[jesusplay]

I only have 9 months of records.

Got out of the military 110 days ago for an unrelated reason to my mental health.

Just got fired from my first civilian job for not showing up due to depression 2 weeks ago.

I feel I am disabled, my depression/bipolar is disabling.

Should I just wait a couple years of building up more medical records and being unemployed?

[Rohag]

Hello, Jesusplay! Did depression/bipolar or anything that could be interpreted as depression/bipolar ever come up during your military service? I strongly recommend you contact a veterans service organization (VSO: DAV, AMVETS, American Legion, etc.) and talk to one of their national service officers (NSO). They'll have excellent knowledge of the VA and good knowledge (usually) of Social Security. (free services)

[Gus1234U]

i hear it can take a couple of years to get in to see someone at the VA. in the meantime, if you apply for Social Security, the VA will deduct that from your military benefits. it's a total ring around...

as for Social Security, as far as i know, you need 2 doctors, (Pdocs will do), to say that your symptoms are so severe that you would be unable to tolerate working.

best wishes~
Gus

[sandysay]

Develop a mental health history. It doesn't seem like you have one yet. You should see a psych doc. Once you start seeing a psych doc and taking meds, it goes in your health/insurance records and establishes a history. Unfortunately, they don't take your word or look at the fact that you have a pattern of unempployment or being fired (even if it was b/c of your mental health).
They look if it can be measured medicallly, length of time, the degree of illness. How it affects social functioning, daily activities, concentration. If you have been hospitalized or suicidal (not necessary).

12.00-Mental Disorders-Adult

[Perna]

I would contact a SSDI/SSI benefits lawyer and ask them.

[CedarS]

I'd start the process now. Talk to VA, vets service organizations, and an attorney who works with social security too if that is an option.

You can start now. Report what you are going through. Find advocates and support. Get help figuring out the lay of the land - what is available, what the application process is.

In regards to social security, I didn't have to wait and build up a paper trail first, I started the application process, and social security sent me to doctors for evaluations. I eventually got a lawyer to help me through the process, I was denied the first time which many folks are. Lawyer made all the difference.

You don't need to suffer more in silence for years before applying. You can apply now.

[Rose76]

I've just gone through the process, successfully, after reading up a lot on what gets approved. I'ld say your case might seem a bit thin to the SSA right now. One of the things they like to see is an effort to get rehabilitated. Repeated failure strengthens the case that you can't work. But you might surprise yourself. The younger you are, the more possible it is that you might learn to cope, despite your bipolar condition. Just having that as a diagnosis is not considered disabling by the SSA. Many people with bipolar disorder work successfully.

I highly recommend working with a law firm. I used one of the nationally advertised ones that specializes in SSDI. If you call one of these firms, they will give you an idea of your chances. Basically, they won't take your case, unless they think you have a winning one. The law firms that I talked to seem to be very interested in how much medication I was on. Also, they are apt to ask if you have a doctor who sees you as disabled. (I did.)

Do establish a paper trail documenting treatment of your condition. Someday, that could prove invaluable. It did for me.