Living with depression is debilitating and isolating enough. Wading through the swamp of the Social Security system shouldn’t add to that burden. If you are in a dark place struggling with depression, the attorneys at Pond Lehocky Disability will work vigorously to obtain the Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits you deserve.
What Is Clinical Depression?
We all have a bad day and feel sad from time to time, but depression is a serious mood disorder that goes beyond occasional blues or low moods. Formally known as major depressive disorder (MDD), depression involves persistent and intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness that interfere with a person’s ability to function in daily life.
If you are experiencing depression, you are not alone. This treatable mental health condition affects people of all ages, races, income levels, and educational backgrounds. Approximately one out of six people experiences a major depressive episode in their lifetime, while up to 16 million adults per year suffer from clinical depression.
Many types of emotional, physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms make up depression. Depression is not a weakness or character flaw, and with effective treatment and support, you can feel better.
How Clinical Depression Can Affect Your Ability to Work
While for most people going to work every day is a normal part of life, if you are living with depression, even the simplest tasks like getting out of bed, getting dressed, and focusing on work can feel overwhelming or impossible.
Clinical depression can impact many aspects of a person’s vocation, including:
- Trouble concentrating or remembering things: Depression can interfere with your ability to focus, follow instructions, or complete tasks on time. This can lead to poor performance, mistakes, or an inability to keep up with job expectations.
- Lack of Energy and Motivation: Even if you want to work, depression can sap your energy and leave you feeling exhausted. People with depression may miss work frequently, arrive late, or struggle to get through the day, all of which can lead to job loss.
- Difficulty Handling Stress or Pressure: Jobs often come with deadlines, responsibilities, and interpersonal challenges. Depression can make even normal workplace stress feel unbearable, leading to emotional breakdowns or the inability to function under pressure.
- Social Withdrawal: Depression can make it hard to interact with others, which is especially problematic in jobs that require customer service, teamwork, or regular communication. You may isolate yourself or avoid contact with coworkers or supervisors.
- Inconsistent Attendance: People with depression often experience “bad days” where they can’t get out of bed, let alone go to work. When this happens frequently, holding a steady job becomes impossible.
Can I Get Social Security Disability for Depression?
If your depression prevents you from working consistently, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits, but it won’t be easy. You’ll need strong medical evidence, personal statements, and possibly testimony from doctors or therapists to get your claim approved.
The attorneys at Pond Lehocky Disability do not just handle paperwork. We listen to your story and fight to make sure it’s taken seriously. We understand the stigma associated with mental health and the difficulty of proving a condition that isn’t always visible. Our legal team can help you:
- Apply for SSDI or SSI
- Appeal a denial
- Collect medical evidence
- Represent you at your hearing
Some applicants find the SSD process confusing and complex, which is why we want you to know that our office is here to guide you every step of the way.
Does Depression and Anxiety Qualify for Social Security Disability?
If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or another mood disorder, you may qualify if the condition is severe enough to significantly limit your ability to perform basic work activities. These essential tasks may include comprehending and carrying out instructions, responding appropriately to supervisors and co-workers, and adapting to changes in a routine work situation.
There is a five-step sequential evaluation process that determines eligibility, but you don’t have to go it alone. An experienced, determined, and knowledgeable legal team can streamline what can be a cumbersome process that is fraught with potential pitfalls.
How Does Social Security Decide if You Can Get Benefits for Depression?
The Social Security Administration will gauge the level of seriousness and persistence of depression. The fundamental question is whether the condition is likely to keep you from working full-time for a year or more. It is important to have a medically documented history of depression for the preceding two years and show that you have sought out a treatment regimen, such as therapy and medication, but still have difficulty functioning.
The attorneys at Pond Lehocky Disability are well acquainted with how Social Security determines eligibility for benefits and can help you avoid common mistakes.
What Evidence Do You Need in an SSD Case for Depression?
Every policy is different, but generally speaking, you will have to produce medical and non-medical evidence to show that your condition is severe, long-term, and impairs your ability to engage in “substantial gainful activity” to qualify for SSD benefits. In other words, you will need evidence to prove that your depression is severe enough to prevent you from performing your job duties.
Gathering this evidence is done best with legal advocates who understand the criteria for disability benefits and who have a long list of success stories in fighting for the support they deserve.
Why Pond Lehocky Disability Is the Right Choice for Your Case
Our philosophy at Pond Lehocky Disability is that living with depression, anxiety, or other mental health disabilities is not a choice – neither is the impact these conditions can have on your ability to work. Many of our clients wrongfully feel that they are “just not trying enough” or that their symptoms are not serious enough to warrant benefits. We want you to know that you deserve to be heard and supported, and that you deserve Social Security Disability benefits if your mental health condition prevents you from working.
From our hard-won experience, we recognize that some people are too often overlooked. Mental health conditions like depression can be invisible to others, but painfully real to those who experience them. Some individuals have been denied benefits despite a long history of hospitalization, therapy, or medication, and feel dismissed or not taken seriously by medical evaluators, often facing pressure from family, employers, or even doctors who downplay their illness.
Many times, clients are cast into a difficult situation, explaining why they can’t work, even though “they look fine.” If you have checked any of these boxes, we invite you to have a conversation with Pond Lehocky Disability. We are one of the largest disability firms in the country, with a proven track record of recovering billions of dollars for clients, and although our law firm has grown substantially over the years, our core values of treating clients with dignity have remained a constant.
Contact Pond Lehocky Disability for Help with your Depression SSD Claim
Pond Lehocky Disability is dedicated to ensuring justice for injured workers and that you receive the maximum compensation possible for your pain, suffering, and medical bills. Let us handle Social Security for you, so you can focus on getting better and reclaiming much-needed peace of mind. No risk – just answers.
Call us at 1-800-568-7500 or contact us online to share the details of your case.
