Social Security Disability Advice Group

make a difference. My sister was hospitalized when she was 17 (back in 1997) for attempted suicide. She was in the ICU for about two weeks. This was all due to depression. I am in the process of applying for her and didn't know if it would be a good idea to send in the records if they were that long ago.

I would send in any medical records you have, no matter how old they are. Of course the most recent records will be the most important to SSA, but it would help her case if she could show a pattern of depression over many years.

I doubt they'll help. I was diagnosed with Lupus many years ago, and since the rheumatologist feels my main culpret is Fibromyalgia at the moment... the court wouldn't/didn't go back that far. BUT- I do agree- send in whatever you have. It certainly isn't going to hurt. And each judge is different, so maybe, just maybe- her judge will look at that.

I would send them, better to submitt than not to, and regret it later. These records may be useful-if they can show since that incident there has been a consistant pattern of depression..that has affected her ability to work from that incident to current. Basically SS is determined on current disability that would prevent her from Substantial Gainful Activies and working for more than 12 months. Mental Health disability is difficult in that it can be highly subjective, so it is most important to have as much documentation as possible to support the claim.

I would definitely send them in. It shows that she's been suffering from depression for a long time. You have to be disabled for at least 12 months for SS to approve you. Any bit of information helps.

She has suffered since she was a child. Like most people, she was in denial. Even after her suicide attempt (at 17 y/o now she is 30 y/o) she never seek for any kind of help till this summer in June 2010.