Do you or anyone you know have bipolar disorder? If yes, then your symptom severity might range from severe to mild. And when it’s about the social security disability advantages that are accessible via the SSA (Social Security Administration), any disability or disorder should cater to a fundamental requirement. And it should get serious enough for preventing you to take a profitable job scope and earning a minimum wage. And just in case when your condition is not very serious, you will not get granted of disability advantages.
These rules are applicable when you have bipolar disorder. And when this ailment is in mild condition, a person can manage his or her everyday tasks. However, if your symptoms are severe and adversely affect your daily activities, you might not be able to work, and getting social security benefits for your bipolar disorder is possible. Then you will not get the disability advantages.
Ways to qualify for the impairment list
You will come across a compact list of impairments in the SSA. It is popularly known as the Blue Book that has a wide range of disabilities and disorders recognized by the SSA. And if any disability is included in the list, you can get the benefits easily. Hence, you will have to check whether you cater to the desired criteria under the specific list.
You will find bipolar disorder mentioned in Section 12 in the Blue Book. It is this section that usually comprises of mental disorders. The SSA comes with three paragraphs that state the needs under this specific listing. And it gets titled as paragraphs A, B, and C.
social security disability simply put, the first paragraph, which is A, outlines the general needs of the medical proof that the individual should provide for justifying the claim that a person has and is suffering from bipolar disorder. Next, paragraph B is all about the multiple functional restrictions that get imposed by the physical condition. And finally, paragraph C is about how long-term, severe, and consistent the disorder has been.
The medical documents needed
The paragraph A of the Social Security Administration Blue Book has the relevant pointers on bipolar disorder. And based on this listing, it is necessary to provide the medical proof for about three symptoms that get listed below:
- Less requirement for sleep
- Fleeting thoughts
- Pressured speech
- An inflated self-esteem
- Getting distracted easily
- Getting involved in activities that has extreme or painful results
Hence, if a person highlights three symptoms for this list and can provide the medical proof to justify their claim, they cater to the paragraph A criteria.
However, if you or anyone you know wants to opt-in for disability advantages for bipolar disorder, you have help available. Today, some expert lawyers help you to get through the disability requirements put forward by the SSA. These attorneys have helped several people attain the disability advantages for mental and physical limitations. Hence, you can also work your way out with an expert lawyer.