Can You Go On Disability For Anxiety

Can I Get Disability For My Social Anxiety Disorder

Those with social anxiety often have trouble communicating with managers, co-workers, and the public and they may have trouble attending work every day because of relapses and panic attacks. The side effects of anti-anxiety medication may also make it difficult to concentrate. Severe social anxiety can make it impossible for some individuals to work.

To decide if you qualify for disability for your social anxiety disorder, the SSA will first evaluate whether your condition is eligible for benefits under its medical listing for anxiety disorders. If your condition fulfills the criteria of the listing, you can be automatically approved for benefits, without the SSA having to look at your age, education, and prior work history. Avoidant personality disorder might be evaluated under the anxiety listing or under the listing for personality disorders.

Disability For Depression And Anxiety

It is normal for people to go through periods of anxiety or depression, especially in response to major life events such as a death, divorce, or loss of a job. Sometimes even positive life events can trigger these feelings, such as a child moving out of the house to attend college.

However, depression and anxiety that lingers on beyond two weeks is cause for clinical concern. You should seek the help of medical professionals such as a psychotherapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist if you experience prolonged periods of a low mood, aversion or disinterest in activities or work, disruptions to your sleep, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Alternatively, if nervous or compulsive behaviors disrupt your ability to function at work or in social settings, you will also want to seek treatment.

Depression is an affective disorder like bipolar disorder or any other debilitating mental condition that can present a severe functional limitation and even pose a severe risk to your life. In addition to the fact that you will need medical documentation to build your case around applying for SSDI benefits, this treatmentsuch as therapy, medication, clinical assistance, or hospitalizationmay help move your life back on the right track. In the meantime, you can file for SSDI benefits to cover your living expenses.

What If I Become Disabled From A Mental Health Condition But Continue To Work

There are very serious risks to you and to others if you attempt to continue to work with a mental health-related disability that is impacting your ability to do your duties. Obviously, the nature of your job and the type of work that you do will determine what the impact might be if you continue to try to work while disabled. In some cases, you could cause harm to yourself or to others.

Often, continuing to attempt to work while disabled will aggravate your mental health condition and prolong your recovery. Working may cause you additional stress and anxiety and take time away from treatments necessary for your recovery.

Continuing to work while suffering from a disabling mental illness could also jeopardize or strain your relationship with your employer. For example, if you are not able to perform the duties of your job or if your condition is interfering in your ability to communicate with others, you could be fired from your job. Termination of your employment could then result in the loss of your health benefits which could impact your treatment options and extinguish your right to claim disability benefits under your employers group benefit plan.

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Evaluating Anxiety As A Disability

If an employee comes to you and says they have a disability and asks for an accommodation, one of your first responses should be to ask them to fill out a medical information form. This form will require that they visit their physician and have them complete the necessary information.

In addition to Federal laws, many states have laws that regulate the medical information that an employee is required to give their employer. Make sure that your paperwork is compliant with all laws, and double-check with your attorney.

If the doctor has determined that the employee has a disability, they may list areas where the worker could benefit from accommodations. These suggestions may be aimed at the employee to consider.

Why You Can Go On Disability For Anxiety

Severe symptoms of anxiety can significantly affect you in many ways. It can affect your ability to function properly at work as well as at home. At this point, it can be termed that you have a disability for anxiety.

Symptoms tend to be worse especially when left untreated. It makes your ordinary life pursuits impossible or difficult to perform. It can lead to loss of jobs, relationships or education issues.

Most times it may be difficult to even get out of the house. Such states can qualify to be referred to as disability for anxiety. Through the Social Security Administration, you become eligible for disability benefits.

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What Should You Do Next

A disability lawyer can help you develop a sufficient record and evidence to help show that your anxiety disorder limits your functional capacity to such an extent that you are not able to compete in jobs that may be available.

If you have specific questions about your claim, contact disability attorney Loyd Bourgeois for a free consultation at 985-240-9773

Does An Anxiety Disorder Qualify Me For Social Security Disability Benefits

Many people suffer from some of the symptoms related to an anxiety disorder. However, most people’sreal question is simple: can you get disability for anxiety and panic attacks? The straightforward answer is yes, but only under certain conditions.

If you experience symptoms that are so severe that your ability to care for yourself or your ability to function at work is severely affected, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income benefits.To be eligible for SSDI benefits or SSI benefits, you must be able to present medical evidence that demonstrates you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, that your anxiety disorder issevere and, as a result of your anxiety disorder, you have been unable to work for at least 12 months or your symptoms are so severe that it is likely that you will not be able to return to work for at least 12 months.

To help the Social Security Administration understand the severity of your Anxiety Disorder, you should secure your treatment records, the results of any psychological and or cognitive testing, a complete list of your medications, and any treatment notes that discuss the severity of your symptoms and how long those symptoms have lasted.

Fact:The Social Security Administration considers anxiety disorders under Section 12.06 of the Blue Book, which covers Mental Disorders.

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Proving Disability Based On Residual Functional Capacity

Even if you do not meet a listing, you may be found disabled based on your residual functional capacity . While Social Security applies the grid rules when considering your physical RFC, there are no such grids for your mental RFC.

In determining your mental RFC, Social Security will examine your social and intellectual limitations, including limitations on understanding and memory, sustained concentration and persistence, social interaction and adaptation. If Social Security finds that you are markedly or extremely limited in one or more areas, you may be found disabled, whereas a finding of only mild or moderate limitations will usually not result in you being found disabled.

