Can You Qualify for Disability Due to an Anxiety Disorder?

Many Washington State residents suffer from an anxiety disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, an anxiety disorder is when someone has “intensive, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations.” While everyone experiences some level of anxiety in their daily life, an anxiety disorder can, in severe cases, make it impossible for a person to function in a workplace environment, which can qualify them for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

Social Security’s Standards for Assessing Anxiety Disorders

Under Social Security’s listings of mental impairments, a person claiming SSDI benefits due to anxiety disorder must first provide medical documentation of three or more of the following symptoms:

• restlessness;
• easily fatigued;
• difficulty concentrating;
• irritability;
• muscle tension; or
• sleep disturbance.

But symptoms are not enough to prove disability. The listing also requires proof that these symptoms impose an “extreme limitation” of one, or a “marked limitation” of two of the following areas of mental functioning:

• the ability to understand, remember, or apply information;
• the ability to interact with others;
• the ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; or
• the ability to adapt or manage oneself.

Alternatively, a person can still qualify for SSDI benefits if they can medically document their anxiety disorder has existed for at least 12 months or longer in duration and there is evidence that they have received medical treatment that “diminishes the symptoms and signs” of their disorder and they have “minimal capacity to adapt to changes” in their environment or to meet demands that are not already part of their daily life.

A Real-World Example

A recent decision from a federal judge here in Washington State, James ND v. Commissioner, illustrates how a person can successfully meet the requirements described above. In this case, a 28-year-old man (Claimant) applied for SSDI benefits based on his anxiety disorder. The Claimant lived alone in an apartment paid for by the state. He previously spent a number of years in jail and last worked at a gas station in 2019.

According to the evidence presented to Social Security, the plaintiff suffered from a number of mental impairments, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit disorder (ADD). Notably, the Claimant demonstrated “difficulty being out in public by himself.” His mother, acting as legal guardian, must regularly check on him and help him perform basic activities of daily living. When he’s out in public for any length of time, the Cliamant “becomes very anxious, and experiences racing heart rates and shortness of breath and feels like he is burning up.”

Although Social Security officials including an administrative law judge (ALJ) and the Appeals Council, denied the plaintiff’s application, a federal judge reversed and ordered an immediate award of SSDI benefits, noting the plaintiff’s condition made him able to have “only minimally necessary contact with the world outside his apartment.” Indeed, without state support and his mother’s assistance, the judge found the plaintiff would be homeless. Given this, the court concluded the plaintiff met the requirements for SSDI based on an anxiety disorder.

Contact a Social Security Disability (SSDI) Lawyer

Proving mental impairments to Social Security is often a complex process. As the case discussed above illustrates, you may need to go through multiple rounds of administrative review and appeals to receive an award of benefits. That is why it is crucial to work with an experienced Social Security Disability (SSDI) attorney. Contact Gustad Law Group, PLLC, today to schedule a consultation. We represent Claimants nationwide.

Source:

scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11183145400664473673