Can You Get Disability Benefits for Depression

About 19 million Americans live with major depression. Major depression can be debilitating and require medication, therapy, and treatment.

Main Content

For many, depression affects the ability to function and prevents people from holding a steady job. When filing for disability benefits for major depression, you must understand what information the Social Security Administration considers.

What Social Security is Looking For?

Depression must be severe: Unlike physical impairments that can be proven with blood tests and x-rays, mental impairments are largely based on patient's complaints to mental health doctors. To prove depression, one should:

• See a mental health professional regularly
• Obtain and keep records of office visits
• Don't miss appointments or leave gaps in medical records
• Comply with treatment!

Lack of treatment suggests that the person is able to manage the depression and that it is not severe. Do not contribute to impairment by avoiding care.

Records Must Show Symptoms

Records must be consistent and show that 4 of the following symptoms have continued to exist despite treatment:

• Anhedonia or pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities;
• Appetite disturbance with change in weight;
• Sleep disturbance;
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation
• Decreased energy, feelings of guilt or worthlessness;
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking
• Thoughts of suicide, or hallucinations
• Delusions or paranoid thinking

Symptoms must persist for at Least 12 months. Valid claims for depression must show symptoms have lasted or will last at least 12 months.

Impact:

The effect that depression has on a person's ability to function is crucial. Applicants must show that the depression is affecting daily function and that they are not contributing to the disability.

• Sustain sobriety from drugs and alcohol at least 6 months prior to applying for disability
• Visit doctor regularly and obtain a supportive statement
• Take proscribed medication and comply with treatment

Proving disability with mental impairments is often more difficult than physical disabilities.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.