Is anxiety a disability? How to qualify for benefits

Anxiety is the feeling of fear, dread, or uneasiness despite the lack of physical danger. You may feel a sense of impending doom or as if you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not only can it cause mental and emotional distress, sparking panic attacks or depression in turn, but it may also manifest in physical ways, such as indigestion, lack of concentration, irritability, and sleep disturbances.

Some amount of anxiety is normal and healthy. It’s a normal response of your sympathetic nervous system, and for some people, attending therapy helps with learning coping skills to manage a persistent anxiety disorder. But in other cases, the anxiety doesn’t go away and may prevent you from working or force you to work fewer hours. 

If you’re dealing with overwhelming anxiety, know you’re not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 43% of adults report feeling more anxious in 2024 than in previous years. 

At this point, anxiety may be considered a disability, and you could qualify for disability benefits. However, to get disability for anxiety, you have to meet the qualifications and criteria listed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

If the intensity of your anxiety disorder meets the SSA’s criteria, you will qualify for disability benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 

Yet, it’s not uncommon for the SSA to deny the majority of anxiety-related disability claims. According to research published by DisabilitySecrets, less than four in ten (37%) of survey responders with a mood or anxiety disorder were approved for benefits. It’s also time and labor-intensive to submit a claim. A substantial amount of medical records are required to prove your anxiety disorder harms your ability to maintain employment. 

For veterans, a similar amount of proof is required to qualify for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA considers anxiety a disability. Applying can be a simpler process if you work with an accredited representative, as they know the VA’s claims process well.

However, proper preparation and support can increase your chances of having your claim for disability for anxiety approved. Detailed medical records, accounts of your emotional symptoms, mental health journey, and testaments from your family, friends, and mental health professionals can all help strengthen your case. If you receive an initial denial, you can adjust your case and submit for an appeal. 

The Social Security Administration lists disability qualification criteria it uses to examine your claim. These are the different evidentiary requirements:

• Medical evidence: Your medical records prove a qualified medical professional has evaluated, examined, or treated you. They often serve as proof of a formal diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder or an anxiety-related condition, such as a panic disorder. 
• Existence of impairment: The medical evidence must include specific examples of how the diagnosed anxiety disorder manifests for you and impacts your life. The SSA has regulations about what qualifies as the existence of an impairment. 
• Severity: You also need non-medical documentation that accounts for the severity of the anxiety and how symptoms like panic attacks or phobias affect your ability to work. It’s often taken into consideration by the SSA after it has evaluated the medical evidence. The SSA may accept statements from you as the claimant, as well as those from family members, caregivers, and therapists.
• Evidence relating to symptoms: These are the physical, mental, or emotional impairments caused by anxiety to the individual. It’s often best to link these symptoms to daily activities, expressing how they make your daily routine more challenging. Evidence can range from medication side effects to the intensity of the symptoms. 

The SSA is looking for clear and convincing evidence that your anxiety disorder is a significant impairment to your ability to work. Try to be as thorough as possible in your claim.

What types of anxiety qualify for Social Security disability benefits?

You can seek disability insurance for a diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder or an anxiety-related disorder. The Social Security Administration’s Blue Book documents the conditions covered under an anxiety disability claim. Within the “Mental Disorders” page of the Blue Book, the SSA documents which types of anxiety may qualify for disability, including the mental health conditions that most commonly qualify for anxiety disability benefits: 

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder that includes symptoms like restlessness and sleep disturbances, as well as other issues
• Agoraphobia and other phobias
• Social anxiety disorder that leads to impairment when interacting with others
• Panic disorder characterized by a disproportionate fear or anxiety over certain situations that could lead to impairment

It’s worth noting that the VA’s list of qualifying mental health conditions also includes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), alongside anxiety and depression. 

If you’re seeking Social Security disability benefits, you’ve most likely already tried to overcome your anxiety in other ways. Disability benefits are a last resort. Yet, as much as you’re able, try to implement self-care strategies to support your well-being during the disability for anxiety claim process. You can continue to try different strategies to improve your mental health, developing skills to help calm yourself down in overwhelming situations to avoid panic attacks or overcome phobias.

Note that these practices are flexible. On days when your anxiety disorder feels too intense, focus on completing only one or two. If your anxiety feels more manageable another day, aim to do more. 

There are two main types of disability benefits you can qualify for from the SSA: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI).  

• SSDI: You can qualify for SSDI benefits if you’ve developed a disability or are blind. Your SSDI benefits are based on your earnings or those of your spouse or parents. 
• SSI: These are cash payments made to individuals who are aged, blind, or have a disability and who have limited income and resources. Some states may pay people who qualify for SSI sums in addition to the amount provided by the federal government. 

Depending on the nature of your anxiety disorder disability claim, economic status, and access to resources, your claim will fall into either the SSDI or SSI category. It’s also worth looking into your state’s disability benefits. State-sponsored support can be an option if your SSA disability claim is denied or stalled. 

According to the SSA’s website, people who have disabilities but still work can buy into Medicaid. In some cases, Medicaid provides more help than health insurance you receive through an employer. In most cases, you would choose this option if you would otherwise qualify for disability if it weren’t for your income. If you are not an SSI recipient, your state decides if you have a disability. Your state doesn’t consider whether you’re working when it makes its decision. 