At a hearing, the administrative law judge will ask a vocational expert to testify. The judge will describe hypothetical individuals with certain limitations, and ask the vocational expert whether there are jobs that exist in the national economy that such a person could do. Two factors that often play a role are the number of days you would be expected to be absent from a job, and the amount of time in a typical workday that you would be expected to be off-task due to your mental impairments.

If there is no simple, unskilled job you can do, then you can be found disabled. If you have physical limitations or other mental impairments in addition to anxiety, then Social Security must consider the combination of your impairments and limitations.

Unique Challenges Of Mental Illness And Applying For Disability Insurance Benefits

1. The insurance industry sees you as a problem

Due to volume of disability benefits claims involving mental illness, the insurance industry has made managing mental health claims a top priority. Insurers have developed a number of strategies for how to wrongfully deny your disability claim, while maintaining the appearance of objectivity. There is little you can do about the insurance industry practices. But, understanding how the insurance company acts will help you know what to expect. And, it will allow you to make better plans.

Focus on things that are in your control. For example, if the insurance company denies your claim, you have to weigh your options. You could appeal directly to the insurance company, or file a lawsuit against the insurance company. In some situations, doing appeals with the insurance company can be a complete waste of time.

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2. Mental illness is invisible

3. Short-term benefits only

Insurance companies will often approve disability benefits claims involving mental illness for the short term. It is important that you understand this so you can better prepare yourself and not be caught off-guard by the termination.

The first definition applies for the first two years and usually says you will qualify for benefits if you cant do your own job.

4. Surveillance & Social Media

5. Behind-the-scenes medical advisors

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Starting A Disability Claim

If you don’t know whether you are eligible for Social Security disability insurance or Supplemental Security Income , you can apply for both. Call the SSA at 800-772-1213 to set up an appointment to fill out an application for disability. When you fill out your application, include a detailed description of what an episode of intense anxiety looks like for you, as well as how often you have them and how they impair your ability to work.

If you have both an anxiety disorder and a physical impairment that keeps you from working, consider hiring a lawyer to help you file your claim, or if your initial claim gets denied, to file an appeal.

Do I Qualify For Disability Insurance Benefits For Anxiety

Disability insurance companies dont always make it easy for policyholders who have anxiety to get the disability benefits they deserve.

The Common Reasons Disability Carriers Deny Anxiety Disability Claims

Many claims are denied because the disability insurance company says:

There is no objective basis of the anxiety diagnosis,

There is no objective basis for the restrictions and limitations assigned by your physician, or

There is no causal relationship between your anxiety disorder and/or your restrictions and limitations, and your inability to do your own or any occupation.

Worse, many disability insurance policies define anxiety disorder as a mental nervous condition, which generally limits benefits to 24 months maximum.

Some policies also provide that if any mental nervous condition in any way contributes to your overall disability, benefits are limited to 24 months. For example, you might have undergone back surgery and become anxious. Your benefits might be limited to 24 months.

Nancy Cavey, who has 35 years experience handling disability cases, often battles disability carriers about this issue. She works closely with you, your family and your physician to overcome the claims denial or termination of benefits after 24 months.

Ms. Cavey offers a free initial consultation and welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your disability claim.

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How Someone With A Mental Health Condition Can Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits

If you have a mental health condition that limits your ability to perform routine daily tasks and keeps you from performing work to earn a living, you may qualify for disability benefits administered by the Social Security Administration . The SSA has two disability programs, Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance . Both programs have strict medical requirements for a claim to be approved.

SSDI vs. SSI

SSDI is a disability program based off your work history. You must have earned enough credits and paid in enough taxes to qualify for benefits. For most people, you must have worked the equivalent of 5 years full-time out of the last 10 years. SSI does not depend on work history, and just so long as you meet the financial criteria, which involve resources and income, you can be approved. You will need to provide supporting documentation for both.

Medically Qualifying for Disability Benefits

The SSA uses a medical guide, which is called the Blue Book, to determine if a claimant qualifies for disability benefits. There is a section in the Blue Book for mental disorders, and it has listings for a variety of conditions, including anxiety-related conditions, psychotic disorders, learning disabilities, depression, and many other mental health issues. Each listing has specific criteria that must be met for the claimant to medically qualify per that specific listing.

Using A Medical Vocational Allowance

Applying For Disability Benefits

Qualifying For Disability With An Anxiety Disorder

Successfully becoming approved for either Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance with just an anxiety disorder is rather challenging. This is because mental disorders are difficult to prove and can be controlled with medication or psychotherapy. Most individuals who receive disability benefits for an anxiety disorder also have other conditions such as clinical depression or bipolar disorder.

Chapter 12 of the Social Security Administrations Blue Book lists all of the requirements needed for an anxiety disorder to qualify for disability benefits. Section 12.06 Anxiety-related Disorders deals with all conditions in which anxiety is the predominant disturbance. An applicants anxiety disorder must satisfy the required levels of severity for either requirements A and B or requirements A and C.

Requirement A

Applicant needs medical documentation of at least one of the following:

1.) Persistent anxiety with 3 out of the 4 following symptoms:

• Motor tension

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Improving Your Chances For Obtaining Benefits

Its particularly important to see a psychologist or psychiatrist who can document the progression of your illness because this can sometimes be the only official record of your anxiety disorder. If you live with or frequently see family members or friends, ask them to document your behavior over time as well. Since severity is the key to determining whether or not your anxiety disorder qualifies you for benefits, tracking the frequency of panic attacks or other episodes can help your case.