Can I Claim Disability for Bipolar Disorder in TX?

When Social Security Disability Offers a Financial Lifeline

You can claim disability benefits for bipolar disorder, but you have to show that you meet Social Security’s definition of disability:

You can’t work your current or most recent job due to your health.
You’re unable to work any job at all because of bipolar disorder.
Your symptoms will keep you from working a substantial amount for 12 months or longer.

It isn’t easy to meet these criteria, partly because you have to prove every point with evidence.

The disability attorneys of Morgan Weisbrod have spent more than 50 years helping Texans win Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Benefits can give you an economic foundation to better manage your health and well-being.

Bipolar disorder is harder for others to see and understand than some other health issues, which can make proving your bipolar disability benefits claim more challenging. But don’t assume you can’t have a successful claim.

We understand how debilitating your symptoms can be. We’ll help you make your case to Social Security. We help from the very first steps of this process and stay by your side if you need to appeal.

Our Texas disability attorneys know how Social Security Disability works. We’ve helped thousands of people win their claims. Disability law is all we do.

When you work with Morgan Weisbrod, you can be confident that your bipolar disability claim is in good hands.

And you won’t pay an attorney fee until you win benefits.

When Does Social Security See Bipolar Disorder as a Disability?

Bipolar disorder is listed in Social Security’s “blue book” of health impairments, under listing “12.00 Mental Disorders – Adult.”

Because bipolar is recognized in that listing, claims examiners have a specific way of evaluating bipolar disorder claims and determining whether your symptoms are severe enough to stop you from working—which qualifies you for disability benefits.

The first thing that the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks for is that you suffer from at least three of the following symptoms:

Pressured speech
Distractibility
Decreased need for sleep
Inflated self-esteem
Flight of ideas
Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences that you don’t recognize
Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation

Then you need to show that you meet one of the following sets of rules:

1. You have an extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two of the following areas of mental functioning:

A. Understanding, remembering or applying information

B. Interacting with others

C. Concentrating, persisting or maintaining pace on a task

D. Managing your everyday behavior and adapting to changes around you

2. Your bipolar disorder is “serious and persistent,” meaning you have a medically documented history of this mental health issue over at least two years and evidence of both of these situations:

A. You are receiving medical treatment and mental health therapy on an ongoing basis and seeing your bipolar disorder symptoms decrease.

B. You are struggling to adapt to changes in your environment or demands that are not already part of your daily life, despite the treatment.

Don’t give up on your claim because you’re not sure if you meet these exact standards.

A mental health condition can make it hard to work and support yourself even without the exact issues on this list. And inability to work is the key qualification for Social Security Disability.

The Texas disability attorneys at Morgan Weisbrod have long experience connecting people’s mental health symptoms to what they need to function in a job.

Sometimes you have too much energy and can’t stay on task. Other days you’re too exhausted to handle any work responsibilities. Some days you might be too depressed to even leave the house.

We’ll help you talk about your symptoms and how they interfere with your daily routine, so you can meet Social Security’s general definition of disability.

Get started with a FREE bipolar disorder disability claim evaluation.

What Facts Do I Need to Qualify for Disability for Bipolar Disorder?

Simply telling the SSA that you experience symptoms of bipolar disorder won’t be enough.

You need to back up your disability claim with evidence and information about exactly how your symptoms affect your ability to work and support yourself.

When you’re ready to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, take these steps:

Step #1: Consider how your symptoms impact your ability to work.

The more specific you can be about your symptoms and how they interfere with work tasks, the better.

Does your bipolar disorder make it difficult to stick with a task? Is it hard for you to remember instructions and important information? Can you communicate well with members of the public, coworkers or supervisors?

Answers to questions like these can strengthen your claim.

Step #2: Think about how your symptoms impact your daily life.

How your bipolar disorder makes other, non-work tasks more difficult is relevant, too.

Do you struggle to do household chores, take care of yourself, manage personal business or run errands on your own?

This gives Social Security a more complete picture of what you’re going through.

Step #3: Sort through your medical records.

This can be tedious, especially if you’ve seen multiple doctors for your disorder, but it’s a crucial step.

You’ll want to have reports from psychiatrists or psychologists who have treated you, results of any psychological testing you’ve undergone, descriptions of therapies you have pursued and a list of medications you take and their effects.

It’s important to have information about treatments you’ve tried and how they’ve affected your symptoms.

Step #4: Gather any other evidence that can make your claim more persuasive.

You should be prepared to gather evidence of any disruptions to your work, like missing workdays or taking on a reduced workload due to your bipolar disorder.

Statements from friends, family members and coworkers who have witnessed your health struggles can also back up what you say about the ways bipolar disorder disrupts your life.

Putting together a convincing Social Security Disability claim for bipolar disorder takes significant work, but our Texas disability lawyers can help you with every step.

When Should I Talk to a Dallas Disability Lawyer?

You don’t have to wait until you’re denied disability benefits to talk to a Dallas disability lawyer from Morgan Weisbrod.

Some firms tell you to apply for benefits on your own and come back if you’re unsuccessful, but we think it’s important to build a strong bipolar disorder disability claim from the beginning.

Bipolar disorder symptoms are highly distracting, making the work of a disability claim more difficult.

You should have a reliable supporter. A Texas disability lawyer can:

Help you fill out SSA application forms accurately and completely
Identify evidence that can strengthen your bipolar disability claim
Answer questions you have about Social Security Disability benefits
Identify specific job duties that your symptoms interfere with
Support your appeal if Social Security denies your initial application for benefits
Keep you aware of important SSA deadlines
Represent you at your disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge
Ask the Social Security Appeals Council to review your case, if necessary
File an appeal in Federal District Court, if necessary

We can’t promise that this process will be easy, but we can promise our team will be there to help you through it.

Morgan Weisbrod is one of the top disability firms in Texas measured by how much we win in benefits for our clients.

We help people in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Plano, Garland, Tyler and across the state of Texas win disability benefits and get back on steadier ground.