How To Win Disability Benefits For Anxiety
September 1, 2021 By Jeremy Schooley
Profound anxiety can be as disabling as any physical illness. Claims filed requesting disability benefits for anxiety can be among the toughest claims to win. To prove youre disabled, what do the decision-makers need to see?
If you have been unfairly denied benefits based on anxiety, we have important information to share with you to help you succeed in getting the benefits you need.
Is It Hard To Get A Disability For Depression
Depression is a mental health condition that affects your mood, emotions, and feelings, as well as your weight, sleeping patterns, energy level, and ability to work. If your depression prevents you from working, you might be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
To be eligible for Social Security benefits for depression, you must have at least five of the following symptoms:
- The depressed state of mind
- Most practices have lost their appeal.
- Changes in your appetite and weight are important.
- Problems with sleeping
- Others will see the movements, which are either lethargic or agitated.
- Power depletion
- Suicidal ideation
You must also fulfill at least one of the following two requirements:
You have trouble understanding facts, communicating with others, paying attention, or taking care of yourself. At least two of these areas must be exclusive to you.
Your depression is considered severe and chronic, and you have evidence that you have been suffering from it for at least two years and have been seeking care for it. You also have a hard time adjusting to changes in your routine and new demands.
It can be easier to get a disability for depression if you have such symptoms.
Va Ratings For Anxiety Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get VA disability compensation for Anxiety?
Yes, the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay veterans with service-connected Anxiety tax free compensation each month. The amount of compensation depends upon your overall VA rating.
Is Anxiety a VA disability condition?
Yes, Anxiety is a VA disability and can be rated from 0% to 100% depending upon the severity of your symptoms.
Often times, anxiety and depression are underlying symptoms of another mental health condition such as PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, or Somatic Symptom Disorder.
Due to the legal concept called avoidance of pyramiding, a veteran will only receive one VA rating for a mental health condition.
The VA recognizes Anxiety Disorders as one of 31 mental health conditions that may be related to service, and thus, Anxiety is a VA disability, and is eligible for VA compensation and benefits under the law.
What are the VA disability ratings for Anxiety?
The VA will give you a disability rating based upon the severity of your Anxiety Disorder, specifically related to your level of occupational and social impairment. If you are considered service-connected for Anxiety, you will receive one of six possible VA disability ratings for your mental health condition, broken out as follows: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%.
In 2022, the average VA disability rating for anxiety is 70%.
Can I receive Special Monthly Compensation for Anxiety?
Can Anxiety be Permanent and Total ?
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What Can Cause Ssdi Benefits To Cancel
While receiving SSDI benefits, your treatment continues simultaneously.
Once recovery is met, people opt for more stable jobs.
Reasons for the cancellation are:
- Medical Improvement
- Going about the Income or Asset Limits
- Turning 18 if one was on the benefits of the parents
- Changes in life situations
You can also secure your SSID benefits along with your work, but to do that, you are required to follow certain rules:
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Warning: Ltd Policies And Mental Illness Limitations
When filing for long term disability, an important consideration is whether your long term disability insurance policy includes a Mental Illness Limitation.
Policies that contain a Mental Illness Limitation typically limit your benefits to two years if you are disabled due to a psychiatric condition such as depression or anxiety. Of course, each policy is different, so the prescribed maximum period may be shorter or longer depending on the terms of your particular policy.
Some policies with Mental Illness Limitations contain exemptions for certain mental conditions. It is important to review your policy closely.
However, if you are solely disabled due to an anxiety disorder and your policy contains a Mental Illness Limitation that does not exempt it, your benefits will most likely stop when the maximum allowable period expires. Unfortunately, the severity of your mental illness will become irrelevant after the maximum allowable period expires.
However, if you can demonstrate that you are disabled due to objective cognitive problems, your benefits may extend beyond limitation period. A neuropsychological evaluation, as discussed earlier, can provide this evidence.
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Social Security Disability Claims Based On Depression & Anxiety
Unlike long term disability policies, the Social Security Administration does not limit claims based on depression and anxiety. This means even if your long term disability benefits end, you can continue to receive Social Security Disability benefits based solely on mental health issues. Please note the Social Security Administration has specific rules governing mental health claims.
Contact Hawks QuindelIf you have applied for disability benefits and your claim has been denied, contact Hawks Quindel immediately. Hawks Quindel represents individuals who have been denied long term disability benefits and Social Security disability benefits. Please call 608/257-0040 for a free consultation.
How Much Is The Disability For Anxiety
The average SSDI monthly compensation in 2014 was $1165. On the other hand, the amount you receive is directly proportional to the amount of FICA taxes you have already paid into the FICA system over your working years.
In 2015, the federal payment was $733/month for an individual and $1,100/month for a couple. Remember, the amount depends on several factors, including your living arrangements.
Planning to apply for SSD benefits? Click below to discuss your anxiety symptoms with a mental health professional first!
