Anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, and PTSD can be debilitating conditions. Anxiety symptoms can cause a person to lose their job or become unable to even leave their home to be able to work.
Having an official diagnosis in the medical records is crucial. If the person is struggling with symptoms of anxiety, the person should be evaluated by a psychiatrist to be officially diagnosed. This diagnosis needs to be included in the medical records that will be evaluated by the Social Security Administration.
An important factor to remember is that SSI benefits are calculated from the time the person applies for benefits. Therefore, even if the person is unsure about whether they want SSDI for anxiety, the person should apply as soon as possible.
If people who applied decide that they do not want to get SSDI for anxiety, they can withdraw their applications or decline the benefits if approved. If the person is employed part-time but is unable to work full-time, the person should remember that they may be able to continue working part-time as long as they report their income to the Social Security Administration.
The paperwork for SSI for anxiety disorders includes a personal account of how the anxiety symptoms affect the person’s ability to perform daily tasks. The person should honestly disclose how anxiety symptoms have limited their ability to perform daily tasks.
The criteria for SSI benefits for anxiety are medical records showing significant anxiety symptoms and the inability to leave the home alone or social, cognitive, or occupational impairment. Records from doctors, psychiatrists, hospitals, and government agencies like the VA or Mental Health and Mental Retardation may be reviewed when the person’s application is evaluated.
The psychiatric evaluation of symptoms is recommended even if the person decides not to file for SSI. Anxiety disorder are treatable conditions. It may take a considerable amount of time to control the anxiety symptoms. A person may want to consider SSI as a temporary benefit while working towards empowerment over this disability.
Sheila Wilson describes the anxiety symptoms, weird phobias, and PTSD including what is a flashback. On her blog, she discusses ways to become independent after receiving SSI for anxiety disorders. For details, please visit these websites.
