Depression is a formal mental health diagnosis that, more often than not, requires professional support. It may affect cognitive functions like memory and decision-making. It can also disrupt everyday activities like socialization, school, or work.
If you have received a diagnosis of depression, and your symptoms interfere with your ability to earn an income, you may be able to file for disability benefits.
You can claim disability for depression under both the ADA and the SSA, although the coverage and support they offer is different.
This article discusses the requirements for disability under the ADA and SSA and how you can claim it when you live with symptoms of depression.
ADA support for depression
Major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression, is considered a disability under ADA. Other conditions that may involve symptoms of depression, like bipolar disorder and personality disorders, are also considered disabilities.
The ADA is a federal civil rights law that aims to protect you against discrimination in the workplace if you live with a disability. It allows for workplace accommodations, protection from harassment, and the right to privacy.
Under the ADA, disability refers to any physical or mental condition that impairs your ability to engage in one or more major life activities.
Major life activities may include sleeping, learning, remembering information, interacting with others, or focusing on a task.
To qualify, you need a documented history of how your disability negatively affects your life. This report may be a statement you make yourself, or it can involve family, colleagues, friends, or medical professionals.
You do not have to file any paperwork to receive protections under ADA. If you meet the requirements, you are already protected at work.
If you believe you have been discriminated against due to your diagnosis of depression, or your request for reasonable accommodations has been denied or ignored, you may file a civil rights violation complaint under the Department of Justice. You may use this online form. You may also do this on behalf of someone else.
SSA support for depression
Depression is considered a disability under the SSA if you meet a series of criteria and requirements. Providing proof of the severity of your symptoms is key when claiming SSA disability.
The SSA offers financial assistance if you live with a disability that prevents you from finding or staying in a job to earn your living.
To claim disability for depression under the SSA, you must provide documentation from a mental health professional. The report must explain that you have received a depression diagnosis and that you experience at least five of these symptoms:
- recurrent low mood and energy
- difficulty enjoying leisure activities or experiencing joy in general
- changes in your appetite
- changes in your sleep cycle
- difficulty recalling information and focusing on a task
- feelings of hopelessness and guilt
- changes in body movements, like moving slower or quicker than usual
- thoughts or attempts to end your life or hurt yourself
The mental health professional must attest that these symptoms are severe and persistent and that you have experienced them for at least 1 year.
If the medical report does not state this, it must instead say you live with extreme impairment in one area of cognitive function or a notable impairment in two areas of cognitive function, including:
- managing your basic needs like hygiene, feeding, and sleeping
- concentrating on a task or keeping other people’s pace
- remembering information
- applying what you learn
- understanding new information
- interacting with other people
How to claim disability under SSA
You may apply to one of two programs under SSA:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Claiming under SSDI
To claim disability for depression under the SSDI, you must have worked in one or more jobs that pay into Social Security. This work must be recent and long enough to have collected at least 40 work credits.
Work credits are based on your wages or income. In 2023, you get one credit for each $1,640 you make in income. You can earn a maximum of four credits per year. Younger workers may qualify for SSDI disability with fewer credits.
SSDI will send you a monthly check based on how much you’ve earned in the past. In 2023, the average payment is $1,483 per month.
SSDI does not offer assistance for partial or short-term disability. You need to prove your depression symptoms have lasted and are expected to last for at least 12 months.
The SSDI program is not available for people over retirement age. If you already receive SSDI benefits when you reach retirement age, you will continue getting the same amount of money under the retirement benefits rubric.
Your dependents may be able to apply separately for SSDI disability if they can prove you cannot provide needed financial care because of your disability.
Claiming under SSI
To claim disability for depression under the SSI program, you need to:
- have a documented history of your disability or be age 65 years or over
- have permanent residence in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands
- be a U.S. citizen or a qualified noncitizen
- prove you have limited income and resources (usually under $2,000, including all of your assets)
The SSI program provides monthly financial assistance for housing, food, and clothing.
To verify if you meet the basic requirements to claim disability for depression, you may use the online benefit eligibility screening tool.
To apply for disability benefits, you can complete the online form or call 800-772-1213 (TTY: 800-325-0778) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What happens after approval?
If you are approved under the SSA to receive disability benefits for depression, your case will be reviewed every 12 months.
To avoid being denied future benefits, you must show yearly documentation proving that your condition remains the same and continues affecting major life activities.
Do disability benefits include depression treatment?
Claiming disability under the ADA may allow you to take time off work to attend psychotherapy sessions or have some recharge time. ADA protections do not include financial or treatment assistance, though.
If you are approved for disability benefits under the SSA, you may be able to get Medicare assistance even if you are under age 65. You may need to receive SSA benefits for 24 months before getting Medicare assistance and have someone perform an individualized assessment of your needs.
Medicare coverage includes hospital, physician, and community-based services.
In some cases, depression treatment may involve taking medications. These may include:
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), and citalopram (Celexa)
- serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like nortriptyline (Pamelor), amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil)
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) like bupropion (Wellbutrin)
If you receive SSA and Medicare benefits, you may enroll in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to receive some financial support for these medications. You will still be responsible for a copayment.
If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.
