BIPOLAR, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY - ALL MAY DISABLE

My firm in Huntsville represents individuals regularly who suffer from diverse mental illnesses, including ADHD, Bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, panic disorder - PTSD and dozens of other psychological impairments.  Some of the factors that a Social Security claim must consider include:

  • persistence and pace issues - Can the claimant go to work five days a week, work eight hours per day and be competitive?
  • concentration - Can the claimant stay focused and on-task to perform the job?
  • judgment - How will this individual apply judgment to work situations?
  • social skills - Will this claimant be able to respond appropriately to supervisors, coworkers or customers?
  • memory - Can the individual understand and remember simple work-related instructions?  What about complex instructions?
Mental or emotional impairments often produce good days and bad days, or as one of my clients stated, "good weeks and bad weeks."  An individual may feel fine for a day or for a week and can work.  Then the symptoms return and there is a period of days or weeks when working is simply not possible.  Of course, an individual who can only work "sometimes" is not able to hold a job and is disabled.

If you are one of the thousands of individuals with a mental condition that makes it impossible for you to work, I urge you to file a Social Security disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim.  Attorneys and professional representatives will treat you with dignity and respect as you go through the process.  So will judges or other adjudicators involved with your claim.  

Mental conditions certainly may qualify for disability benefits.  

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