I’m currently trying to track down a Social Security disability attorney who has experience filing for people who have bipolar disorder. (They’re like cops - there’s never one around when you need one.) I plan on interviewing the attorney and posting a Q&A here on strategies and tips. Here are some of the questions I plan on asking: (more…)
An intense period of mania or depression can make you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck. You may feel exhausted. You may be unable to concentrate or remember certain details. You may become intolerant of colleagues and others you must deal with on the job. Your family life is also very likely to be chaotic and stressful.
Unfortunately, if you can walk into your local Social Security office, talk to the receptionist, and complete the paperwork, the Social Security Administration is likely to conclude that you don’t qualify for Social Security disability benefits. (In a previous post, “Are You Disabled?” Joe, my co-author, points out just how difficult the Social Security Administration makes it to qualify for disability.) (more…)
My wife feels disabled. She used to teach junior high school Spanish full time for over $60,000 per year. She can no longer work as a full-time teacher, because the stress triggers mania. Believe me, she tried several times to return to teaching, and each time she experienced a serious breakdown. (more…)