Depression is a disability SSA recognizes.
When depression is severe enough to keep you from working reliably, it can qualify for Social Security disability. We document the functional limits that prove it.
How SSA evaluates a depression claim.
Depression is evaluated under SSA’s mental-disorders listings. Mental conditions are one of the largest categories of disability approvals — but they’re also among the most under-documented, because people don’t always seek consistent treatment.
The functional test is what matters. SSA looks at four areas: understanding and memory; interacting with others; concentrating, persisting, and maintaining pace; and adapting or managing yourself. A marked limitation in two, or an extreme limitation in one, can establish disability.
Consistent mental-health treatment — therapy notes, medication management, hospitalizations if any — is the backbone of a depression claim. Statements from providers and family about your day-to-day functioning add critical weight.
How SSA evaluates depression claims.
SSA evaluates the functional impact of your condition — how it limits your ability to sustain full-time work — not the diagnosis alone.
Depression-related limitations SSA evaluates.
These are the functional limitations that most often determine whether a depression claim is approved.
Concentration and pace
Depression often makes it impossible to sustain focus for a full workday. We document how it affects your ability to stay on task and meet a normal pace.
Reliability and attendance
Frequent bad days, missed appointments, and an inability to maintain a schedule are central to many winning claims — most jobs don’t tolerate regular absences.
Interacting with others
If depression limits your ability to deal with coworkers, supervisors, or the public, that narrows the jobs you could realistically perform.
Winning disability for depression: what we do.
Disability law is all we do. Here’s how we build a depression claim that wins.
Build the record
Compile your full mental-health treatment record — therapy, psychiatry, and medication history.
Functional opinion
Obtain a detailed functional opinion from your treating provider in SSA’s terms.
Hearing-ready
Prepare you to describe your limitations honestly and specifically at your hearing.
Depression SSDI questions.
Can I get disability for depression?
Do I need to be hospitalized to qualify?
What if I haven’t been in consistent treatment?
Can I qualify for depression along with a physical condition?
How does SSA decide if my depression is “severe enough”?
What does it cost to hire you?
Depression keeping you from working? Let’s review.
Free case review. No obligation. We respond within 2 business hours.