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Get Proof Of Your Diagnosis
First and foremost, your insurance company will want to see proof of your diagnosis. A psychiatrist, psychologist, or other appropriately qualified mental health professional will able to give you an anxiety disorder diagnosis. While anxiety disorders often present with some physical symptoms, the basis of the diagnosis will come from a psychological evaluation. By comparing your personal symptoms to the criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , your treating medical provider will also be able to narrow down more definitively what type of anxiety disorder you have.
Filing For Social Security Disability With An Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis
The Social Security Administration considers anxiety disorders under Section 12.06 of the Blue Book, which covers Mental Disorders.
It can be difficult to claim Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits on the basis of an anxiety disorder diagnosis because the medical evidence supporting the diagnosis is highly subjective and is based on hard-to-document criteria, such as feelings and behavior that occurs outside the doctors office and is reported to the doctor by the patient.
In order to successfully apply for disability benefits due to an anxiety disorder, be sure to present a history of treatment by medical professionals, including both your physician and a qualified mental health professional, in order to show the recurrent or persistent nature of your anxiety disorder.
The SSAs definition of disability is any medically determinable mental or medical impairment that has prevented an individual from performing substantial work for twelve months, is expected to prevent an individual from working for twelve continuous months, or is expected to end with death. Be sure that your medical documentation can thoroughly and specifically demonstrates to the SSA how your disability interferes with your ability to function on a daily basis.
If you apply for disability benefits under Anxiety-Related Disorders, you must meet the conditions of either Paragraphs A and B below, OR the conditions of Paragraphs A and C below.
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When Do Symptoms Of A Generalized Anxiety Disorder Develop
Generalized anxiety disorders do not always develop in adulthood. The symptoms can start when youre a child, during teen years, or even in young adulthood. It may take a significant amount of time for a doctor or mental health professional to properly diagnose a generalized anxiety disorder. At times, medical providers may be more focused on the individual symptoms related to the generalized anxiety disorder, such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, stomach upset or headaches but they dont always make the connection to a generalized anxiety disorder and the initial diagnosis might be delayed.
Medical professionals are not sure what causes a person to suffer from a generalized anxiety disorder. In some cases, other family members may suffer from the same type of anxiety disorder. In other cases, it may be an individual diagnosis.
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Anxiety Disorders That May Qualify For Disability Benefits
Social anxiety and other anxiety disorders can limit a persons social life. Still, at worst, they might make it difficult for them to work.
Following anxiety disorders can qualify for Social Security disability benefits if they are well documented and highly debilitating:
- Phobias
- Social anxiety disorder
Some people claim to suffer from anxiety, nervousness, or phobias. Yet, the symptoms are regrettably a part of modern lifes stress.
Whereas, to be considered for disability benefits due to an anxiety disorder, SSA requires medical evidence that you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and that as a result of this condition you have been unable to work for at least 12 months
Therefore, you may be eligible for disability compensation if you have been diagnosed with one of the conditions mentioned above and it interferes with your ability to:
- Leave the house
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How To Show Your Depression Is A Disability
While some of these conditions seem to be clear cut on paper, other components are hard to prove outside of medical documentation. This is why its important to get mental health professionals involved in your treatment so that it can be clearly documented by authoritative figures who can help you secure an SSDI Award Letter.
If you do not meet any of the conditions in the Blue Book, your claim will still be evaluated as a possible medical-vocational allowance, which will take into account your medical records. These medical records will come from certified or licensed mental health professionals like psychiatrists, psychologists, clinics, or even hospitals. The recommendations of social workers and nurse practitioners do not carry much weight in this analysis in comparison to psychiatrists and psychologists, so if those professionals are not available to you, mention that in your application.
Its a good idea to confirm with your mental health professionals that their reports reflect how symptoms of depression or anxiety impacted your daily life and the effectiveness of their treatment plan. Choosing not to take medication may count against you, but being unable to get it because of its price or side effects are acceptable reasons.
How Can I Get Social Security To Approve Disability Benefits For Anxiety
To receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for anxiety, you must prove that your condition is totally disabling. This means proving your impairment renders you unable to perform gainful employment. This is a major difference as compared to a private insurance policy or veterans disability compensation, as these will allow for partial disability benefits.With each disability claim, SSA follows a five-step sequential evaluation process. Basically, you must prove total disability in one of two ways:
Social Securitys medical criteria for claiming disability benefits for anxiety disorders are found in the Listing of Impairments for Mental Disorders, subsection §12.06 Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders.
The SSA Listing deals with a group of mental disorders which have anxiety as the essential feature. The spectrum of disorders the SSA evaluates under this category include:
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Sleep disturbance.
2. Panic disorder or agoraphobia, characterized by one or both:
- Panic attacks followed by a persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences or
- Disproportionate fear or anxiety about at least two different situations .
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, characterized by one or both:
- Involuntary, time-consuming preoccupation with intrusive, unwanted thoughts or
- Repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety.
