Is Bipolar Disorder Considered a Disability by the SSA?

Yes, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes bipolar disorder as a legitimate disability and approves benefits for those whose condition is severe enough to meet the program’s requirements.

Living with bipolar disorder means dealing with extreme mood swings that can make holding down a job feel impossible. When depressive episodes drain your energy and motivation for weeks, or manic episodes send you into periods of risky decision-making and sleepless nights, maintaining steady employment becomes a real challenge.

Approximately 2.8% of U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder each year. What’s more concerning is that an estimated 82.9% of people with bipolar disorder experience serious impairment, making it one of the most disabling mental health conditions. The attorneys at The Keener Law Firm understand how devastating this condition can be and have extensive knowledge of how the Social Security Administration evaluates these claims.

How Does Social Security Evaluate Bipolar Disorder?

The Social Security Administration lists bipolar disorder under Section 12.04 of its Blue Book, which covers depressive, bipolar, and related disorders. The listing spells out the criteria the government will look for in assessing disability claims based on bipolar disorder. To meet this listing, you’ll need to show medical documentation of at least three specific symptoms during manic episodes or five symptoms during depressive episodes, along with proof that the condition severely limits your mental functioning.

For manic or hypomanic episodes, the required symptoms include

• pressured speech,
• flight of ideas,
• inflated self-esteem or grandiosity,
• decreased need for sleep,
• distractibility,
• involvement in activities with painful consequences that aren’t recognized,
• or an increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation.

For depressive episodes, you need at least five of these symptoms:

• depressed mood,
• diminished interest in almost all activities,
• appetite disturbance with change in weight,
• sleep disturbance,
• observable psychomotor agitation or retardation,
• decreased energy,
• feelings of guilt or worthlessness,
• difficulty concentrating or thinking,
• or thoughts of death or suicide.

Beyond proving symptoms, you must demonstrate that your bipolar disorder creates either an extreme limitation in one area of mental functioning or marked limitations in two areas.

These areas include

• your ability to understand, remember, or apply information,
• interact with others
• concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
• and adapt or manage yourself.

Can You Get Disability Benefits Without Meeting the Blue Book Listing?

Yes. Many people with bipolar disorder don’t meet the strict Blue Book criteria but they can still get benefits through what’s called a medical-vocational allowance. To win disability benefits through this approach, the SSA looks at how your symptoms prevent you from working, even if they don’t technically meet every listing requirement. The Keener Law Firm has helped countless clients who don’t meet a specific listing to win benefits by building strong cases that show exactly how bipolar disorder interferes with their ability to maintain employment.

For 2025, you cannot earn more than $1,620 per month to be considered for disability benefits. This threshold is called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If you earn more countable income than this threshold, the government will not view you as disabled.

The reality is that bipolar disorder often creates problems that don’t show up in standard medical records. You might have days where medication keeps symptoms manageable, followed by periods where breakthrough symptoms make working impossible. The unpredictable nature of mood episodes means you might miss work frequently or struggle with your productivity when your symptoms flare up.

What Are the Work History Requirements for Disability?

If you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you’ll need to have accumulated enough work credits over a significant time period, including recent work. In 2025, you earn one work credit for each $1,810 in wages, with a maximum of four credits per year. The number of credits you need depends on your age, but generally you’ll need 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a very different program that doesn’t require work credits but has strict income and resource limits. If you don’t have the required work credits for SSDI but you are disabled, you will likely be able to claim SSI benefits.

What Medical Evidence Do You Need for a Bipolar Disorder Claim?

Your medical documentation forms the backbone of your disability claim. The Social Security Administration wants to see consistent treatment with both a psychiatrist and a therapist. Records from emergency room visits during crisis episodes, hospitalizations, medication trials, and notes documenting how symptoms affect your daily functioning all provide strong support for your claim.

Treatment notes should include details about mood swings, how often they occur, how long they last, and what triggers them. You should also document your medication side effects because drugs used to treat bipolar disorder can cause weight gain, cognitive dulling, tremors, and other problems that could further limit your ability to work.

The attorneys at The Keener Law Firm know exactly what evidence disability examiners look for in mental health cases. We work closely with clients to make sure medical records communicate a clear statement of how bipolar disorder affects their daily lives and work capacity.

Why Do Most Initial Disability Applications Get Denied?

Here’s a tough reality: most disability applications get denied the first time around. That doesn’t mean you won’t eventually win your case. In fact, many claims that were initially denied get approved at the hearing level.

At a hearing, you can explain in your own words how bipolar disorder prevents you from maintaining employment. A judge asks questions, hears testimony from medical experts, and gets a better understanding of the cyclical nature of your condition. This is where having experienced legal representation makes the biggest difference.

Getting Legal Help with Your Bipolar Disorder Disability Claim

Bipolar disorder certainly can prevent you from working, and disability benefits exist for exactly this reason. The challenge lies in working through a complex system that doesn’t always understand mental health conditions. Medical records might show periods of stability while failing to make clear how devastating the impact of mood episodes are on your ability to maintain employment over time.

The Keener Law Firm has the knowledge and dedication needed to present your case effectively. We understand what administrative law judges look for in bipolar disorder cases and how to ensure your claim includes all the evidence needed for approval. With proper legal representation and thorough medical documentation, you can get the financial support you need to focus on treatment and management of your condition.

Sources

• Social Security Administration https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm
• National Institute of Mental Health. “Bipolar Disorder Statistics.” https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/bipolar-disorder
• Disability Advice. (2025) “Can You Get Disability for Bipolar Disorder?” https://disabilityadvice.org/qualifying-conditions/bipolar-disorder/