I would imagine it should be possible. Have you spoken to an attorney yet just for a free consult? Also, check the SSA website for specific info about depression. Your being able to do volunteer work as much as you are could stand in your way but then we are allowed to draw benefits and work a certain amount so you still may be alright. But, I would bet that SS would deny you if you are able to be at your volunteer position on specific days and times. Please know this is only my humble opinion. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

Ppl get disability for depression. I would imagine you would have to have a good documentation of the severity of it. I hope that you get your benefits soon.

Also, def don't inform ssdi that u do voleenter work b/c they will use that to say u can work, even though u and i know ppl with chronic illness can do some one day and nothing the next.

That will work alright about not mentioning the volunteer work unless you are sworn in for your hearing. Then you would perjure yourself and then SSA would be the least of your worries. Its been awhile since I have filled out any of those forms but they may have a statement for you to sign saying that the info you have given them is the truth. So be careful and run this by your attorney for advice. But I guess i had such a horrible experiences and have heard of so many others.
Even if you had to stop it for awhile, you could possibly start again on e you are approved. On the other hand, if you have issues with depression then it seems that doing volunteer work would be good for you because when we deal with depression we often pull away from others and that can only make it worse.(or at least I have found that to be so for myself)

please keep us posted.

I'm waiting my results at the reconsideration level. I have a lawyer who will help me get SSI.

Mona, the reality is that depression is what people try to claim to get disability who aren't really disabled. So you can get it but it is tough. Disclose your volunteer work because unlike what others are saying, it can actually help you. You can get the people you work with to fill out paperwork on your behalf. There are special considerations made for volunteer work and it is treated differently than paid work. If you have difficulty at your volunteer job, it can actually help you. The govt is not as stupid as people think. They recognize that volunteers are hard to come by and so agencies will let you keep volunteering even if you're not reliable. If you don't believe me, request the info using the Freedom of Information Act and ask for special working conditions considerations when evaluating period of disability. There is a disability blue book you can look at online that can help you know what they look for when evaluating your case. If you can understand that, you don't need an attorney to take $6k of your dollars. The reason why there are so many SSA attorneys is because all they do is order med records, maybe speak at your hearing, and then get $6k of your money up to $12k if you get both SSA and SSI. And then they still charge you for ordering your medical records.
You know what special knowledge they have? That most people apply to soon and it takes getting to the hearing phase so you can prove the condition has lasted one year per requirement of law. So they are in the perfect position to make money for doing no work. That's the dirty little secret of SSA claims and attys. And you may wonder why they get away with it. Because lawyers are the ones that end up in Congress and write the laws.
If you want some help, I will be happy to help you for free. Take a look at the disability blue book and message me if you have any questions. I think I may actually start working as a non-atty rep. It's the easiest gig out there.

Unfortunately, the SSA does seem to "listen up" better when a person gets an attorney. The attorney, (if they are good) will know all the agles needed to represent you in a way that the Law Judge will listen and understand. They have the experience in front of them and know what they do and do not look at. Unless a person is VERY diabled it would be hard to represent yourself, there is just not the respect.

Not sure what you mean by "working as a non-atty rep" ??? Or if that is even legal to do that unless it is volunteer, you would have no credentials that would cause people to trust you with their case is why.

Barbie, it is perfectly legal for someone who is not an attorney to work as a representative. its like having an accountant that used to work for the IRS doing your taxes. In many ways, I am more qualified than an attorney because I know the system in and out. And attorneys do nothing but order med records and maybe speak at hearing. The sad fact is that most those attorneys don't now the law as well as the SSA employees. So yes, it is legal. And having insider knowledge got my disability claim approved first time around. How many attorneys can say that?
Why wouldn't you want someone who had access to information not even available under the Freedom of Information Act?

Oh and Barbie, you're right. There is absolutely no difference in the way SSA handles a claim that is atty repd versus no atty on file. The have no reason to be scared of attorneys like insurance companies do. They can't sue SSA for mishandling a claim. So SSA reps that decide these claims don't care whether an atty is on file or not. It is only shown on one screen that they never access while making the decision. It is only used to make sure info is given only to authorized persons. So no, there is absolutely no value in having an atty until they speak at the hearing. I can't tell you how many people get mad because the attorneys don't even have to speak at the hearing because the ALJ can see that enough time has passed to prove the disability. Then they call us demanding that we not pay the attorney because the attorney didn't do any work. Not our problem if they believe all the ridiculous lies the attorney told them.

If you have been a psych ward you need those papers definately, they are paramount to receiving disability.