SSDI and anxiety/depression

[magic mouse]

One of my family members want to file disablity for anxiety/depression. How difficult is this process? Anyone else been through this or a close family/friend gone through this. I would love to hear everyones experiences.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I know a few people who have filed for a number of reasons. None of them were approved the first time - even though two of them were clearly permanently disabled. It took more than 18 months for everyone that I know, and it is far from easy.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

A past co-worker's daughter tried for this. She was in her early 30s and had spent time as an inpatient on several occasions. She also had two attempted suicides. She was never approved. Apparently anything with mental health is very difficult to prove and it has to be proven that you are unable to hold ANY type of job.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

One of my family members want to file disablity for anxiety/depression. How difficult is this process? Anyone else been through this or a close family/friend gone through this. I would love to hear everyones experiences.

yah, I have never known anyone to it is for this reason, this is something that can be controlled with meds and therapy.

 

[AKL_Megs]

My MIL had a pretty easy time, and is living pretty off of SSD. She is "disabled" because she is depressed because she can't get over the death of her late husband. SO... she filed for SSD and now lives with her boyfriend... so much for not being able to get over the death of her late husband. She seems perfectly content to me.

Anyways... I want to say they denied her once, and then approved her the second time. She got a good psychiatrist who claims, after X number of years getting $$$ from her weekly, that she is disabled, and fought for her to get SSD. Now, she has to see him often, which is more $$$ for him, and she stays on SSD.

 

[erin1715]

I guess everyone's experience might be different, and maybe it depends on the doctor, but I have a very close family member who was in and out of the hospital for severe depression for almost 2 years. Every type of medication was tried and it appeared there was no end in sight, so the doctor suggested filing for SSD and it was approved, but you have to wait at least 6 months from the date you file to start receiving the funds. This person kept trying different meds and finally there was one that helped. They are currently pursuing a college degree and don't want to be dependent on SSD forever.

I agree that there may be people who take advantage of the system, but there are those people who desperately need it. I think it's naive to say it can be controlled with meds and therapy, as its not always that simple and obviously you have never known someone in deep depression.

OP I hope this is helpful. It can't hurt for your family member to file for it and see what happens.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

My MIL had a pretty easy time, and is living pretty off of SSD. She is "disabled" because she is depressed because she can't get over the death of her late husband. SO... she filed for SSD and now lives with her boyfriend... so much for not being able to get over the death of her late husband. She seems perfectly content to me.

Anyways... I want to say they denied her once, and then approved her the second time. She got a good psychiatrist who claims, after X number of years getting $$$ from her weekly, that she is disabled, and fought for her to get SSD. Now, she has to see him often, which is more $$$ for him, and she stays on SSD.

depression is different then what the OP mentioned, two very different diagnosis! one is a chemical imbalance one is not. and with "anxiety" there is usually situational depression, which it temporary. Unless she has had hospitalizations, I do not see people getting this.

 

[shellybaxter]

My sister is receiving disability do to anxiety and PTSD. She was pschologically abused in her marriage and stressful situation push her over the edge. Once when she was a waitress she had a lot of full tables and one of the customers gave her a hard time - they found her crying on the floor of the store room - she couldn't pull it together. She was denied the first time (like most everyone) and approved on appeal. When she simply lives her life as a mother with very little ambition she is able to be pretty normal - but bring even a bit of trauma and she can't handle it.

 

[Ephany]

One family member of ours is on year 3 of fighting for SSDI. I don't have the details, but I've hear them complain about the process on many occasions.

 

[browneyes106]

