Is Bipolar Disorder A Disability

Bipolar disorder affects many aspects of the person’s life. Many people with bipolar mood disorder can lead productive lives despite their struggle with the disorder. Often, bipolar disorder interferes with the afflicted person’s ability to work. Many people with bipolar disorder don't realize that if the condition interferes with the ability to work, they may be eligible for Disability from the United States government. Here is an explanation of Social Security's five-step process to determine if bipolar disorder qualifies for Social Security Disability Income.

First, the Social Security Administration determines if an individual is currently "working (engaging in substantial gainful activity)" according to the SSA definition. Earning more than $860 a month as an employee is enough to be disqualified from receiving Social Security disability benefits.

Then, the Social Security Administration looks at the severity of impairment that the bipolar disorder has caused. The bipolar disorder disability must be severe enough to significantly limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to do most jobs. In order to be classified as a disability, the bipolar disorder must limit the person’s ability to walk, stand, sit, lift, see, hear, speak, understand simple instructions, use good judgment, interact appropriately with coworkers and supervisors, and deal with changes in a routine work setting.

The third step asks if the bipolar disability meets or equals a medical listing. Bipolar is listed under mental disorders. To satisfy the listing criteria for bipolar disorder a list of symptoms are used as a criteria. The symptoms are anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), appetite or sleep disturbances, psychomotor agitation, decreased energy, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or thinking, thoughts of suicide or hallucinations, and delusions or paranoid thinking. The also judge if the bipolar disorder causes restrictions of activities of daily living, impairs social functioning, causes deficiencies of concentration, affects persistence or pace, and the existence of repeated episodes of decompensation, or inability to maintain normal or appropriate psychological defenses, of an extended period of time.

Step four explores the ability of an individual to perform work he has done in the past despite his bipolar disorder disability. If Social Security Administration concludes that a person can do his past work, benefits are denied. If the person cannot, then the process proceeds to the fifth and final step. The last thing that the Social Security Administration looks at age, education, work experience and physical and mental condition to determine what other work, if any, the person can perform.

To determine disability, Social Security Administration enlists vocational rules, which vary according to age. For someone under the age 50 and, as a result of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, unable to perform what Social Security Administration calls sedentary work, then they will reach a determination of disabled. Sedentary work requires the ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds at a time, sit six hours, and occasionally walk and stand two hours per eight-hour day.

For people age 50 or older and, due to his bipolar disorder disability, limited to performing sedentary work but has no work-related skills that allow them to find such employment, they will be considered disabled. For people over age 60 and, due to his bipolar disorder disability unable to perform any of the jobs he performed in the last 15 years, the Social Security Administration will likely reach a determination of disabled. If someone of any age has a psychological impairment that prevents even simple, unskilled work, the Social Security Administration will reach a determination of disabled.

Some people think there is some shame attached to going on disability. There is a stigma attached to being labeled as disabled. But, if someone honestly puts forth the effort to work and cannot, Disability is there for them. That is what Disability is for. There is no shame in taking care of yourself and your family.

Next article: Bipolar Disorder - Mental Illness or Medical Condition