Anyone on disability for bipolar?

My bipolar II disorder has gotten worse in recent years, my meds have increased, and I'm finding it increasingly hard to concentrate and get any work done in my professional field. I'm depressed a lot, don't sleep well, my mind is fuzzy, find myself missing important appointments and deadlines, and can't deal with conflict well anymore. Recently I've had to turn work away just because I knew I couldn't handle it.

I've always worked hard, and it goes against my grain, but I'm thinking of applying for disability compensation under a private disability policy I've carried for almost 30 years. Has anyone gone this route, and if so, what hurdles have you encountered?

I'm not even sure I can handle the details and stress of going through a probably adverse claims process.

My husband is currently going through the process. The first time we missed some paper work so we have to do everything paper version which takes a lot longer. His psy evaluator was horrible. If he gets denied he doesn't know whether he'll continue. Best of luck.

I was a professor and also had a private disability insurance policy - short term and long term. My pdoc wrote a note saying I had to go on medical leave of absence and I brought it to the Human Resources office. They took it from there. I went on short term disability. After six months it automatically switched to long term. After a semester and a half I returned to work 1/2 time and was okay but really didn't have much to do. The next semester I went back to full time and I lasted about 4 weeks before I had to go on leave again. After a year on disability, they required me to apply for social security disability. I was approved on the first try - applied online and never spoke to anyone. I think the things that helped was failing after returning from a leave, many hospitalizations, ECT, support from my pdoc, tdoc and case manager. Once SSD started, the private insurance decreased my payments from them to match what I got from SSD so there was no change in my income. The only difference is that now I get two checks at different times of the month instead of one. I have been on disability since 2005. After a few years the insurance company required an evaluation by their psychiatrist who saw me for 2 hours and then gave me the MMPI and other tests. He said I could go back to work at a low stress job, without contact with the public, and without a supervisor. Now, where do you find a job like that? They were going to stop my payments but my pdoc and tdoc wrote supporting my disability and they changed the decision. Every 2 years or so they require documentation from my doctor. Every time this comes up I collapse emotionally.

"Every time this comes up I collapse emotionally."

Yeah, I understand.

I can't try until failing at it because then I'll be sued for malpractice.

Every 2 years or so they require documentation from my doctor. Every time this comes up I collapse emotionally.

I hear you. The emotional progress I made was wiped out by this process. I was a wreck.

I don't think the powers that be understand how their bureaucratic maneuvers affect those with psych disorders. That kind of stress just destroys me, so I know how it affects others.

I hear ya. There is no failing in healthcare either.

I had to go on disability due to Bipolar II, plus some physical health issues such as fibro. I've been on it for eleven years. I was turned down the first time (standard practice) and then filled out the forms again, following someone's advice about spelling out exactly how my ailments kept me from performing. (Like having to sit in a chair to try to cook, not remembering appointments even when written down, etc.) Plus my psychiatrist and therapist wrote letters in support of me--and evidently did have me characterized as a true basket case. I also had to go through medical testing at a center specifically for approving or not approving Medicare. I soon got approval.

I have a feeling, though, that the government is getting even pickier about the process. My husband is also on disability due to Bipolar. They are putting him through the wringer about whether he still needs to be on it. I was even sent a lengthy form to fill out about him. That has me upset! I need to get busy and fill it out, but it's making me more depressed.

im wondering if they are getting pickier because the economic hardships these past few years in usa. otherwise i have no clue why. makes sense that they would for some reason though.

im dreading my disability review and just got disability way less than a year ago. about 6 months ago. i get nervous hearing others experiences getting disability because i never had to go through that. only a phone interview and got it. pretty much. but im wondering if ill go through that at review time. my review is in 2 1/2 years.

DId you actually get a notice that you would be reviewed in 2 1/2 years?...or do you just think that due to others' experiences? I never got an advance notice of a review, just the one page evaluation for a review.

on my approval letter it said ill be reviewed every 3 years and ive already had it 6 months. it should say when you get your approval letter. either 1 year or 3 years or 5-7 years or more. they calculate it based it on the condition and how severe your condition is.

It was 7 years before they sent me the initial survey and then the letter I received after sending the survey back said I wouldn't need a review. I don't remember the initial approval letter saying anything about a review but it could have. Been a long time to remember.

I know it's really hard to get Social Security disability, but my policy has an easier definition of disability, and I'm hoping they don't jack me around too much.

I don't deal with conflict well at all anymore, and dealing with conflict is a big part of my job. How do you explain to them that you can't work, in part, because you can't be enough of an asshole anymore?

It's at times like this that I hate being in a different nation to the majority of PC users, as here in the UK we have a good benefits system and yes I am on disability for my bipolar - Disability Living Allowance which is a benefit provided by the British government.

Hopefully it's still in some way helpful for me to say that yes as a bipolar patient with a complex medical history, I am "eligible" for disability payments (among others I chose not to claim because of the guilt of using tax payer's money).

RB