Millions of Americans struggle to cope with anxiety. The condition can affect nearly every aspect of your life, rendering it hard to build and maintain relationships, engage in social settings and participate in activities that you enjoy. And if your anxiety is severe enough, it can render it impossible to secure and hold a job. This can leave you in a difficult financial position, struggling to make ends meet. As a result, you may wind up facing eviction, foreclosure or repossession, and you might even struggle to put food on the table. All of these challenges can perpetuate your feelings of stress and anxiety.
Fortunately, you might be able to secure Social Security Disability benefits to help provide financial relief while you find a way to live with your overwhelming anxiety. But you won’t be granted these benefits simply because you request them. Instead, you’ll have to develop strong arguments that speak to the legal requirements that must be met before disability benefits will be provided. Let’s look at what those requirements are so that you have a better idea of what you need to prove in your disability case.
Qualifying for disability benefits when you suffer from anxiety
Not everyone with anxiety will qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. To prove to the federal government that you warrant support through the disability system, you may have to show the following:
- That your condition results in restlessness, fatigue, concentration issues, muscle tension or sleep difficulties.
- That you suffer from panic attacks that leave you worried about subsequent panic attacks.
- You have panic attacks or agoraphobia that creates a disproportionate fear about engaging in certain activities.
- You suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder.
- Your condition creates severe limitations on certain aspects of your live, such as the ability to understand or remember information, the ability to interact with other people and your overall ability to take care of yourself.
- Your condition has lasted for at least two years, has required extensive medical treatment and has left you with a limited ability to adapt to your surroundings.
You don’t have to show all these characteristics to qualify for disability benefits for anxiety. So, make sure you review the condition-specific requirements in the disability bluebook so that you know exactly what you have to show in your case.
Gathering evidence to support your disability claim
Building a Social Security Disability case is no walk in the park. It’ll require close attention to detail, a willingness to diligently seek out medical care and professional opinions and an awareness of how your condition impacts your life. So, be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations, seeking out second opinions if needed. Be sure to create a written account of how your condition affects your ability to work and live a normal life, too. Witness accounts can be helpful here, so consider how those closest to you can help you paint a picture. Just be as comprehensive as possible when gathering evidence to meet the anxiety-specific requirements so that you don’t miss an opportunity for success.
Don’t leave your Social Security Disability claim to chance
If you want to increase your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome from your disability claim, then you need to be strategic in how you build your case. If you try to improvise your way through the process, then you’ll be destined for claim denial. So, now is the time to sit down, think through the best way to present your claim and take control of the process ahead of you. Hopefully then you’ll be able to find the financial relief needed while you focus on living the best life possible under your unique set of circumstances.