I applied back in, oh, June or July and the process is still going on.... you can look online for the number, and apply over the phone, the schedule you with a phone interview, and you have to bring in a few items (like your birth certificate and such). I'm not getting it yet, but hopefully will soon. It's easy to apply, just takes a while to be approved!! They'll tell you everything that you need to obtain and bring in, what appts you have to go to and all that.

Social Security Admin.
General Info
1-800-772-1213

I suggest you visit the closest office,make an appt.The process is a little time consumeing,but I found the case workers very helpfull,not judgemental at al.
I had to apply 2x.
Bipolar is a legal reason to recieve SSDI.

Yes ,you will be able to work part time....but there is a limit to how much you can earn(i'm not sure what that amount is).
Regardless,you can get SSDI with a DX of bipolar.
You won't make very much,and live at poverty ...but it's better than not being able to work at all.

My biggest hold up in aplying ,was pride......don't get caught up in that .If you need Social Assistance to care for your self...go get it.
That's better than loseing it all,and ending up living under the bridge!

Along with my military retirement, I also receive SSDI. You apply at the Social Security Office just like everyone else. I would suggest making an appointment so you can sit down and take your time with the application process. When you go, have all of the names of phone numbers of your doctors with you because that will be asked for. Don't be discouraged if you are denied the first time....just keep appealing. Further, there are lawyers who can represent you as well.


Jim

Call social security office and ask for an application to apply for ssdi. The application process was a little complicated, a lot of paperwork. Got it on my first try. Been told I was lucky. Hang in there, your entitled to it. Best of luck.

what is the difference between ssdi and ssd?

I think someone forgot the I.

SSDI=Social Security Disability Insurance.

It's diff than SSI

As soon as I was diagnosed with Bipolar II, my psychiatrist suggested that I apply for disability. I was too sick with Bipolar II to get to the Social Security office, but my local office got me started over the phone. My husband took my birth certificate into a different office that transferred a copy to my local office. I filled out the paperwork online at the Social Security website as quickly as I was able to. It took me at least a few weeks. Someone advised me to swallow my pride and let them know exactly how much difficulty I have had all my life keeping employed, and how severe my symptoms had been all my life. I had never been hospitalized for depression of bipolar, so I was informed that I was unlikely to be approved the first time I applied. After I submitted all of my paperwork, SSDI arranged an appointment with their psychiatrist for me to be evaluated. She simply asked me about my work history. I was obviously an intelligent, capable person at the time, so she saw no indication of disability.

SSDI has a certain number of weeks in which they have to reply to your complete application. That is exactly how long it took them to reject my case.

The rejection was followed with a packet of paperwork regarding appealing the decision. I was in such a depressed funk at that time, I did not have the intelligence to make any sense out of the papers. I called a random lawyer listed in the yellow pages and met with her. She took over the paperwork. That was a year ago January. She gets a percentage of the money that I could receive as compensation from the time when I was unable to work. In other words, the longer the process takes, the more money she makes. What a system... However, the more money I get, the better she is paid...and the better her case is for me to get disability payments, the more likely she is to be paid. In other words: no disability, no pay.

I just got a letter advising me that I will be notified at least 20 days before my court date. My lawyer told me that this means that the hearing will be in a month or two. She will meet with me the day before the hearing. (I don't like that part; how can we be well-prepared?)

I asked my psychiatrist and therapist what they think the chances are of my "winning". They said that my Mood Charts and the clinical record should present a clear record of my being unable to work. So, now I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next step...

i got ssdi on my first try. but i listed my psychiatrist's and all my hospital stays. and how much i missed work due to it. my hubby also had paperwork to fill out on how my handling of things at home got. the more information you have for ssdi case workers, the easier it is for them. i was one of the lucky ones, i didnt have to meet with their psychiatrist, and got it on my first try.

someone asked what is the difference between ssdi and ssi. well ssdi amounts are based on your work history. based on how much you put into the system. ssi is for people who don't have a work history, or only get a little of ssdi. it is based more on household income, what you get. where as ssdi, it doesnt matter what your spouse makes.

I am in the process of getting social security, I applied in June, and should have a decision soon. I applied online, never had to go in for an interview. I contacted all of my docs and had them fax copies of all of my relevant medical records to me. You will have to go into the social security office, they need your birth certificate, drivers license, any medical records you have.

The fact that I was able to provide medical records along with everything else, it helped speed things up.

I hope this helps, good luck.

Well what I did was make an appt over the phone. I did not have to go anywhere and they ask me all the questions.

I had to meet with their Gdoc and Pdoc. They spoke with all my Docs and hospital visits.

I applied in April and accepted in August. Not sure about the working. I don't work just volunteer.

hope I helped.

Oh and keep up on them.

I've been on Disability for two years now. I would highly reccomend that you go into an office and get the application filled out with one of their staff. That way the paper work is done properly and you won't be asked to re-do parts which boggs down the process. Have all medical info with you at appt time but don't worry too much because they have the information available to them. Also, they are going to want any hosp, pdoc's and T's to fill out paper work of your behalf. Although I signed releases at application time, my hosp would not release any info unless I filled out "their" release forms. You can help "speed" your end of the process by making phone calls on your behalf. You'll also get letters to let you know who has sent back paper work or not.... keep on top of it before the letters come. It can be a long and drawn out process so if I had to do it all over again, I would be all over it doing what I could instead of waiting for the letters. If you don't get approved... don't give up... appeal!!