How to Get Disability Benefits for Anxiety

Government Help for Mood Disorders, Panic Attacks, and Depression

Sep 29, 2009

Millions of people are affected by anxiety, and many also struggle with depression. If they are unable to work, they may be eligible for government disability benefits.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and other forms of anxiety affect around 20 million people annually. Some estimates are as high as 40 million. GAD is characterized by persistent worry and nervousness that permeates aspects of everyday life.

People without GAD may suffer from panic attacks or other anxiety problems, as well. Some people have both GAD and panic attacks, or they couple their generalized anxiety disorder with another mental health or mood disorder such as bipolar disorder or depression.

While not everyone takes anxiety sufferers seriously, even in the medical profession, it is possible to get disability benefits for mental health conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and other anxiety and depression-related issues. Getting the proper diagnosis is a crucial first step, and some anxiety sufferers end up hiring lawyers to fight for their disability benefits.

What Are Disability Benefits for Anxiety Disorders?

Disability benefits are designed to help people who can't work so that they can have some money and be able to survive with a reasonable quality of life. Primarily, they are geared toward people with physical anomalies such as missing limbs and other serious handicaps. They can also be used for people who have traumatic injuries or mental impairments. The diagnosis of the person is not as important as the limits the person has in determining whether that person will receive disability benefits, and that applies to mental as well as physical conditions.

People with anxiety disorders sometimes have a hard time getting disability benefits, but that's not because they have anxiety – it's because the benefits are determined based on a person's disability level. In other words, if the person isn't considered disabled "enough," no matter what is wrong with him, he still won't be granted disability benefits.

Anxiety can be proven with a doctor's diagnosis and that can help a person who's suffering get his disability claim. Even though some people find it difficult to believe that a rational adult could be too fearful, on a daily basis, to function as a productive member of society, anxiety is a valid diagnosis for a potentially debilitating mental health condition.

Getting Disability Benefits for Anxiety or Depression

To receive disability benefits for generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, depression, or any other disability a person claims, he must not be able to perform any past jobs he has worked at in the last 15 years. He also must be ruled incapable of performing any other jobs he's deemed qualified for at the time he applies for disability benefits.

However, he can apply for benefits at any time after his diagnosis, even if he's worked since that diagnosis. Anxiety or depression can worsen over time in some people, which could render a person with generalized anxiety disorder or depression disabled at a later date, well past the time of the original diagnosis.

Proper Diagnosis is Very Important When Applying for Disability Benefits for Anxiety

Anyone applying for disability benefits based on generalized anxiety disorder must be sure that GAD is his official diagnosis. Some forms of anxiety are not considered as much of an impairment, and that could affect what, if any, benefits the person receives. For example, if a person has a diagnosis of agoraphobia (fear of leaving the home or being in open spaces) and has education and/or experience as a writer or editor, it might be difficult for him to obtain disability benefits, because writing and editing can be done from home.

A person who is afraid to leave his home due to anxiety could still, theoretically, work in this capacity. This is why a diagnosis of GAD and not some other form or type of anxiety is important where disability benefits are concerned. However, people with other forms of anxiety and other mental health conditions can and do receive disability benefits. Depending on what kind of disorder or condition a person has, how he's diagnosed can have a lot to do with whether a disability claim is approved and what kinds of benefits are offered.

If a person with generalized anxiety disorder or another mental health condition becomes capable — through medication, therapy or other means — of working productively while receiving disability benefits, that person should have the benefits discontinued.

Disability benefits are only for people who truly need them, and if a person is working and receiving benefits, allegedly because he can't work, he could be in trouble with the law. The idea of "easy money" or faking an anxiety or depression diagnosis to get out of work is not worth the risk, and it harms the legitimate disability benefit claims of people who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, severe depression, and other mental health conditions.

Resources for Disability Benefits for Anxiety:

The copyright of the article How to Get Disability Benefits for Anxiety in Personality/Anxiety/Mood Disorders is owned by Michielle Beck. Permission to republish How to Get Disability Benefits for Anxiety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.