MIND-BODY CONNECTION: DEPRESSION AND ITS ROLE IN MAXIMIZING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
While it is certainly possible to receive social security based upon one impairment alone, it is not likely. Most cases are won by individuals suffering from multiple impairments, both physical and mental. The fact is, our mind and body are connected and chances are if one isn’t functioning correctly, the other is also impacted.
Indeed, claimants who suffer from a severe disabling condition almost always have accompanying depression and/or anxiety. When you consider the effects of a serious injury or condition, this outcome should be expected. Serious injuries and medical conditions inevitably lead to altered work routines, additional financial pressure because of lack of income, as well as changes in the types of social, athletic and recreational activities in which you can engage. This creates stress and anxiety which can be disruptive in personal and family relationships.
Moreover, the strong medications used to treat chronic pain often effect sleep patterns and even cognition. Lack of sleep combined with powerful pain medications can affect concentration- many patients have described feeling like they are in a fog, or just "not themselves" any more.
It should come as no surprise that serious physical disabilities are often accompanied by depression and anxiety. What you may not realize, is that it is crucial these mental health symptoms are included in the social security disability application. In determining whether an individual’s physical or mental impairment are of a sufficient severity in order to be eligible for social security benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) must consider in accordance with the law (42 USC § 423(d)(2)(B) the combined effect of all of the individual’s impairments.
This means that social security must and will consider both your physical and mental impairments. The strongest cases provide documentation of both physical and mental effects to demonstrate the full scope of impact upon the patient. Even if your mental impairment is not enough to qualify you alone, it will be taken into consideration as part of the big picture.
So, what does it mean to you? People suffering from a serious injury or condition should seek out and begin mental health counseling. It is important for your overall health, and it is absolutely necessary to your social security claim. Documentation wins the case- in the legal sense, if it is not documented in a medical record, it doesn’t exist. While social security certainly will take into consideration your testimony and even the testimony of others, medical documentation is the strongest support for your case.