Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Anxiety Disorders
People with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.
Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. You can have more than one anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment. To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 12.00 of the Blue Book.
Do Anxiety Disorders Qualify for Disability?
Yes, people with anxiety disorders do qualify, but they need to meet the requirements of the SSA’s guidelines for this disability. You must meet the conditions of Paragraphs A and B below OR the conditions of Paragraphs A and C below.
- You must have medical documentation of one of the following:
- Constant generalized anxiety, with three of the following four symptoms: motor tension, vigilance and scanning, autonomic hyperactivity, or apprehensive expectation.
- Constant irrational fear of a situation, object, or activity that results in a significant desire to avoid the situation, object, or activity.
- Recurring severe panic attacks that are characterized by sudden unpredictable episodes of intense fear, apprehension, terror, and a sense of impending doom that happen at least once a week.
- Recurrent compulsions or obsessions that cause marked distress.
- Recurring intrusive remembrances of a traumatic experience that causes marked distress.
- The condition under Paragraph A above must result in at least two of the following OR Paragraph C below:
- Marked problems maintaining concentration.
- Marked difficulties with persistence, or pace.
- Repeated periods of decompensation, each of extended duration.
- Marked difficulties maintaining social functioning; or restriction of routine activities of daily life.
- The conditions described in Paragraph A must result in your total inability to function independently outside your home.
It is possible to be awarded either complete disability benefits or to be awarded a medical vocational allowance if you meet the tests discussed above.
How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits?
To apply for disability benefits, it’s important to understand the disability application process. If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
