By Chris Sharry on January 10th, 2025 in Disability, Disability Qualifying
Many individuals seek treatment for mental health conditions through therapy sessions and prescribed medication management. While many people with mental health conditions stabilize with treatment, there are others who continue to struggle and are unable to work on a full-time basis. Bipolar disorder is one such condition that can severely impact an individual’s ability to maintain employment.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). Hypomania is a less severe form of mania, but both can disrupt daily life.
During manic episodes, individuals may engage in activities that pose physical, social, or financial harm, such as reckless spending, gambling, or dangerous driving. Some people may also experience psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations, making it challenging to distinguish bipolar disorder from conditions such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Bipolar disorder often involves cyclical episodes of mania and depression, interspersed with periods of normal mood. Below are common signs and symptoms of both manic and depressive episodes.
Signs and Symptoms of Mania:
- Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
- Euphoric mood
- Extreme irritability
- Poor concentration
- Racing thoughts, rapid speech, and jumping between ideas
- Sleeplessness
- Heightened sense of self-importance
- Spending sprees
- Increased sexual behavior
- Substance abuse, including drugs or alcohol
- Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
- Denial that anything is wrong
Signs and Symptoms of Depression:
- Sad, anxious, or empty feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
- Guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, including sex
- Fatigue or decreased energy
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Restlessness and irritability
- Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or oversleeping)
- Changes in appetite, leading to unintended weight loss or gain
- Physical symptoms not caused by illness or injury
- Thoughts of death or suicide
How Bipolar Disorder is Evaluated for Social Security Disability
The Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews bipolar disorder under Listing 12.04, which outlines specific criteria for mood disorders. To qualify for disability benefits based on bipolar disorder, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Bipolar disorder, characterized by at least three of the following symptoms:
- Pressured speech
- Flight of ideas
- Inflated self-esteem
- Decreased need for sleep
- Distractibility
- Engagement in high-risk activities with potentially painful consequences
- Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
AND
- Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning:
- Understanding, remembering, or applying information
- Interacting with others
- Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace
- Adapting or managing oneself
OR
- The disorder is “serious and persistent,” with:
- A medically documented history of at least two years, and
- Evidence of ongoing treatment, therapy, or support in a highly structured setting that diminishes symptoms, along with minimal capacity to adapt to environmental changes or demands.
Legal Assistance for Bipolar Disorder Disability Claims
Living with bipolar disorder can present significant challenges, particularly when symptoms make it difficult or impossible to maintain full-time employment. If you or a loved one is struggling with bipolar disorder and considering applying for Social Security Disability benefits, navigating the application process can be complex. The attorneys at Sharry & Monfette have extensive experience assisting clients in securing the benefits they need. Contact Attorney Sharry today to discuss your case and get the guidance you need to move forward with confidence.
