Disability Benefits for Anxiety Disorders

Receiving Disability Benefits for Anxiety

Anxiety disorders, including phobias, PTSD, panic disorders, OCD, and generalized anxiety disorder may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Of course, you must meet all the other SSA requirements, such as sufficient work credits, as well as resources and income limits. If you can show that your anxiety disorder prevents you from working or accomplishing your day-to-day tasks and if your symptoms match the SSA impairment listing requirements, you have a good chance of success. Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent feelings of uneasiness, tension, or apprehension.

Anxiety disorders are much more than “nervousness.” These disorders can leave the individual with feelings of terror that can be provoked by “normal” situations that occur in everyday life. It can be extremely beneficial to have experienced, knowledgeable help when applying for disability for your anxiety disorder, to ensure you have all the necessary medical documentation to support your disability claim. Carmichael Law Group can help you through your disability application, making it as easy as possible for you, and giving you the very best chance of success.

What is Anxiety Disorder/Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

There are essentially five primary types of anxiety disorders that are characterized by their individual symptoms:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder—A fairly constant state of worry and tension that does not appear to be related to any particular situation or event, and that lasts a minimum of six months.
• Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD—Following a traumatic event or events, PTSD involves severe stress symptoms that last longer than one month.
• Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder or OCD—When an individual has recurrent anxious thoughts or impulses and they attempt to reduce or control those thoughts or impulses through ritualistic or repetitive behaviors, this is known as OCD.
• Phobias—Phobias are fears that are overwhelming, involuntary, and irrational. These fears could be of a thing, an event, or a place. Many people are afraid of snakes and spiders, but phobias go further—to the point the individual is almost paralyzed by fear.
• Panic Disorder—panic disorders are repeated anxiety or terror attacks that appear to have no readily identifiable cause and last up to ten minutes.

Generalized anxiety disorder causes the individual to worry about everyday life events for no apparent reason. A person with generalized anxiety disorder always expects disaster and is unable to stop worrying about school, work, health, family, or money. While we all feel anxiety from time to time, those with generalized anxiety disorder feel anxiety that is totally out of proportion to the situation.

This anxiety can dominate the thinking to the point it becomes impossible to live a “normal” life—work, school, social relationships, and even day-to-day activities—could be completely overwhelming. It is estimated that about 4 million American adults have GAD, usually beginning in childhood or adolescence, but sometimes in adulthood.  Those with generalized anxiety disorder may also have other anxiety disorders, including PTSD, phobias, or OCD.  

Is Anxiety Disorder/Generalized Anxiety Disorder a Disability Under Social Security Disability Rules?

Anxiety disorders are considered by the Social Security Administration under Section 12.06 of the impairment listings which covers Mental Disorders. Because the medical evidence that supports a diagnosis of anxiety is so subjective (and difficult to document), it can be frustrating for a person that suffers from anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder to feel as though their reported symptoms are not entirely believed. It is important that you have a history of treatment by a qualified mental health professional as well as your physician. You must meet the conditions of either Paragraphs A and B OR the conditions of Paragraphs A and C below: