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Postpartum depression (PPD) can leave you struggling to get through the day. Never mind keeping up with work. Depending on your situation, PPD may qualify you for disability benefits.
People with postpartum depression may feel deep sadness, anxiety, fear, or hopelessness after a pregnancy. PPD is more than the “baby blues” — it’s a serious mental condition that can make it hard to take care of yourself and your baby.
PPD usually affects the mother. But it can affect any parent, especially if they have a history of depression. PPD can also happen when a pregnancy ends due to miscarriage or stillbirth.
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If you’ve had intense feelings of depression after a pregnancy and can’t keep up with your job, talk with your healthcare provider about support and treatment options. In some cases, people with PPD may be able to get disability benefits. Here’s what you should know.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a United States federal agency. The SSA runs two programs to help people with eligible health conditions.
PPD doesn’t automatically qualify you for benefits. Instead, the SSA will evaluate PPD under its depressive-disorder criteria and overall disability rules.
Postpartum depression can last a year or longer. If it significantly impacts your ability to work, you might get approved for assistance.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) gives monthly payments to people who have worked and paid into the system. If you’ve had to stop working full time or need to limit how much you work because of a medical condition like PPD, you may be able to get these disability insurance payments to replace lost income.
However, needing to work less doesn’t mean you’re always eligible for disability insurance. You also have to meet the SSA’s rules for disability and past contributions to the program.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for people who have very little or no income, few financial resources, and an eligible disability. You don’t need to have worked to qualify.
Funding comes from general taxes. Most states add extra money to SSI payments through their own programs.
Disability insurance is available through some private insurance policies. Your employer may provide it, or you might buy it yourself. Coverage depends on the insurance company and plan.
If you’re not sure if you have this kind of insurance at work, ask your human resources (HR) contact or your supervisor.
Some policies offer short-term disability insurance. This usually pays about 40 percent to 70 percent of your income for three to six months.
Long-term disability insurance can replace 50 percent to 70 percent of your income for a longer time. But it usually requires more paperwork and proof of your ongoing condition.
To be eligible for disability insurance benefits, you generally must have a serious health condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months in a row.
To get disability insurance benefits, you must have worked in a job or been self-employed.
The Social Security Administration uses a system of work credits to decide if you qualify. You earn work credits based on how much money you make each year. Most people need 40 credits to qualify — 20 of those must have been earned in the last 10 years. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
The amount of money needed to earn a credit changes each year, so check the most current rules when applying. For 2026, one credit is earned for each $1,890 in covered earnings, up to four credits per year.
If your financial resources are limited, you may qualify for SSI benefits instead. To get SSI, you usually must meet certain income guidelines based on your situation.
You also can’t have more than $2,000 in savings or assets (such as extra cars, stocks, or bonds). The limit is $3,000 for couples. Your primary home and most personal belongings don’t count toward this total.
The Social Security Administration uses the same medical rules for both disability insurance and SSI. For postpartum depression to count as a disability, you need medical records that show your condition prevents you from working.
Under Social Security’s depressive-disorder criteria, your medical records must show at least five of these symptoms:
Having five or more of these symptoms does not automatically mean you qualify for disability benefits. SSA also looks at how severely the condition limits your mental functioning. They’ll also assess if you meet any alternative criteria for a serious and persistent disorder.
Social Security also looks at how much depression limits your ability to work in four areas:
To meet this part of the disability listing, you generally must have an extreme limitation in one of these areas or marked limitations in two of them. A “marked” or “extreme” limitation means the condition seriously interferes with your ability to function independently and consistently.
Applying for a disability benefit through the Social Security Administration can be complicated. Before you start, you’ll need to gather documents that show you have PPD. Also, get records of your work history or finances, depending on which program you’re applying to (SSDI or SSI).
Talk with your healthcare team about your symptoms and any treatment you’ve received for PPD. You’ll need medical records that show how PPD affects your daily life and ability to work.
Documentation might include:
Your records must clearly show when your condition started and how long it’s lasted. If your medical paperwork isn’t detailed enough, the SSA might ask for more information or send you for a mental status examination with a doctor they choose.
You’ll also need to provide detailed information about yourself, such as your address, work history, and financial situation. Be sure all your paperwork is accurate and up to date.
You can apply for disability insurance online or through Social Security. Some people can also apply for SSI online, but online SSI applications are not available to everyone. If you can’t apply online, contact Social Security to find out how to complete your application.
It can take six to eight months to get a decision. If your application is approved, there may be a waiting period before payments begin. How long you receive benefits depends on how long your postpartum depression lasts and when you can return to work.
The Social Security Administration offers a disability starter kit that explains how the application process works. It also includes tools to help you understand and organize your paperwork.
You can ask a family member or friend to help you with the forms. Some people choose to hire a disability lawyer, especially if they’re appealing a denied application. Some advocacy organizations also offer support and resources.
Before you start working with an attorney or organization, make sure you ask about fees. Some advocacy organizations won’t charge you unless your application is approved.
Representatives handling Social Security claims generally must have their fees authorized through SSA’s fee-agreement or fee-petition process. Anyone who officially represents you must sign an agreement with the SSA.
You can also contact your local Social Security office for help with your disability insurance or SSI disability claim.
Postpartum depression may be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if it substantially limits one or more major life activities. If your PPD meets this standard, you may be able to request reasonable accommodations — changes at work that help you do your job.
Reasonable accommodations might include:
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) provides another type of federal protection. Covered employers generally must provide reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This can include some postpartum mental health conditions, even if they do not meet the ADA’s definition of disability.
If you feel you can keep working with PPD, talk with your HR contact or your supervisor. Depending on how much you work and how much you earn, you may still qualify for some disability benefits.
Sometimes, you just need some extra time. Depending on your workplace and laws in your state, you might qualify for a longer leave. If you have PPD, this could mean extending your paid or unpaid maternity leave.
Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you may be allowed to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. You must have been employed at your workplace for at least 12 months and worked at least 1,250 hours during that time. In addition, your company must have at least 50 employees within 75 miles. This time off can give you a chance to focus on your mental health without losing your job.
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