Can I Receive Social Security for Anxiety or Panic Attacks?

Many Americans suffer from anxiety or panic attacks that are so debilitating that they have difficulty functioning in day to day life. Those who apply for Social Security benefits based on anxiety or panic attacks often also have other conditions that prevent them from working, but it is possible for one to receive benefits based on anxiety and/or panic attacks alone.

Social Security essentially has two ways you can successfully receive benefits for these types of cases. The first way is to meet a listing in the Social Security Administration’s listings manual. The other way is through the medical vocational allowance process, where it will be determined that a particular claimant cannot return to work activity at a level that earns a substantial and gainful income. This includes not being able to return to any past jobs performed in the past fifteen years as well as the inability to adjust to other types of work.

To meet the Social Security listing for anxiety, you must have three or more of the following: restlessness; easily fatigued; difficulty concentrating; irritability; muscle tension; or sleep disturbance. You must also have an extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning: the ability to understand, remember, or apply information; the ability to interact with others; the ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and to adapt or manage oneself.

To meet the Social Security listing for panic attacks, you must have: panic attacks followed by a persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences; or a disproportionate fear or anxiety about at least two different situations (i.e., using public transportation, being in a crowd, being in a line, being in open spaces, etc.). You must also have an extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning: the ability to understand, remember, or apply information; the ability to interact with others; the ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and to adapt or manage oneself.

To be successful with one of these claims, an established mental health history is crucial (i.e., hospitalizations, mental health counseling, and medications, all of which document the severity of your condition.