Can I Get Disability For Anxiety

Social security disability is designed to help people who have become too disabled to work due to illness or injury. If you have an anxiety disorder like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or some other condition that interferes with your ability to do basic daily activities, you may be eligible for social security disability insurance (SSDI).

You will need to show that your impairment is severe enough to prevent you from doing any gainful activity. The following examples show how two different types of impairments affect a person’s ability to engage in substantial gainful employment:

Impairment(s)

Type 1 – Severely limited physical or mental abilities resulting in marked restriction of movement; or any disease or medical conditions affecting major body functions, such as breathing, blood circulation, muscle control, digestion, etc…

Type 2 – A combination of both severe physical and/or mental limitations which together constitute total lack of mobility necessary to perform any and every type of available occupation within a general area of comparison (e.g., skilled tradesman, professional occupations, commerce & sales.)
If you suffer from either type of impairment described above, you may be eligible for SSDI. In order to apply for disability you must first consult with a licensed physician. Many doctors will not consider you disabled unless there has been a documented period of at least one year during which your symptoms were so severe that they kept you out of work. This could include having trouble performing even the most routine tasks, like getting dressed or bathing yourself.

Once you’ve determined whether or not you’re eligible, you’ll want to gather all relevant information about your past job experiences. Any employer will likely ask for this information when making a hiring decision. Your employer may request that you undergo a functional capacity evaluation before returning to work. During this test you would go through several job tasks under the supervision of a trained examiner. An examiner will observe you throughout the day to see how you respond to various situations. Afterward, he or she will give you feedback on what you did well and where improvements should be made.

After gathering information on your job history, you will then begin filling out forms required by the SSA. These documents usually require four to six months to prepare. Once completed, these forms will allow us to determine if you meet the criteria needed for disability. To find out more specific information on how to file for SSDI, visit http://www.ssa.gov/disability/apply/.
A qualified psychologist has evaluated me over three times since my husband died. She says that because of my grief I am unable to return to work full time. When asked why she said that I was “too depressed” to make a rational choice. I told her that there was no way I could return to work fulltime without feeling miserable. Her response was, “Well, we don’t think you should.”

I understand that I cannot just quit working and expect to collect SSDI immediately but does the fact that I’m being denied mean my depression is disabling? What kind of effect does this have on my case? How long does the process take? Is there anything else that needs to be done? Please let me know!
It sounds like you are dealing with a very difficult situation. Although it may seem unfair that you are expected to be happy while grieving the loss of someone you love, it is important to remember that many people manage to cope with significant losses and still live normal lives. It takes time for you to adjust to life after a spouse dies and it may take longer than you’d like. However, it is unlikely that you would be able to continue working full-time until your application is approved.

The amount of time it takes to obtain approval varies depending upon the severity of your condition and the number of claims filed. Some cases can only be handled by phone because of the complexity involved. If you believe that you are eligible for SSDI based on your condition, you should contact our office for assistance filing your claim.

Your questions regarding the effects of grief on your eligibility for SSDI were answered above. As far as delaying your claim goes, unfortunately, there really isn’t much you can do short of waiting around. The SSA typically doesn’t approve claims for grief related conditions until sometime later, especially those caused by death. There is nothing you can do except wait. However, keep in mind that you won’t necessarily have to wait indefinitely. Your claim may be processed sooner if your circumstances change. The SSA reviews claims periodically and they may choose to reevaluate them. So, don’t worry too much about delays.

In addition to the paperwork that you fill out, there are also psychological evaluations that you might need to complete. These tests assess your current level of functioning and give insight into how your condition affects your daily living. The psychologist who conducts these tests will write a report summarizing his findings. If you have difficulty completing the testing, you may be referred to a local agency for additional services.

To learn more about applying for SSDI, please visit the link below.
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/apply/index.htm

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