The latest data shows that under 5% of Americans exhibit regular feelings of depression.
That’s one in twenty people. Almost any room you enter will have a few people struggling with depression, if not more depending on how you define “feelings of depression.”
Depression can be debilitating for many reasons, which is why it qualifies as a reason for disability benefits, such as disability job opportunities las cruces nm. We’re going to talk about how you might qualify for disability benefits as a result of depression.
We hope the information below can give you some support and direction to get the compensation you need as you battle this illness. Let’s get started.
Struggling With Depression: Disability Benefits
To qualify for depression disability benefits, you need to show that your condition makes it difficult or impossible to work. This is best accomplished with the help of a mental health professional or your psychiatrist. They’re the authorities on symptoms and the challenges that those symptoms pose.
The Social Security Administration has offered a set of guidelines that helps you get a sense of whether you’re qualified.
First, you have to have at least five of the following symptoms.
Depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, difficulty eating with weight loss, challenges sleeping, psychomotor agitation, decreased energy, guilt concerning one’s self, worthless feelings, concentration challenges, suicidal ideations.
In addition to five of the symptoms listed above, the Social Security Administration requires that you meet one of the following two categories.
1. Extreme or Marked Limitation in Mental Areas
A noticeable or extreme limitation is something that your doctor should assess. These categories all relate to thinking or mental function in some way. Difficulties in these areas might prevent someone from working.
The first category is difficulty understanding, remembering, or applying information as a result of depression. The second is the inability to interact with others effectively as a result of depression.
Third, the individual struggles to keep pace with mental activities, which is to say that they can’t concentrate for long periods of time. Finally, they have challenges adapting to work environments or managing themselves while they are in a work environment.
2. “Serious and Persistent”
The last way that one might qualify for depression and disability benefits is by having a condition that’s “serious and persistent.”
This means that, in addition to causing a series of unpleasant and challenging symptoms, the condition has continued to plague a person for more than two years. During that time, the person has attempted to get professional medical support but nothing has worked.
You must have proof that you’ve tried to work with professionals. You must also show that you’ve made a “marginal adjustment” to your life in order to try and affect change. That isn’t required if it’s clear that you can’t make those changes as a result of your illness.
Do You Qualify for Disability?
Hopefully, those of you struggling with depression found this article helpful. If you can get the benefits you deserve, your life might ease up and allow you to focus on getting better. There’s a lot more to learn, though.
We’re here to help with ideas. Explore our site for more insights into health, wellness, finances, and a whole lot more.