Ability to:
- Concentrate, persist or maintain pace
- Adapt or manage oneself
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How Can The Nba Help Me
Anxiety is considered a disability by the Canadian government, and as such, may qualify those suffering from the illness for disability benefits. The types of benefits may vary with the severity of the condition, but their purpose is the same to enable a person to live a life where their disability does not dampen their quality of life.
The National Benefit Authority has similar goals. As Canadas top Disability Tax Credit service provider, weve helped thousands of differently-abled Canadians qualify for and claim disability benefits. Our specialists have guided over 40,000 Canadians and counting, recovering upwards of $50,000 per application!
Many Canadians, who are entitled to a disability tax refund from the government, dont claim them because they are unaware of the available Canadian disability benefits, or because the DTC application is simply too time-consuming and complex. With the NBA, those concerns are covered we oversee the entire process, from determining your Disability Tax Credit eligibility, through receiving your Disability Tax Credit. We follow up directly with the CRA but work on your behalf to provide you peace of mind.
What Is A Severe Impairment
Social security defines a severe impairment as one that significantly limits your ability to do any of the following: walk, sit, stand, push, pull, lift, and carry hear, speak, and see understand and follow simple directions, and interact with co-workers and supervisors, and adjust to changes in the workplace.
In contrast, a non-severe impairment impacts your ability to work only minimally.
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Va Rating Criteria For Anxiety Explained
0 Percent VA Rating for Anxiety
A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.
This means you have a medical diagnosis for an anxiety disorder, but no subjective symptoms.
You have no occupational and social impairment at the 0% rating for anxiety.
10 Percent VA Rating for Anxiety
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.
Translation: You have very mild symptoms of anxiety.
Maybe you take antidepressants, but these medications keep your symptoms in check most of the time.
30 Percent Anxiety VA Disability Rating
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks , due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks , chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss .
The 30% rating for anxiety still has fairly mild symptoms.
You have some depression, anxiety, memory loss, and panic attacks, but not very often.
You might be having some trouble sleeping along with mild memory loss.
Typically, youre having panic attacks LESS than once per week.
Note that a panic attack and anxiety are NOT the same thing.
70 Percent VA Rating for Anxiety
Eligibility For Ssd And Ssi Benefits
Those who have been diagnosed with anxiety may be eligible for SSD or SSI benefits, but the Social Security Administration’s evaluation process is very tough. Even if you believe you qualify, your application is likely to be denied the first time.
To be considered ‘disabled’ by the Social Security Administration, your anxiety must:
- Keep you from working full-time
- Have lasted, or is expected to last, for at least one year
- Be life-threatening
The following will make you more likely to qualify for SSD benefits:
- You were diagnosed with anxiety by a physician or specialist
- You are undergoing treatment and regularly visit your doctor or specialist
- Your anxiety is chronic and makes you unable to work or complete daily tasks
- You have other mental health conditions or physical disabilities
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How To Qualify For A Disability Listing
Once your psychologist diagnoses you and records evidence that meets SSA criteria for disability listing, the SSA will determine you disabled.
Their listing 12.06 is authorized to cover all anxiety-related mental disorders.
They will automatically grant you disability benefits if you demonstrate the symptoms and limitations listed in their official lists.
After considering your medical records from your psychologist including testing, status evaluations and any reports of hospitalization, they will require that you demonstrate signs of suffering at least five of the following symptoms:
- Lack of interest in almost all activities
- A depressed mood
- Lack of appetite or overeating resulting in a change in your weight
- Lack of sleep or oversleeping
- Difficult think or concentrating
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Thoughts of suicide or death
- Slowing down of physical movements and reactions
- Unusually fast or frenzied speech
- Quickly changing thought patterns and ideas
- Inflated self-esteem with false beliefs
- Getting distracted easily
- An appetite for risky activities and behavior usually with painful consequences
- Increased physical agitation such as restlessness or appearing to be busy while in reality, you are not.
In addition to any of the five above, you must also demonstrate that it affects your ability to function.
Some people have a serious problem in the areas listed below:
Gather Medical Evidence To Support Your Disability
The most important aspect of your disability claim will be the objective medical evidence from your treating doctors of your anxiety disorder. For this reason, having a supportive doctor is essential.
Examples of objective medical evidence to support your claim include:
- Medical records. Any office visit notes, hospitalization records, lab results, or other records from your doctors that substantiate your condition and symptoms should be included in your disability claim. All of your accompanying symptomsemotional and physicalshould be well-documented.
- A narrative report from your doctor. If your doctor is supportive, consider whether they can write a letter documenting your anxiety disorder and how it prevents you from working. Their report should focus on the frequency and severity of your symptoms, along with the limitations your condition imposes that prevent you from working. Their opinion should be backed up by their examinations and direct observations of you during office visits.
- A list of your medications, dosages, and their side effects. Records of your medications and side effects will help the insurance company understand how they may impact your ability to work
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