If you suffer from depression, you should know that it is one of the conditions that qualify for LTD in the United States, especially if your symptoms are severe or prevent you from working. You can use the online application to independently apply for Social Security disability benefits. Working with your healthcare physician or a lawyer may also be beneficial in some circumstances.
If you intend to submit a long-term disability claim for depression, take into account the following criteria:
Defining depression:
To be eligible for long-term disability for depression, a person must be clinically depressed. Depression is a mental disorder that, depending on the individual, can reflect itself in a variety of ways and results in persistent emotions of melancholy and hopelessness in daily life.
Among the prevalent indicators of depression to watch out for include a feeling of helplessness and lack of hope, decreased appetite or weight changes as a result of depression, cognitive issues, such as trouble communicating or concentrating, tiredness and lack of energy, emotional instability, and pessimism, reduced interest in activities, disrupted sleep cycles, such as insomnia or oversleeping, and suicidal thoughts.
Demonstrating depression:
Most often, proving depression can be rather challenging, and there is a chance that your claim will be denied or be eligible for long-term disability benefits for depression. The majority of insurance providers will ask you to provide documentation demonstrating your depression is a disability and that its symptoms have a detrimental effect on your profession.
To prove your condition to the insurance providers, you may provide direct medical evidence from your treating doctor, or documents such as the results of cognitive examinations that document the frequency of your symptoms and their intensity, neuropsychological assessments, or other medical documents.
Writing a list of your symptoms and submitting it to your insurance provider is another way to demonstrate how depression is preventing you from advancing in your profession. It will be easier for an insurance company to understand your condition and the reasons you are eligible for long-term disability insurance if you fully describe how each of the symptoms of depression affects your performance at work and what can make them worse.
Final thoughts:
Your chances of being approved will rise if you know how to back up your claim. An attorney for long-term disability may be able to assist you if you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms or if you have already been denied disability insurance coverage.