I used to attend a support group for people with different mental illnesses. There was a guy who was 25 and had been on SSDI mainly since he was 18 mainly because he spent 8 months in a mental hospital. There was a woman there who had trouble holding down jobs and she had been denied twice. Lucikly she was living with family and was working part time at a family business.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I have just started the process. My last day at work was April 9. I just could not handle work stress and home stress. I've tried about every med combo there is, and every benzo for anxiety. It got to the point where my medication was not working at all, therapy was not working and I knew that I would end up in the hospital at any moment if I didn't do something drastic. So I had to leave my job of 7 years, with coworkers I LOVED. I have heard really different things about the process of SSDI for a mental illness. My psychologist and my family dr told me 3-5 years, a lawyer I spoke to said 3-6 months. He said mental illness gets approved a lot quicker. I don't understand this at all. I would think it would be the opposite. I'm very scared. It's SO hard to leave a decent job in this market. But all my dr's are very confident I will get it....eventually. I have had a long history of depression, anxiety, PTSD and three hospitalizations in 7 years. I will say this, although I am really scared of the long process, I have not had a panic attack in about a week. This is so rare for me. So I think I'm doing the right thing. I honestly had no choice. Nothing worked. I did what I had to do in order to survive. Yes, things were that bad.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My sister is receiving disability do to anxiety and PTSD. She was pschologically abused in her marriage and stressful situation push her over the edge. Once when she was a waitress she had a lot of full tables and one of the customers gave her a hard time - they found her crying on the floor of the store room - she couldn't pull it together. She was denied the first time (like most everyone) and approved on appeal. When she simply lives her life as a mother with very little ambition she is able to be pretty normal - but bring even a bit of trauma and she can't handle it.[/QUOTE]
This is pretty much what I have learned about myself. I stay home, clean the house, fix supper, try to be a good mom and wife, and I'm ok. I cannot do the balancing act anymore. Work stress was bleeding into the home, and vice versa. Even though I am scared of the financial affects, I'm not freaking out. And that tells me I made the right decision. I haven't felt this peaceful in at least 2 years.

 

[barkley]

My sister is receiving disability do to anxiety and PTSD. She was pschologically abused in her marriage and stressful situation push her over the edge. Once when she was a waitress she had a lot of full tables and one of the customers gave her a hard time - they found her crying on the floor of the store room - she couldn't pull it together. She was denied the first time (like most everyone) and approved on appeal. When she simply lives her life as a mother with very little ambition she is able to be pretty normal - but bring even a bit of trauma and she can't handle it.[/QUOTE]
This is pretty much what I have learned about myself. I stay home, clean the house, fix supper, try to be a good mom and wife, and I'm ok. I cannot do the balancing act anymore. Work stress was bleeding into the home, and vice versa. Even though I am scared of the financial affects, I'm not freaking out. And that tells me I made the right decision. I haven't felt this peaceful in at least 2 years.

i applaud you for realizing this and making what is one of the hardest decisions you've probably ever made.

i'm living proof of what happens if you refuse to face facts and keep putting off that decision. when i tried to keeping working despite the anxiety attacks, and kept pushing through thinking that at some point with the right meds, with more therapy, i had it in myself to continue my body finaly made the decision for me. occasional migranes turned to constant migranes turned into a tia (mini stroke). 6 months later full blown stroke number 1 followed by a second in less than 6 months. my doctors and psychologist said it was my body forcing my hand.

i should have paid attention to the e/r doc. who when he was treating me during an admission and i was already asking mid exam when i could get back to work b/c of the financial implications to my family said to me "what will the financial implications be in the event of your death?".

take care.

 

[nikkistevej]

DH's whole family almost- lots of them get SSI for panic attacks/anxiety attacks/"bad nerves". I don't get it.

 

[SShewbert]

My husband is on it. He just got approved this past October after waiting 6 years and went through two appeals. Although his is more than just depression so I am not sure how hard that will be.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

i applaud you for realizing this and making what is one of the hardest decisions you've probably ever made.

i'm living proof of what happens if you refuse to face facts and keep putting off that decision. when i tried to keeping working despite the anxiety attacks, and kept pushing through thinking that at some point with the right meds, with more therapy, i had it in myself to continue my body finaly made the decision for me. occasional migranes turned to constant migranes turned into a tia (mini stroke). 6 months later full blown stroke number 1 followed by a second in less than 6 months. my doctors and psychologist said it was my body forcing my hand.

i should have paid attention to the e/r doc. who when he was treating me during an admission and i was already asking mid exam when i could get back to work b/c of the financial implications to my family said to me "what will the financial implications be in the event of your death?".

take care.

thank you for your post...it means a lot to me. i am having some guilt over this decision, but i have realized i have to listen to my mind and body. like you, i thought if i got the right meds and therapy, i would get better. i hit a brick wall and got even more upset. i would feel guilty for calling in sick to work and then i would lie here thinking i should go into work. that there was nothing physically wrong, i was just lazy. i felt like everyone thought i was lazy. my dad would call me at work, and not getting an answer, would call my cell phone and lecture me for not working. i felt my kids looked down on me and my husband resented me because he works so hard.finally, i just knew i had given all i could. thank you so much for sharing your story.

