Can I get SSDI for severe anxiety and depression?

SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance may be available to you if you suffer from severe anxiety and depression. Like with all types of disability claims, you must show that the condition you have is severely debilitating so much so that you are unable to work. The degree of limitation you face is often the biggest hurdle to overcome with the Social Security Administration to get coverage. In addition, the condition must be one that is expected to last for at least 12 months. This can be hard to prove with anxiety and depression.

Proving Your Case

In order to prove your symptoms or conditions are severe enough for SSDI, you must meet the Listing of Impairments the Social Security Administration presents or otherwise prove the severity of the condition. For anxiety related disorders, the following is necessary:

• You must have symptoms that include three of the following: motor tension, nervous expectation, hypertension, vigilance.
• A constant irrational fear of a specific situation or of an object
• Frequent and severe panic attracts
• Obsessions and compulsions that lead to distress often
• Traumatic experiences that result in distress.

For depression, you must suffer from major clinical depression that interferes with the ability to cope throughout life. The condition must be severely limiting to the person to cope with daily living.

If you are capable of doing your job, or some aspects of your job, you may not qualify for SSDI. In other cases, if you can prove that the condition is severe enough that you cannot work, and you are not earning more than $1000 per month, then you may qualify.