Bipolar Support Group

Working is becoming more and more difficult as time goes. I'm wondering if I have to quit my job first to apply for disability or if there is anyone who has gotten disability while they were working? Thanks for your help!

In my case, working made enough $ to pay the bills rather, disability through the state was only $667 a month.

how long did it take for you to get disability? Was it a long drawn out process?

I believe you do have to prove that you are disabled and unable to work because of your illness. I went on short term disability from my job for 6 months and then applied for ss disabilty. I was denied twice and hired a lawyer, who had a cow when I worked a job 4 days just to see if I could do it - but after 4 days I knew it was impossible. It took me a total of 2 years before I was approved and money got desperate a lot during those 2 years. I've had bi-polar for 30 years and had lots of history with doc's, hospitals and meds and after a judge reviewed my case right before I was to go in front of him he decided to go ahead and approve it. I worked 29 years and 20 of it as a nurse and today I know I made the right decision to stop working. My bi-polar was getting more and more difficult to manage and in most work places today companys don't have time to mess around with people out a lot and having issue's that interfere with company profit. I found myself job jumping a lot and getting fired was the worst everytime.

I know after I got ss disability they did say I could work and make so much but I don't know what that's about. I was thinking of maybe taking a computer graphic classes at the community college and maybe one day I could do a little something from home. Getting up and out everyday sounds simple but for me most days it just a lot.

Anyway not sure I helped but I will tell you I feel much better not having that stress in my life.

I'm like you.. everyday is harder and harder. I have trouble functioning and doing my job criteria. I really don't know how much longer I can do this! Thanks for your input. Does it always take so long to get approved? Anybody take less time?

SS disability can take a long time to be approved. Mine didn't take two years. More like one.

I applied over a1 1/2 years ago, and have not worked for more that 2 years. I was no longer functional in my job shortly after starting my meds again. My anxiety level was over the top , the ringing phones at work driving me crazy. I had panic attacks on the way to work, I even almost ran over 6 kids in a cross walk. Now that scared the devil out of me! Shortly after, I was such a mess that my pdoc very gently told me I couldn't work anymore. And he also told me NOT to drive, taking psych meds, I would be considered DUI if stopped for anything. That really sucks!

I couldn't get disability. I guess it's because I don't have a real disease.....

Bipolar has definately made holding jobs difficult for me at times-bipolar is distracting at work to say the least.

Good luck- I applied and got denied, then waited 2 yrs, applied again and got denied. I appealed it that time, and within 6 months got approved. They back dated my pay 1 yr prior to my first application date. I think the reason I was approved so fast was that I did not hire a lawyer, but I called SS once a week- no matter how long it took. I had not worked in 6 yrs, and had many hospitalizations, and the most important thing was the letter my psych wrote- that was the last record they got in my appeal, and it is what got my approval. Just stick with it- if you have tried your best and cannot work, it will be worth it. Also, you can call SS and ask them, but as of last year when I called for my mother in law, they said you could make $900-1000 a month and still apply for disability- I would call and ask the limits for 2011. Hope it works out for you!

In 2009 I got approved for disability after being denied one time. I applied for it mid year in 2007 so it took about a year and a half. If you have alot of records showing that you have been struggling with your illness you should have no problem getting it. The reason why I was denied the first time is because I didnt complete the forms I was given. My father had to complete them because I was in a psychotic mania. Good luck and be persistent. You will get disability if you dont give up.