How Social Security Decides if Anxiety Qualifies as a Disability
The SSA recognizes anxiety and related disorders, such as depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as mental health impairments eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
But simply having a diagnosis isn’t enough.
For your claim to qualify for disability benefits, Social Security must see strong medical evidence showing that your anxiety causes severe functional limitations, such as:
- Trouble concentrating or completing tasks
- Extreme restlessness or muscle tension
- Fatigue or exhaustion that disrupts work performance
- Sleep problems
- Panic attacks
- Difficulty interacting with others
- Inability to handle routine changes or daily pressures
Medical documentation is one of the most important parts of your case. This includes:
- Diagnosis and treatment notes from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed counselor
- Results of psychological testing and functional evaluations
- Detailed therapy records, medication lists and side effects
- Statements from friends, family, or coworkers describing how your anxiety alters your daily life
The SSA will also consider whether your symptoms have lasted, or are expected to last, at least 12 months, as well as whether you’ve followed recommended treatment.
Many people in Georgia are denied benefits at the initial stage, even with a valid anxiety diagnosis. If that happens, you have the right to appeal, and the wait for a hearing can be months. Having an experienced Georgia Social Security lawyer during this process can make a major difference.
Wondering if your case of anxiety could qualify for disability benefits?
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Building a Strong Anxiety Disability Claim in Georgia
When you apply for Social Security Disability for anxiety, you must show how it prevents you from doing what Social Security considers to be substantial work.
This means proving your symptoms affect you not just occasionally, but often enough and in debilitating enough fashion to make regular employment impossible.
Your case is stronger when you include:
- Objective medical evidence from qualified health care providers in Georgia
- Consistent treatment records showing you’ve tried to manage your anxiety through therapy, medication or other methods prescribed by doctors and mental health professionals
- Statements from people who know you well describing your daily struggles
- Evidence of work disruptions, such as missed days, reduced hours, or being unable to complete tasks on schedule
From our Athens offices, Silver & Archibald disability lawyers have helped thousands of Georgians win disability benefits, including many struggling with severe anxiety.
Because we’re based right here in Georgia, we know the doctors, health care providers, Social Security offices, and disability judges in our communities.
Social Security’s own numbers show Silver & Archibald as the top Georgia-based disability law firm by the amount of benefits we win for our clients.
YOU PAY NO UP-FRONT FEE. You only pay your lawyer when you win.
Contact us for help getting disability benefits for anxiety.
Get to Know Silver & Archibald Disability Attorneys
Legal cases involving your health struggles are highly personal matters. When you’re looking for help, you want someone who treats you with the personal care, respect, and dignity this moment requires.
Answers to Common Questions About Social Security Disability
Social Security Disability is a huge program with a vast set of rules. As a resource for you as you sort out your disability claim, the disability lawyers at Silver & Archibald have prepared answers to some of the most common questions people have.
Common Disability Benefits Questions »
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