An estimated 9.5% of adults who are at least 18 years old suffer from a form of depressive illness in any given year. Of that segment of the American population, about 2.6% have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
If you have been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder that prevents you from working, you may qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income program of the Social Security Administration. The Clauson Law Firm has disability lawyers experienced in handling claims for SSD benefits. A question they are frequently called upon to answer has to do with the number of monthly benefits someone disabled by bipolar disorder receives in SSI or SSDI benefits.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Social Security dropped use of the terms “manic depression” and “manic-depressive disorder” and now refer to the mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings as bipolar disorder. The mania, which are the highs, include the follow:
- Aggressive or Reckless Behavior
- Impulsiveness
- Poor judgment
The mania alternates with periods of depression when the person’s mood shifts and exhibits the following:
- Feelings Of Sadness and Hopelessness
- Lack Of Physical and Mental Energy
- Thoughts Of Death and Suicide
- Loss Of Focus and Ability To Concentrate
You must have a diagnosis and treatment plan in order to apply for SSD benefits for bipolar disorder, and you must be taking any medications prescribed to help you cope with the condition and participating in therapy as recommended by your doctor.
Disability Benefits Available for Bipolar Disorder
Both SSI and SSDI pay benefits for someone disabled because of a bipolar disorder, but the amount of money that you get is quite different. Maximum monthly SSI benefit payment that you can receive in 2022 is $841. This is the federal benefit. You may receive more if the state where you live supplements the federal payment. An SSI lawyer at Clauson Law will review your claim and let you know how much you may expect as a state supplement, if any.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have worked for a long enough duration paying Social Security taxes on the income you earned to qualify for benefits through the SSDI program. Monthly benefits that you receive are calculated using the total lifetime earnings you accumulated. The more money that you earned and paid taxes on, the higher the monthly benefits available at full retirement age or through SSDI if you become disabled before reaching full retirement age.
Maximum SSDI payments available for someone in 2022 who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder is $3,345 per month. Your actual benefit payment may be less depending on the amount of your lifetime earnings.
Learn More About Disability Benefits and Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is among several physical and mental health impairments that Social Security includes in its Listing of Impairments that examiners use to determine whether you meet the definition of disabled to qualify for SSD benefits. Bipolar disorder is a listed condition, which means that you qualify for benefits if your impairment matches the criteria contained in the Listing of Impairments.
If it does not match, your SSD lawyer at Clauson Law Firm can help you qualify for benefits with evidence demonstrating that your bipolar disorder prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Learn more about available disability benefits and how to qualify for them during a free consultation with one of our disability lawyers.
Francis Babet loves pursuing excellence through writing and has a passion for Legal. He currently writes for The law Firm, a USA Based Law Firm that provides SSD, SSI, SSDI, Personal Injury, and Drugs and Devices. His work has been published on various sites related to Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income and more.
