Anxiety Disability Lawyer in California

Skilled and Compassionate Anxiety Disability Lawyer

Anxiety, stress, fear, and worry may indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder. However, these feelings might also be normal reactions to everyday situations. For example, worrying about an upcoming job interview or concerns about financial issues can cause stress or anxiety. 

Feeling anxious or stressed on occasion is a normal part of life. Still, persistent or chronic anxiety that lingers and interferes with day-to-day activities, including work, could be a disabling medical condition. Anxiety disorder is a common mental health disorder affecting millions of people in the United States. Anxiety that prevents you from working could make you eligible for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.

Qualifying for disability benefits isn't easy. The Social Security Administration annually denies benefits to more than two-thirds of those who apply after the initial application review. This is why it’s so important to have medical records documenting your anxiety disorder and have a skilled and trusted disability lawyer from Sackett Law handling your disability benefits claim.

Sackett Law is the disability lawyer California residents rely upon for trusted advice and skilled representation. Whether you need help with an application, have questions about benefits, or need representation to appeal a claim denial, rely on Sackett Law to be there for you.

Can You Get Disability For Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are recognized as disabilities by the Social Security Administration (SSA) when they interfere with your ability to work. If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you may qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, depending on several factors. These include the type and severity of your symptoms and whether you meet the medical and nonmedical eligibility criteria.

For SSI, you must have limited income and resources for food, shelter, and other essentials. Resources should not exceed $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.

The nonmedical requirements for SSDI are different. You need a sufficiently long history of working and paying Social Security taxes on your earnings.

Is Social Anxiety A Disability?

The SSA defines disability for both SSI and SSDI applicants as a medical condition that can be proven with medical documentation that prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. The condition must be severe enough to prevent you from doing any type of work you did in the past, or that may be available in the national economy.

Partial or temporary disabilities do not meet the requirements to qualify for SSI or SSDI. The Disability Determination Services, state agencies that review applications on behalf of the SSA, follow a step-by-step process to decide if a person is disabled because of anxiety.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Fear, worry, and other emotional responses to life situations can be normal. However, they may be signs of an anxiety disorder when long-term and persistent. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent worries lasting at least six months, with symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle aches, uncontrollable worrying, and sleep disturbances.
• Panic Disorder: Frequent panic attacks characterized by unexpected periods of intense fear and discomfort, often without a clear trigger.
• Phobias: Intense fear of specific situations or objects that pose little or no threat, such as fear of flying or injections. Phobias can also include social situations (social anxiety disorder) and everyday situations (agoraphobia).

A Sackett Law disability lawyer can review your medical history to determine if it documents an anxiety disorder or if additional information is needed from your health care providers.

Diagnosing and Treating Anxiety

If you suspect you have an anxiety disorder, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Diagnosis typically begins with a medical history, a physical examination, blood tests, and a psychological evaluation.

Anxiety disorders are primarily treated with therapy and medication. Your doctor might recommend a combination of therapies to manage your symptoms effectively.

Is Anxiety a Disability?

If anxiety disorder symptoms prevent you from working, you may qualify for disability benefits. For example, a person with a severe fear of confined spaces or riding in a motor vehicle may be unable to work in jobs that require these conditions.

Qualifying for Social Security disability benefits with an anxiety disorder can be challenging. Having a medical diagnosis and ongoing care is essential to support your claim.

How Does Anxiety Qualify for Disability Benefits?

When you apply for disability benefits, the SSA reviews your application to ensure you meet nonmedical requirements. If you do, your application is forwarded to Disability Determination Services.

The DDS uses the Blue Book, which lists conditions severe enough to qualify as disabilities, to determine if your condition meets the definition of disabled. To be considered disabled due to anxiety, you must meet the criteria outlined in Section 12.06 of the Blue Book, which includes specific medical and functional requirements.

Suppose your anxiety disorder does not meet the exact criteria of the Blue Book listing. You might qualify by proving your condition is functionally equivalent to another listed disorder, such as personality disorders or depressive disorders. When a condition does not qualify using the Blue Book, the DDS assesses your residual functional capacity (RFC) to determine the work activities your limitations permit you to perform to decide if you are disabled.

Get Help From A Disability Lawyer

You can rely on the disability lawyers at Sackett Law to fight for your right to disability benefits. More than four decades of uncompromising commitment to achieving outstanding outcomes for its clients make Sackett Law the disability lawyers people in Northern California and throughout the country trust. Contact Sackett Law today for a free consultation.