicate a need to speak with your doctor, include:
Psychotherapy and prescribed medications have proven to be effective in treating depression, but you need to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional for an evaluation.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a Listing of Impairments, commonly referred to as the “Blue Book.” Listed impairments are considered severe enough to meet the definition of “disability” that Social Security uses to determine eligibility for SSI and SSDI.
The first criteria in the listings for depressive disorders requires that your medical records show that you experience at least five of the following symptoms:
If you meet the first criteria, you also need to show marked limitation in two of the following areas:
Even if you do not meet the criteria of the listings, a disability lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC, reviews your medical history and records to find other options for proving that you have a medically determinable impairment that meets the disability definition.
If you have been diagnosed by a doctor as having depression or are experiencing symptoms of the disorder, contact a depression disability lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC. One of our compassionate and experienced depression disability benefits lawyers will answer any questions you may have about Social Security disability benefits and assist with your application or appeal. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim assessment.