Bipolar Disorder can be an extremely taxing and frustrating disability to deal with. Characterized by periods of mania and extremely upbeat feelings, followed by episodes of severe depression or anxiety, this condition can take a heavy toll on the disabled person’s psychology and emotions. The last thing that an individual suffering from bipolar disability needs are financial difficulties and outstanding bills.
In fact, there are cases where bipolar disability becomes so severe that the one suffering from it can struggle with it and become unable to work, thereby losing out on the normal income. This position can create further mental stress and deteriorate the already existing condition. So, if you find yourself or a loved one in a similar situation, you may be wondering whether you are entitled to bipolar disability benefits, and if yes, how many disability benefits you are entitled to receive.
Bipolar disorder as a disability
To pay benefits for a medical condition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) must first ascertain whether your condition is disabling as per its criteria. Therefore, the SSA will consider various factors to determine whether a medical condition meets the definition of “disability.” This includes both medical and non-medical requirements.
- Work-related requirements: – For receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD) benefits, you must be “insured” as per the criteria set by the Social Security Administration, i.e., you worked for a certain length of time and paid a certain amount of your income in the Social Security system out of your earnings. If you did not do so, you are not eligible for SSD benefits. On the other hand, you can still apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits if you suffer from a disabling condition, and you also earn below the pre-defined income threshold.
- Medical requirements: – Apart from the work-related requirements, there are also some medical requirements set forth by the SSA to receive disability benefits for bipolar disorder. The SSA will generally consider bipolar disorder to be a disabling condition if the applicant can provide an accurate diagnosis and medical evidence aligning with the requirements of the Blue Book.
If you can establish both work-related and medical requirements, the SSA may approve you for disability benefits. At NY Disability, we can help you understand whether you meet the medical and non-medical criteria set by the SSA to win disability benefits.
The other question that arises is- how much money can you receive in bipolar disability benefits?
How are disability benefits determined?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not calculate your benefits according to the type of disability or the severity of the disability. Meeting the SSA standards qualifies you to win disability benefits, regardless of the severity and the level of the disability you suffer from. It will take into account your lifetime average earnings before you became disabled.
The SSA will refer to your earnings over a certain period. This number is referred to as the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). The SSA uses that amount in a formula to arrive at your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the basic amount used to calculate your benefits. Generally, SSD payments hover between $800 to $1,800 per month, though these amounts can be more or less depending on the circumstances.
The Social Security Administration also maintains an online benefits calculator. If you want to calculate what your potential monthly disability benefit may be, you can use this calculator. However, if you are serious about understanding the quantum of disability benefits that you may be entitled to receive, it is best to consult an experienced Social Security Disability (SSD) attorney who has the experience and the expertise to understand the bipolar disorder disability benefits that you can receive.
At NY Disability, we have a team of experienced SSD experts and attorneys who will carefully understand your financial standing and advise you according to your circumstances.
Consult NY Disability today for bipolar disorder disability benefits
We understand living with bipolar disorder condition can be tough and challenging. If you find yourself in such a situation, you should be focusing on your medical treatment, and therapies and seeking the support of your loved ones. In this condition, you should not be battling mental stress and anxiety about legal complications and financial handicaps. If you contact NY Disability, you will not have to worry about such issues anyway.
You can trust our experienced and talented SSD experts to handle your bipolar disorder disability benefits. We understand the ins and outs of the Social Security Disability law and will help you win the benefits you need and deserve. If you are ready to fight for the benefits you deserve, we are here to help. Call NY Disability today for a free case review and consultation.