 

[Cindy B]

It will take a while. Part of my job is to process SS Disability claims. In some cases, there are quick approvals (2 month turnaround), and there are some cases that take a very long time--years-- and unfortunately, the claimants pass away before any benefits are awarded.

I have seen clients with mental/anxiety/mood disorders get approved. There are just so many factors involved, it is so difficult to tell what gets approved quickly, and what doesn't.

I will say a claimants age, job history, education, speaking/reading English skills are factors that I do see on judges decisions. The judge also looks at medical records, statements, and some cases statements from the claimant's family/workplace. Every case is different and is very dependent on various factors.

Here is some information to get you started.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/links_disability.htm

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

It will take a while. Part of my job is to process SS Disability claims. In some cases, there are quick approvals (2 month turnaround), and there are some cases that take a very long time--years-- and unfortunately, the claimants pass away before any benefits are awarded.

I have seen clients with mental/anxiety/mood disorders get approved. There are just so many factors involved, it is so difficult to tell what gets approved quickly, and what doesn't.

I will say a claimants age, job history, education, speaking/reading English skills are factors that I do see on judges decisions. The judge also looks at medical records, statements, and some cases statements from the claimant's family/workplace. Every case is different and is very dependent on various factors.

Here is some information to get you started.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/links_disability.htm

Thank you Cindy. From what I understand, the state of NC is so backlogged, they have had to bring in judges from other states just to help out. I am not expecting a quick decision in my favor. I have been told by several people, not to give up, no matter how many times I am denied. I believe the SSA just wants to weed out the people who are filing just to see if they can get it, and believe that the people who won't give up, honestly feel they have a legitimate disability that prevents them from working. I don't think someone can be out of work for years unless they really do have a medical issue that prevents them from working...it's just not worth the lost income to the people who give up fairly quickly. I have no choice. If I NEVER get approved, I will still be unable to work.

 

[AtlantaSue]

I used to practice as a Social Security attorney many years ago. My experience at that time was that mental illnesses were not usually approved upon first application, or then even at the 2nd level. The 3rd time, however, was when you got a hearing before a judge and if the evidence indicated that you could not hold down a full time job then you would get approved. By evidence, I usually mean a letter from your doctor along w/ supporting medical records. Definitely don't give up, and good luck!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I used to practice as a Social Security attorney many years ago. My experience at that time was that mental illnesses were not usually approved upon first application, or then even at the 2nd level. The 3rd time, however, was when you got a hearing before a judge and if the evidence indicated that you could not hold down a full time job then you would get approved. By evidence, I usually mean a letter from your doctor along w/ supporting medical records. Definitely don't give up, and good luck!

I don't know if you are speaking to me specifically, but I really appreciate this information. I have years of documentation...pretty much a full decade of severe depression, anxiety etc. I have my family dr, psychiatrist and psychologist records that can prove I have tried to work for years, and have had an increasingly difficult time working. My employer can vouch for this as well. The older I get, the more major depressive episodes I am experiencing. I have been on FMLA for 2 years in a row, my FMLA is now exhausted for this year, I was told that after the FMLA, there is nothing keeping my job safe. And I know this is true..the dept I work with deals with FMLA on a regular basis for a Fortune 50 company. So I know the ins and outs. They have put me on a personal leave while I attempt to get short term disability. If I get it, then I will remain on a personal leave until the STD runs out. Then I will be terminated. And I'm ok with this, it's not personal. My dept is understaffed as it is. They really need to replace me because they need the help. They have worked with me all they can, but it's not enough to keep me as a productive employee...my fault, not theirs. I will be leaving in good graces, which is very important to me. I have worked for this company for 7 years and it's been the best job I have ever had. I just cannot deal with the stress anymore.