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| Bipolar Disorder and Social Security Disability
The Social Security Administration uses a process called sequential
evaluation to determine who receives benefits. Here is an explanation of
Social Security's five-step process to determine if bipolar disorder
qualifies for SSDI: STEP ONE simply determines if an individual is "working
(engaging in substantial gainful activity)," according to the SSA
definition. Earning more than $810 a month as an employee is enough for
disqualification from receiving Social Security disability benefits. STEP
TWO implies that the bipolar disorder disability must be severe enough to
significantly limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to
do most jobs; for example: walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing,
pulling, reaching, carrying or handling seeing, hearing and speaking
understanding/carrying out and remembering simple instructions use of
judgment responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers and usual work
situations dealing with changes in a routine work setting STEP THREE asks if
the bipolar disability meets or equals a medical listing. Bipolar is listed
under mental disorders. To satisfy the listing criteria for bipolar disorder
a number of variables are considered: anhedonia appetite disturbance sleep
disturbance psychomotor agitation or retardation decreased energy feelings
of guilt or worthlessness difficulty concentrating or thinking thoughts of
suicide and hallucinations delusions or paranoid thinking In assessing a
bipolar disability severity of a listing level impairment, activities of
daily living, social functioning, concentration, persistence, pace and
repeated episodes of decompensation are evaluated. A person who has four
symptoms present from the depressive syndrome list as well as marked
restriction of activities of daily living and marked difficulties in
maintaining social functioning would be found to have a listing level
impairment. STEP FOUR explores the ability of an individual to perform work
he has done in the past despite his bipolar disorder disability. If SSA
finds that a person can do his past work, benefits are denied. If the person
cannot, then the process proceeds to the fifth and final step. STEP FIVE
looks at age, education, work experience and physical/mental condition to
determine what other work, if any, the person can perform. To determine
disability, SSA enlists vocational rules, which vary according to age. For
example, if a person is: Under age 50 and, as a result of the symptoms of
Bipolar disorder, unable to perform what SSA calls sedentary work, then SSA
will reach a determination of disabled. Sedentary work requires the ability
to lift a maximum of 10 pounds at a time, sit six hours and occasionally
walk and stand two hours per eight-hour day. Age 50 or older and, due to his
bipolar disorder disability, limited to performing sedentary work but has no
work-related skills that allow him to do so, SSA will reach a determination
of disabled. Over age 60 and, due to his bipolar disorder disability unable
to perform any of the jobs he performed in the last 15 years, SSA will
likely reach a determination of disabled. Any age and, because of Bipolar
disorder, has a psychological impairment that prevents even simple,
unskilled work, SSA will reach a determination of disabled. Problems To
Overcome In Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits More than one
million people will file for benefits from the Social Security
Administration this year. The bad news is, 60% who
apply for benefits will be denied. The good news is, help is available to
improve your odds of getting benefits, should you or a loved one become
disabled. All working Americans contribute 7.65 percent from every paycheck
to FICA tax. Some of that payment goes toward disability insurance coverage
by the Social Security Administration. However, bureaucratic problems
plaguing SSA’s Disability Insurance program prevent fair and speedy
distribution of benefits to people who are eligible. These are some of the
problems you’ll face if you choose to apply by yourself: A backlog of more
than a million unprocessed disability claims; An average five-month wait
after filing a claim before receiving an answer on the initial claim, and
almost a year of additional delays if the claim is appealed; A backlog of
1.5 million disability cases now awaiting review, with another half million
cases coming up for review each year. |
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| Eligibility Form <http://www.allsupinc.com/ssds/apply_online.
©2003, Bipolar Disorder and Social
Security Disability |
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