Posted: July 29, 2012
Winning a Social Security Disability Insurance application for depression and anxiety is often difficult without the help of an attorney. The reason for that is the Social Security Administration is looking for some very specific information. They employ their own doctors who are seemingly slanted towards finding little if any work limitations even in cases of severe anxiety and depression.
Your own psychologist or psychiatrist may not think you can work, but they probably do not know the magic forms and words that the Social Security Administration is looking for. And often their records are close to illegible. As an experienced Social Security Disability Insurance attorney I know what evidence you need to be able to win your case and can seek that information from your Doctor.
Social Security has a listing for these disorders. If you can get the evidence you fit into the listing this can be determinative of a winning case. But the language of the listing is not easy. For instance the following relates to "affective disorders" such as depression:
12.04 Affective disorders: Characterized by a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life; it generally involves either depression or elation.
The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.
A. Medically documented persistence, either continuous or intermittent, of one of the following:
1. Depressive syndrome characterized by at least four of the following:
a. Anhedonia or pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities; or
b. Appetite disturbance with change in weight; or
c. Sleep disturbance; or
d. Psychomotor agitation or retardation; or
e. Decreased energy; or
f. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; or
g. Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or
h. Thoughts of suicide; or
i. Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking; or ...
I have not included the full listing because it just gets more complicated. The source is listed below.
The key to winning is getting your doctor on board with the right language. I have been doing this for over thirty years. If you get denied do not lose heart. Call me Anthony Castelli Social security attorney in Cincinnati at 513-621-2345 local for a free consultation.
Source : http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm
Other Resources for Social Security Disability:
Short educational videos on winning steps in the SSI SSDI application process. www.castellilaw.com/social-security-disability-videos.html
Social security disability attorney Cincinnati blog http://socialsecuritydisabilityattorneycinci.blogspot.com/
by Anthony Castelli attorney
Cincinnati, Ohio
