Can my 42-year-old daughter qualify for SSDI with bipolar disorder and no work history?

For SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), your daughter would need enough work credits based on her age. At 42, she would typically need around 20 credits earned in the last 10 years. With a spotty work history, she might not qualify for SSDI, but she could potentially qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) which is need-based and doesn't require work credits. Mental health conditions including bipolar disorder can qualify for disability benefits, but the documentation requirements are strict - you'll need medical evidence that shows her condition prevents substantial gainful activity.

my brother has bipolar and got SSI after like 3 denials. dont give up if they say no the first time. everyone gets denied. get a lawyer they only get paid if you win.

I was in similar situation with my son. Is your daughter taking any medication currently? The SSA will want to see that she's following prescribed treatment. Also, has she ever been hospitalized for her condition? That documentation can really help establish severity.

Here's what you need to know about SSI for mental health conditions: 1. SSI provides both monthly income AND Medicaid in most states, which would help with psychiatric care 2. The disability evaluation is the same for both SSDI and SSI - her condition must prevent substantial gainful activity (earning more than $1,550/month in 2025) 3. She'll need current medical evidence (within the last 90 days ideally) 4. For bipolar disorder, SSA looks at things like: ability to concentrate, interact with others, manage emotions, follow instructions, etc. 5. The financial requirements for SSI include less than $2,000 in assets and very limited income I recommend starting the application online at ssa.gov and then calling to schedule an interview. The entire process typically takes 3-5 months for initial decisions.

When my wife was trying to get SSDI for her bipolar, we couldn't get through to anyone at Social Security for WEEKS. We finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got us connected to an SSA agent in about 20 minutes. They had a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Totally worth it because we were able to ask specific questions about what documentation we needed for mental health claims. Saved us from making major mistakes on the application.

i hope you can get your daughter help but just so you know bipolar is different from schizophrenia maybe thats why you havent gotten proper diagnossi?? my cousin has schizoaffective which is kind of both and she got SSI but took like 2 years and appeals and stuff

I work with mental health patients applying for disability. Here's what you should do IMMEDIATELY: 1. Contact your local Community Mental Health Center - they often have sliding scale fees and can provide the current documentation needed 2. Have your daughter apply for Medicaid SEPARATELY from SSI - in many states, she might qualify based on zero income even before an SSI decision 3. Request a protective filing date from SSA right away (this preserves her application date even if gathering medical evidence takes time) 4. Check if your state has a SOAR program (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery) which provides free specialists to help with mental health disability applications DON'T wait until you have "perfect" documentation - start the process now as it can take many months.

is she getting food stamps at least? that's usually faster than disability

One thing no one mentioned - if your daughter qualifies for SSI, she might be eligible for subsidized housing which could help with your living situation. There are often long waiting lists but some areas prioritize disabled applicants. Just something to look into while you're working on the SSI application.