Many people in Ohio suffer from the emotional or mental disorder known as anxiety or stress. Sometimes, the effects of this disorder can interfere with a person’s ability to work, In this post, we will review the requirements of the Social Security Administration or SSA for obtaining disability benefits for personality disorders related to stress and anxiety.
The SSA defines an anxiety-related disorder as a disorder in which anxiety is “either the predominant disturbance” or it is experienced whenever the individual attempts to confront the object of the disturbance and suffers a phobic or compulsive disorder. In other words, the paralyzing or disabling effect of the disorder must either be constant or arise whenever the person meets the situation that causes the anxiety.
An award of Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI benefits will be granted only if the applicant first provides medically documented findings of observable manifestations of anxiety, such as motor tension, autonomic hyperactivity, an irrational fear of a specific object or situation which causes “a compelling desire” to avoid the object or situation. The applicant must also show that the condition causes a marked restriction of activities of daily living, marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, or repeated episodes of decompensation or ability to function.
Obtaining SSDI benefits for any sort of mental or emotional condition can be very difficult. The symptoms are largely subjective and cannot be verified by an examination or medical procedure such as an X-ray or MRI scan. Anyone who is contemplating seeking disability benefits for an anxiety-related disorder will likely have various questions about filing a SSDI claim. A knowledgeable attorney can assist the applicant in compiling and presenting the necessary employment and medical information and can also provide advice on appeal rights if the initial application is denied.
Source: Social Security Administration, “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security – 12.00 Mental Disorders – Adult,” accessed on July 15, 2016