Social Security Disability for Depression in Wisconsin

Types & Symptoms of Depression You Can Include in Your Disability Claim

CA challenge of applying for disability benefits with depression is that the condition has so many variations and levels of severity. For some people, it comes and goes. Some people with depression can continue working.

Everyone experiences depression at one time or another. But if you have severe depression, you know that it’s different. It changes your life in ways other people don’t understand.

If you can show Social Security the ways that your case is severe, you could receive benefits.

Tell them if you have any of these or other depression-related conditions:

• Major depressive disorder (clinical depression)
• Persistent depressive disorder (chronic depression)
• Bipolar I disorder (alternating manic and depressive periods)
• Bipolar II disorder (depressive cycles with milder manic cycles)
• Other mood disorders (example: cyclothymic disorder)

And whatever type of depression you have, tell them you have problems with these kinds of feelings and daily functions:

• Eating
• Energy level
• Worthless feelings
• Focusing
• Guilt
• Low interest in activities
• Mood
• Sleeping
• Weight
• Suicidal thoughts
• Interaction with other people
• Understanding and use of information
• Behavior control

A strong disability claim with depression should include any other conditions that you have, too, both physical and mental. People seeking disability benefits often have complicated medical situations, with depression playing a part.

A Social Security Disability lawyer knows how to tell your story to make it clear why you should be awarded benefits.

You can find out more about your options in an initial consultation with our Wisconsin disability law firm. You don’t have to make any commitments or pay anything to have this conversation about your needs and your future.

How to Prove for Social Security Disability that You Can’t Work Because of Depression

Nobody else knows what it’s like for you to have depression. But you have to get across to Social Security not just your experience, but outside confirmation that your case is severe enough to rule out working.

Records and evidence from health care providers—people other than you—will be the basis for your Social Security Disability case.

With Social Security Disability for depression, you may use these kinds of evidence:

• A written diagnosis
• Reports from mental health exams
• Psychological testing
• Results from physical exams
• Imaging, such as MRIs
• Laboratory tests
• Description of medications you take
• Description of side effects of medications
• Your psychological history, summarized by a professional
• Documents showing a two-year record of therapy
• Details of structured settings or other supports you’ve had
• Written accounts of your depression from people in your personal, school or work life
• Reports detailing how you continue to struggle with depression after treatment and supports

Putting this together is a lot of work. Even so, Social Security still denies most people when they first apply for benefits.

A disability attorney who deals with this process every day can take the weight of applying for disability benefits off of you.

At Geary Disability Law, we know what documentation you need and how to get it. We help you fill out all the forms. We handle the legwork and details. Even more, we make sure that as you go through this, you are not alone.

You deserve help, and a chance at a more secure future.