Do you struggle to work because of your bipolar disorder? You may qualify for monthly disability benefits. About 13% of people received disability in 2020 because of their mental health, including about 5% of people with bipolar disorder or a similar condition.
To increase your chances of approval, we’ll break down the government definition for bipolar disorder and how to get disability benefits for your bipolar disorder.
Yes, bipolar disorder is a disability according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Whether you have bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder), it can qualify if it leaves you unable to work.
Under the SSA definition, people with bipolar disorder experience a range of moods — from depressed or irritable to elevated or expansive.
Common symptoms include big changes in mood, rapid speech, flight of ideas (your mind races from one thought to another), a diminished need for sleep, becoming easily distracted, and psychomotor agitation (muscle twitches or restlessness that you can’t control).
It’s possible to get disability benefits for bipolar disorder if your condition leaves you unable to work. Another sign you may qualify for disability is that you have a hard time managing your own day-to-day care.
However, the SSA has strict criteria for people with bipolar disorder. You may find it difficult to qualify for benefits, especially if you aren’t regularly a therapist each week and a psychiatrist at least monthly.
Having legal representation can also boost your chance of success. Consider finding a disability lawyer if you plan to apply for benefits.
The SSA has three general criteria that you must satisfy to qualify for disability with bipolar disorder:
1. Prove you have bipolar disorder AND
2a. Prove your bipolar disorder severely limits your mental functioning OR
2b. Prove that you’ve continuously treated your bipolar disorder for two years or more
First, you need to prove to the SSA that you have bipolar disorder by exhibiting certain symptoms. Next, you must show that you meet at least one of two other criteria: your bipolar disorder greatly limits your mental functioning, or your bipolar disorder persists even though you’ve already received multiple years of treatment for it.
To prove that you have bipolar disorder, you must experience three or more of the following seven symptoms:
The SSA will consider four key abilities to determine how bipolar disorder affects your mental functioning:
To meet this part of the criteria, you’ll need medical records or similar documentation that shows your bipolar disorder extremely limits at least one area, or markedly limits at least two. Having an extreme limitation means you can’t function independently for a sustained amount of time. Having a marked limitation means your functioning is severely limited, but you can still handle things yourself.
The more evidence you have of your condition affecting the mental activities above, the stronger your case will be. You don’t need to show every single example of bipolar disorder affecting you, though.
Some questions to ask yourself:
In order to prove to the SSA that your bipolar disorder is “serious and persistent,” you will need documentation showing three things:
As you collect evidence, really make sure that you can show persistent care over the past two years or longer. Any lapses in treatment or inconsistencies in following your treatment will hurt your case.
Some questions to ask yourself:
After confirming that you can meet the SSA criteria, the next step is to apply for disability benefits. If you’re unsure whether or not you qualify, you can still apply. As long as you fill out the application honestly, there are no downsides to applying.
An easy way to determine your eligibility is to take our free online quiz. We can help you understand your benefits options and if you qualify, we can also refer you to an experienced disability lawyer who we trust and who you won’t have to pay unless they win your case.
If you’re still unsure whether disability benefits are right for you, you may also want to read more about the two main types of disability, SSDI and SSI.
The SSA does have very strict eligibility requirements, especially when it comes to mental health. If you don’t think you meet all the criteria, you may still be able to get benefits.
You can start by applying for benefits anyway. There’s no harm in it, as long as you fill out your application truthfully. Only 20% of applicants even get benefits through their initial application. If SS denies your claim, you can appeal the decision. Applicants are much more likely to win an appeal, with nearly half getting approved at this stage.
However, we suggest hiring a disability lawyer to help with your appeal. Winning an appeal requires you to present your case and all your medical evidence to a judge. Having good legal representation will make the appeal significantly easier and you’re much more likely to win. In general, disability applicants with lawyers are three times more likely to win their claim.
Data from the SSA shows the average disability check for bipolar disorder and related disorders is $1,131.37 per month.
The highest possible payment is $3,627 per month for SSDI and $914 per month for SSI in 2023. The maximum payment amounts for SSDI and SSI are the same for every disability, regardless of severity or how many conditions you have.
Your exact disability benefit will depend on your work history if you apply for SSDI or your other assets and income sources if you apply for SSI. You could receive both payments in some cases, but that isn’t common.
The application process is long and complex, but there are a few things you can do to put yourself one step ahead.
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Jackie Jakab
Lead Attorney
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