Necessary medical evidence to claim SSI or SSDI disability for anxiety benefits

One of the most important parts of your anxiety disorder claim is providing enough medical evidence to support it. Aim to give as much context about your diagnosis as possible here. The more information you provide, the stronger your case. The baseline of your claim for disability benefits should include the following:

• Medical records that include a formal diagnosis for generalized anxiety disorder or another qualifying mental health disorder from a qualified medical professional.
• All mental health and physical records that illustrate how the diagnosed anxiety disorder and related symptoms, like panic attacks, depression, or social anxiety, have impacted your life.
• Written testimonies from coworkers, family members, friends, and others that express how anxiety impacts your ability to perform daily work-related tasks. These should include specific references to symptoms, like panic attacks, ongoing worry, signs of depression, or an inability to engage in certain situations due to a phobia.
• Your written statement that expresses the challenges presented by anxiety and how it makes your day-to-day life more difficult. For example, this could describe how a panic disorder or agoraphobia causes an inability for you to take public transportation.
• Proof of ongoing and long-term treatment that has been administered or prescribed by your doctor. This may include medications, types of mental health therapy, counseling, or other treatments for related symptoms like sleep disturbance or a panic disorder. 

Your goal with this evidence is to paint a picture of how symptoms of anxiety prevent you from working. Anxiety journaling may help illustrate how anxiety restricts your ability to work and perform regular activities. 

Disability application process

The SSA considers disability for anxiety applications through a process outlined in its Blue Book. Here are the four steps involved in a general application process to submit a claim for a disability for anxiety:

1. You submit a claim. Using the SSA’s claim portal, you can submit an initial application for disability benefits. From there, the SSA will determine if your disability for anxiety claim is passed down to a local office or whether more information is needed over the phone or in person. 
2. The field office verifies non-medical eligibility requirements. It will validate your age, employment, and marital status.
3. The Disability Determination Services (DDS) evaluates the claim. After the basics are confirmed, the field office sends the claim to the DDS. It’s a state agency funded by the federal government that is responsible for making an initial determination on whether the claimant is disabled or not. The DDS looks at your claim, examining the provided documentation for symptoms of anxiety. It also considers any proof for related mental health disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder and what mental health therapy and other treatments you’re undergoing.
4. The claim is approved or denied. If the claim is approved, the SSA determines a payment amount and sends you benefits. If the SSA denies your claim, the file is kept at the field office in case you want to appeal the decision. 

Throughout the evaluation process, you’re responsible for sharing any updates or new information about your disability claim with the SSA. This information may be used as part of the evaluation. 

Additionally, if the SSA deems the provided medical sources aren’t enough to warrant a claim, or there is confusing documentation of your anxiety disorder symptoms, it may seek more information. In most cases, the SSA prefers that your doctors provide the additional information. The SSA may also pay the medical professional any fees or hourly charges to obtain more information. 

 In some cases, the SSA may consult with an independent medical source to provide more context or validate the disability claim. Here are some potential instances in which the SSA may seek out a third party to help: 

• The provided medical information is not properly qualified by a medical professional as stated by the SSA’s regulations.
• There are conflicts, inconsistencies, or information that’s lacking in the claim to create a complete picture of anxiety’s impact on the claimant.
• The claimant’s medical professional doesn’t have the proper qualifications, devices, or equipment to provide the necessary information.
• The claimant would rather work with a different provider. 

Due to the complexities of filing a formal disability claim, it can be helpful to work with a disability lawyer. They can help ease the fear and types of stress you may experience when applying for disability benefits. 

If you’re in a financially difficult situation, there are some firms that work on a contingency fee basis to represent people seeking disability benefits. However, you should always conduct adequate research and properly vet any firm before agreeing to work with it. If you do opt to work with a disability lawyer, read the contract carefully. 

A good disability lawyer will advocate for you. They can help make your application as strong as possible to increase your chances of approval.

The SSA denies most disability claims. If this happens, try not to get discouraged. You still have other options for anxiety accommodations. Specifically, leveraging your right for reasonable accommodation at work could prove a huge help for managing work anxiety.

The following are some ideas to pose to your employer as reasonable accommodations for an anxiety disorder:

Many companies strive for diversity and inclusion. By self-advocating for invisible disabilities like anxiety and other mental disorders, you can help your organization create a welcoming and equitable environment for employees navigating disabilities at work. Additionally, fostering a mental-health-aware workplace may help reduce chronic stress. A workplace that values employees’ mental well-being is a healthy working environment. 

Pro tip: As you work on getting anxiety benefits, consider working anxiety-reducing practices into your daily routine to calm your anxiety. Good habits like journaling, walking, drinking enough water, breathwork, getting enough sleep, and other mindfulness practices can help you stay grounded. Note that these practices are flexible. On days when your anxiety disorder feels too intense, focus on completing only one or two. If your anxiety feels more manageable another day, aim to do more.

While you’re creating your SSA benefits claim, make sure you’re maintaining good personal well-being practices. It can feel discouraging to receive a denial. Still, by building a solid foundation for managing a generalized anxiety disorder or an anxiety-related condition, you can better navigate the challenges you encounter to avoid worrying and overthinking.

Sometimes, working with a life coach, counselor, or other mental health professional can help. This person is someone who can provide support and guidance as you apply for disability benefits and manage an anxiety disorder. The coaches at BetterUp are trained with the proper skills and knowledge to support your mental health journey with compassion. 

Learn to manage your anxiety with a BetterUp Coach.