Severe depression and anxiety can interfere with your life, making it difficult to function both socially and professionally. When your symptoms are severe enough to prevent you from working, you could be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.
To qualify for benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must demonstrate to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that your condition is serious enough to prevent you from earning a living. Our Fayetteville disability lawyers have been working with the SSA and disability applicants for over two decades. You could benefit from our experience.
Depression and anxiety are serious medical conditions that could severely impact a person’s qualify of life. If you are suffering from a mental impairment that negatively affects your ability to work, contact our law offices at (479) 316-0438.
When Does Depression Qualify as a Disability?
People who suffer from depression will often become overwhelmed, feel blue or in a lousy mood for hours. Depression makes it impossible to enjoy activities you once did and could cripple your productivity. Feelings of reduced self-worth and hopelessness plague depressed individuals. It also has physical symptoms, such as regular headaches and insomnia.
Symptoms of depression also often build upon one another. Chronic low energy will elicit feelings of worthlessness. Clinical depression often renders individuals functionless, making it impossible to perform routine tasks or make rational decisions. When depression reaches a debilitating state, it could qualify as a disability for Social Security benefits. Three specific forms of depression are recognized as debilitating conditions.
Dysthymia
Dysthymia is a medical disorder characterized by anhedonia and depression. People with this condition are unable to find pleasure in ordinarily pleasurable things. Depending on its severity, this condition could last for two years or more. This chronic condition could significantly impact a person’s ability to accomplish everyday tasks.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder occurs when someone experiences overwhelming and persistent sadness. Sadness is a part of being human. However, when sadness becomes all-consuming and chronic, it is a major depressive disorder.
Manic Depression
Manic depression is also called bipolar disorder. Individuals who suffer from this disorder will often experience episodes involving paranoia, psychosis, delusions, and even hallucinations. Manic depression is often associated with violent mood swings, ranging from extreme lows and highs.
Can Anxiety Qualify as a Disability?
Anxiety, such as social anxiety and other anxiety disorders, can make it difficult, if not impossible, to function socially with friends, family, and co-workers. When a person is suffering from severe anxiety, their life could be completely disrupted. If your anxiety makes it impossible to work, you could be eligible for disability benefits.
Some common anxiety disorders that could be severe enough to qualify for disability include post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and even general anxiety. If your symptoms are well documented and significantly debilitating, you could meet the requirements under the SSA’s impairment listings. If you have been diagnosed with any of the above disorders and find it difficult to function socially, leave the house, manage day-to-day tasks, or concentrate, contact our Arkansas disability lawyers.
What are the symptoms of depression that can qualify for disability benefits?
People who suffer from depression could qualify for disability benefits. Eligibility often depends on the type of symptoms associated with the depression. Some common symptoms include:
- Debilitating restlessness
- Decreased energy and fatigue
- Decreased interest in activities that were once enjoyed
- Difficulty making decisions or concentrating on the task at hand
- Excess sleeping
- Feelings of failure, worthlessness, or guilt
- Insomnia
- Overwhelming anxiety
- Overwhelming hopelessness or sadness
- Physical pain, including digestive problems and headaches
- Rapid and fluctuating weight gain or loss
This list is not exhaustive. However, to qualify for disability benefits with anyone or the listed symptoms, similar ones, or a combination of several, they must be severe enough to prevent you from performing your necessary job duties. Our Farmington disability attorneys will work closely with your mental healthcare providers to compile evidence to support your claim.
Is my anxiety severe enough to qualify for disability benefits?
Millions of Americans struggle every day with anxiety. If you are among these individuals, you know how challenging day-to-day tasks can be. For some people, their anxiety is so severe that it affects their ability to live a normal life. When a medical condition reaches this level, the person suffering could be eligible for disability benefits.
To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits for anxiety, you must meet the SSA’s requirements. Our Rogers, AR disability lawyers will help gather medical documentation that demonstrates that your anxiety has characteristics, including fatigue, panic attacks, irritability, or other symptoms that make it impossible to work.
Can I Get Additional Disability Benefits With Depression and Anxiety to Support My Family?
Social Security Disability benefits claims based on depression or anxiety require extensive medical documentation and a history of treatment. Any mental health claim requires an expert understanding of the evaluation process employed by the Social Security Administration. If you fail to provide compelling medical evidence, your claim will likely be denied. You need to provide evidence that supports the severity of your condition, including its impact on your ability to work. If you work with our experienced Washington County disability attorneys, we will do everything possible to ensure your claim is approved.
Should I contact a disability lawyer about anxiety and depression benefits?
Applying for disability benefits under the best of circumstances is challenging. When applying for SSDI or SSI with depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition, the process could seem even more overwhelming. Our Harris disability lawyers have decades of experience handling difficult cases. Call (479) 316-0438 to review your claim.