A lot of people with Bipolar Disorder are able to work... some can only work under certain situations and some can't work at all. Even people with Bipolar have varying degrees of stress tolerance. And stress is a primary factor.
For me, I worked just fine all of my life until everything came crashing down around me. I couldn't focus on my work. I couldn't remember important information. Even if I wrote things down, I'd forget where I put it. It became impossible for me to get out of the bed at times. I was crying on my way to work, crying at work, and was very short tempered and irritable. The responsibility of having to go to work everyday was overwhelming for me. And I had never felt like this before.

Sometimes people with Bipolar can work part time... or work from home. Even work very flexible hours. It is up to the employer. Even so, any Bipolar that is working and doing just dandy can have problems or a full blown episode at any given time.

To Tell or Not To Tell?

Should you tell your employer or perspective employer that you are Bipolar....and when should you tell them? A very big question that has been debated a many of times in a few of the places that I visit on the internet.

There's that little question on a job application that asks "Is there any condition that could prevent you from performing the duties of your job?". I've been told that this question does not have to be answered by law. I don't know how true that is. But even if you leave it blank, not answering it, isn't that as good as saying "yes" in the eyes of the employer?

Some tell perspective employers after being hired with no problems. Some don't tell at all. After all, chances are if the person with Bipolar is applying for work, he or she is probably pretty stable. And being stable you can reasonably expect to remain stable for some time, therefore, being able to perform the duties of his or her job. They only tell when it becomes a problem.

From a different perspective, if a Bipolar doesn't tell their employer, they may be leaving the door open for being terminated if their condition becomes a problem. And there may be no recourse.

So my suggestion would be to ask a "mental health advocate" or an attorney if you want a good answer.

Some helpful resources:

American's with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Bipolar Disorder is covered under the ADA. It requires employers to attempt to make "reasonable accommodations". That would be like providing flexible working hours etc... But "reasonable" meaning "reasonable" to the employer. It cannot cause a hardship for the employer.

For more info on the ADA please visit U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act ADA HOME PAGE.

Also, if there are problems with an employer you might try the EEOC.

When you're Bipolar and can no longer work it can be devastating. What will they do? How will they get by? There are a few things that they should look into. The information here may vary state to state.

* If the Bipolar was working, does he or she have a Short Term Disability (STD) plan through their employer? This should be the first thing to check for. Most STD plans vary in the amount of time they provide coverage for and the amount to be paid out depending on the length of time employed by the employer. This can certainly vary from state to state. Example: You've been employed for two years with the same employer, you would have accrued six months STD time payable at 70% of your salary.
NOTE: The insurance company will usually require documentation from a doctor regarding the Bipolar person's condition.
* If the Bipolar was working, does he or she have a Long Term Disability (LTD) plan through their employer? If so, this should pick up where the STD left off. Most LTD plans vary in the amount of time they provide coverage for and the amount to be paid out. Some LTD plans only provide coverage for two years for mental disabilities, while others cover it for a life time. Also, they may require that you be out of work for a specific amount of time before coverage will be provided. Example: You've been employed for two years with the same employer, you exhausted your STD benefit of six months, the LTD would now pick up and pay at 60% of your salary.
Some LTD programs require the person to also apply for Social Security Disability (SSD). If awarded SSD benefits, the amount that you receive from SSD will be deducted from the amount of LTD you'll receive.
NOTE: The insurance company will usually require documentation from a doctor regarding the Bipolar person's condition. And a copy of your medical file from every doctor you've seen.
* Next, there is Social Security Disability (SSD) and Social Security Supplemental Income (SSSI). The SSSI depends on the amount of the household income. So if a spouse is employed, his or her income will determine the qualifications. Bipolar Disorder is covered under SSD as a qualifying disability. The application process and the difficulty of obtaining this benefit varies. And I believe it varies from state to state. I've heard horror stories of men and women with Bipolar having to go through interview after interview and through examinations and such....and still be turned down. If there is a doctor that is being seen regularly, they rely pretty heavily on information from him or her.