I have been diagnosed with a panic disorder. Is this an acceptable disability to receive disability benefits for?

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting both adults and children. An estimated 40 million adults in America suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. Panic disorders are just one of the categories of anxiety disorders.

Evaluating a disability claim based on a mental disorder (which includes anxiety disorders) requires documentation of a medically determinable impairment, consideration of the degree of limitations the impairment imposes on your ability to work, and consideration of whether the limitations have lasted or are expected to last for at least 12 continuous months.

The required level of severity must be shown by medically documented findings of at least one of the following:

generalized persistent anxiety accompanied by certain specified signs/symptoms; or

• persistent irrational fear of an object, activity, or situation; or
• recurrent severe panic attacks occurring at least once a week; or
• recurrent obsessions or compulsions; or
• recurrent and intrusive recollections of a traumatic experience.

Furthermore, these documented symptoms must result in at least 2 of the following:

• marked restrictions of activities in daily living;
• marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning;
• marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace;
• repeated episodes of decompensation.

Another result of the symptoms that meets the requirements for disability is if you have complete inability to function independently outside of the area of your home.