We all suffer from anxiety at one time or another. But for some, their anxiety is so severe that it prohibits them from living a normal life, including securing and maintaining meaningful work. This can leave them in a difficult position where they need to pay for treatment to try to get a handle on their condition, but they lack the income to pay for such care and to support their daily living. This can create more stress and generate more anxiety, leading to a vicious cycle that can be difficult to escape.
Fortunately, these individuals may be able to secure Social Security Disability benefits. If they’re successful in doing so, then they can receive monthly payments to help stabilize them as they focus on managing their condition, perhaps even to the point that they’re able to return to work. But how do you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if you suffer from extreme anxiety?
How anxiety sufferers may qualify for disability benefits
Every disabling condition recognized by the Social Security Disability system has its own unique set of requirements that must be met before benefits will be paid out. For anxiety sufferers, this includes the following:
- That you suffer from anxiety disorder that includes at least three identified characteristics, including restlessness, fatigue, concentration issues, irritability muscle tension and sleep problems.
- That your condition places limitations on two identified activities, which includes your ability to engage with others, your ability to concentrate, and your ability to manage yourself, amongst others.
If you prove the first point above, then alternative to the second point you can instead show that your condition is “serious and persistent.” This means that you have medical evidence demonstrating that your condition has lasted at least two years and that you receive significant medical treatment. As part of that alternative, you must also show that, despite that treatment, you still struggle to adapt to changes in your surroundings.
It’s also worth noting that you can qualify for disability benefits if you suffer from a panic disorder. Here, you’ll have to prove the second point above or its alternative, as well as that you suffer from panic attacks and that you have a disproportionate fear about at least two activities.
What mistakes could you make?
There’s no guarantee that your disability claim will be paid out. In fact, a lot of disability claims are denied. The biggest mistakes that could jeopardize your claim are failing to gather and submit sufficient medical evidence, which is often attributable to a failure to seek adequate medical care, and submitting an incomplete application that speaks to the requirements that you have to prove. You don’t want to make these avoidable errors in your case, which is why now is the time to get to work understanding the nature of your case, what you have to prove and how you can develop the strong case needed to succeed.
Do you want to learn more about how to build a disability claim based on excessive anxiety?
If so, then be sure to speak to your attorney about the process. We know that embroiling yourself in the legal arena might leave you feeling even more anxious, but your attorney can lift that burden from your shoulders so that you don’t have to focus on navigating the intricacies of your situation. Hopefully then you’ll be able to find some peace of mind knowing that your case is in good hands and that powerful legal arguments are being advanced on your behalf.