Is it hard to qualify for Social Security benefits if you have depression ?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Social Security law and regulations state that all impairments are evaluated equally whether they are mental impairments, such as depression, or physical impairments. However, the Social Security disability handbook makes it difficult to receive an approval for most mental impairments at the initial claim or reconsideration levels.

Many disability claims based upon depression will be have be appealed to the administrative law judge hearing level, because an Administrative Law Judge is not strictly bound by the criteria in the social security administration's blue book, titled “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security”.

That is not to say that if your mental health history includes multiple suicide attempts or hospital stays that you will not be approved at the application level, or at the reconsideration level. In fact, many individuals with depression problems have severe functional limitions. They are unable to get up in the mornings, have crying spells, or do not like to be around other people in social and work settings.

Unfortunately, very often Social Security disability claims examiners and physicians do not look at the symptoms and realize that these symptoms can dramatically affect an individual's ability to sustain work.

Additionally, Social Security does not address the special nature of many mental illnesses in that most forms of mental illness will allow an individual to work for short periods of time, however they cannot sustain their work activity over long periods and lose their jobs.

Additional information:

Are SSI and Social Security Disability Requirements Tougher For Mental Claims?

Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

Winning Social Security Disability Benefits For Mental Disorders

Will I be approved for disability on my appeal ?

When Are You Allowed To Ask For A Social Security Disability Hearing?

Social Security Disability and SSI Mental Claims and Criteria

How do Social Security Disability and SSI appeals work ?

The SSD, Social Security Disability Date of Application

If You File For Social Security Disability How Far Back Will They Look At Your Medical Records?

How Long Does Your Attorney Have To File Your Social Security Disability Appeal?

How do you appeal your denial for disability?

Will you be notified if you receive an Approval for Social Security Disability or SSI

What makes a person eligible to receive disability benefits?

Filing an Application for Disability Benefits under SSD or SSI

Applying for disability benefits in North Carolina

Can You Get Approved For Social Security Disability If You Do Not Take Medication Or Go To a Doctor?

When you Apply for Social Security do you get Medicare?

The Social Security Disability Medical Review

How many Social Security Disability appeals do you get ?

The Social Security Disability Decision and Your Ability to Work

Being Determined Medically Disabled for Social Security Disability

Mental Disability Benefits and What Social Security will Consider

When should you apply for Social security disability?

Does Social Security offer Partial Disability Benefits?

You Must Give Social Security Disability Your Work History When You Apply

What happens if my social security disability application is denied?

Social Security Disability Re-evaluations

Can I Be Eligible For SSI And Social Security Disability At The Same Time?

How much time does it take to get an SSI Decision?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Kansas

Is Bipolar Disorder a disability according to Social Security?

Glaucoma, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

Social Security Disability Medical Evaluation Form, Can A Doctor Be Forced to Complete One?

How Does Social Security Decide If You Are Disabled Or Not?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials