Feeling sad from time to time is normal. Difficult emotions are part of the human experience. However, when your feelings of sadness and hopelessness last for more than a few weeks, it may be a sign you’re suffering from depression.
Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in America. According to the National Institute of Health, nearly 15 million American adults had at least one severe depressive episode in 2020.
Signs it’s hurting you at work
Your depression may be getting in the way if you:
- Find work dreadful
- Make frequent mistakes
- Take your negative emotions out on your coworkers
- Struggle to make decisions, remember deadlines and concentrate on tasks
- Frequently show up late
If you experience anything like this, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Getting SSDI for depression
The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists depression as a qualifying disability under its disabilities bluebook. However, to qualify for benefits, you must show that your depression is “severe and persistent.” You must also have medical documents demonstrating its effect on you over the course of two years and display evidence that shows your major depressive disorder affects your ability to:
- Understand or remember things when applying information
- Interact with others
- Concentrate or keep pace on any task you’re performing
- Manage your mood/behavior
- Cope with changes in your environment
The SSA will often review other factors aside from the severity of your depression to see if you qualify for benefits. For example, they will typically look at your age, work experience and the number of Social Security work credits you’ve accumulated.
The road to receiving benefits isn’t always paved
Your depression may make everyday life more difficult for you. And when it limits your ability to work, SSDI benefits can provide needed support. However, you may find that getting approved for benefits can come with additional difficulties. That’s because mental impairments like depression can be difficult for the SSA to review, as evaluations can often be subjective. But with hard and factual evidence on your side, you can stand a better chance of getting the benefits you need.
