Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Disability Benefits

According to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication of 2002, 5.7 percent of Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. The disorder can be as debilitating as major depression and significantly increases the risk of suicide. Several types of disability benefits are available to those affected.

Types

• There are basically two kinds of non-governmental disability benefits: employer disability benefits and a private disability insurance plan. The latter depends on the employer, but anyone can purchase disability insurance.

  There are several types of public benefits; Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Social Security Insurance (SSI) are the two biggest programs. SSDI is available to those who have worked for at least 10 years and have worked in recent years before the disability. SSI is available for those near poverty level regardless of work history. Other public options include Social Security's Disabled Widow's and Widower's Benefits, and Disabled Adult Child benefits, as well as veteran's benefits. Individual states may also provide disability benefits.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) specifies generalized anxiety disorder as a condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry lasting six months or more, with at least three (one for a child) of the following symptoms: muscle tension, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, irritability, feeling restless or wound-up.

Requirements for SSDI

• Social Security requires individuals to meet a specific list of symptoms to qualify for disability from an anxiety disorder. Of the five sets of symptoms, the one that resembles generalized anxiety disorder, as listed by the SSDI website, requires "generalized persistent anxiety accompanied by three out of four of the following signs or symptoms: a. motor tension; b. autonomic hyperactivity; c. apprehensive expectation; d. vigilance and scanning."

  In addition to providing documented evidence of symptoms, an applicant must also show that his condition either 1) results in at least two of the following: restriction of daily activities; difficulty with social functioning, difficulties with concentration; persistence, or pace; repeated periods of worsening mental health, or 2) results in an inability to function outside of one's home.

  If an individual does not meet the required symptoms for generalized anxiety disorder, she may still be eligible or benefits if her mental disorder disables her in a way equivalent to "physical" disabilities (as defined by Social Security).

Requirements for SSI

• The primary rules of eligibility for SSI are based on limits of income and resources (i.e. certain things you own). These limits differ by state but are generally at or near the federal poverty line.

Considerations

• Each type of disability has advantages and disadvantages, but they are not cumulative. Private insurance will reduce payments if an individual receives public disability benefits and vice versa.

  Employer disability benefits have a waiting period, perhaps as much as six months from application; SSDI can take as much as eight or nine months to process a first application (usually rejected) and up to three years if appealed.