Depression is something that can not only affect a person’s ability to maintain positive social relationships but it also something that can hinder a person’s work performance, sometimes to the detriment of their job. Lack of sleep, energy, and concentration can all impair a worker’s accuracy and precision, key skills for certain jobs. If your depression is preventing you from keeping a job, then you might have the option to seek Philadelphia disability benefits. Be sure to talk to a Philadelphia Disability Lawyer to learn more.

When Can I Seek Philadelphia Disability Benefits for Depression?

Before applying for Philadelphia depression disability benefits, you may want to check your eligibility for these benefits first. The last thing you want to do is spend valuable time and energy on something that might not pay off because of one factor that does not fit the eligibility requirements. Some of the main disability benefits requirements are:

• Not being able to work or suffering work performance issues due to your disability
• Your disability is expected to last a year
• You have not been able to adapt to other types of work
• Your income is below a certain monthly amount

Once you meet these, you can start looking at the specific disability benefits eligibility requirements for depressive disorders. Depression can either hit through a major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. For a major depressive disorder, you will need medical documentation of you struggling with low energy, depressed mood, sleep problems, worthlessness, change in appetite, and less enjoyment of pleasurable activities.

When it comes to bipolar disorders, you must have also experienced a period in the past of high energy, rapid thoughts, pressured speech, and a feeling of overconfidence. For both depressive and bipolar disorders, the Social Security Administration (SSA) also requires you to provide medical records of a limitation in:

• Understanding or remembering information
• Socializing
• Concentration
• Adaptive skills

What Evidence Do I Need for My Philadelphia Disability Benefits Application?

The most important disability benefits evidence you can obtain is medical documentation of your depression. Specifically, the SSA asks for medical documents of depression lasting at least two years. For a strong disability claim, these medical records should also indicate how your depression has limited your work skills and how treatments have failed to improve your depression enough to let you work.

Lastly, you will want your medical evidence to show periods in the past where your depression or bipolar has worsened after minimal demands from the environment. These demands can be mental or physical. If this is not the case, you can try presenting documents that show your condition failed to improve with supported living arrangements. Consider seeking legal help if you received a disability benefits rejection letter.

Disability Attorney in Philadelphia

Being denied disability benefits does not always mean the end. Feel free to talk to a Philadelphia Denied Benefits Appeal Lawyer who will work with you to figure out what else your application needs. Call Edelstein & Nelson today at (800) – 300 – 0909 for a consultation. Our team of Philadelphia disability attorneys can gather the evidence and documents needed for a strong disability claim.