– Matt Sauerwald, President, Disability Help Group
Matt Sauerwald is one of the nation’s top Disability Advocates. Matt has spent more than a decade helping people who are unable to work due to a disability, representing thousands of clients along the way. He knows people pursuing disability benefits hear a lot of misinformation and conflicting advice. So, he’s sharing what you need to know about pursuing Social Security disability benefits for anxiety.
Can You Get Social Security Disability Benefits for Anxiety?
The Social Security Blue Book includes a listing for anxiety and two related disorders: obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder. It is possible to receive SSD benefits for these conditions if certain criteria are met.
For anxiety disorder, the SSD applicant must exhibit at least three of the following signs and symptoms of the disorder:
Restlessness
Being easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbance
In addition, the applicant must meet one of the following two sets of criteria:
Extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two of the following areas of mental functioning:
Ability to understand, remember, or apply information
Ability to interact with others
Ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
Ability to adapt or manage oneself
OR
The condition is serious and persistent, meaning that the applicant is undergoing ongoing treatment that diminishes the signs and symptoms of the condition and has a limited capacity to adapt to changes in environment or demands not already part of their daily life.
Establishing these factors typically requires a combination of medical records and documentation and information from the applicant and family members about what they are and are not able to do in their daily lives. Matt and his team at Disability Help Group have extensive knowledge of what is required to successfully pursue Social Security disability benefits for anxiety. Whether you’re just applying for SSD for the first time or need to appeal a denial, you owe it to yourself to learn more about how our experienced disability advocates can help.
Matthew Sauerwald has been a dedicated voice for people seeking disability benefits since 2010. He has represented thousands of claimants fighting for Social Security disability or VA disability benefits and currently leads Disability Help Group, one of the most successful disability advocacy organizations in the United States.
How Long Does it Take to Receive Long-Term Disability?
Long-term disability (LTD) provides income if a disability prevents you from working if the injury was not work-related. Disability benefits for a long-term work-related injury are typically paid through workers’ compensation. A long-term disability policy may be offered through your employer. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 35% of employees in the U.S. have access to LTD coverage. A long-term disability policy can also be purchased directly.
Long-term disability isn’t full income replacement. What percentage of your income LTD will replace depends on the terms of your policy, with the average payout being about 60%. You also won’t start receiving disability benefits as soon as you become disabled.
Waiting Periods for Long-Term Disability
Virtually all long-term disability benefit plans have a waiting period between the time you become disabled and the time you are eligible to start receiving benefits. The waiting period is commonly between 90 and 180 days but may be as short as 30 days or as long as one year.
It’s important to note that this timeline only holds true if your LTD benefits are approved promptly. Unfortunately, most are not. When the claim is initially denied, the process of administrative appeals and perhaps even civil lawsuits can significantly extend the time it takes to begin receiving benefits. The upside is that when benefits are eventually approved, they will typically be backdated to the time when you should initially have been eligible. The downside is that when you are disabled and unable to work, you may not be able to wait out the long process of fighting for your benefits.
If you find yourself in this position, you may want to:
Check into whether you are also eligible for Social Security disability and apply
Check to see whether your state offers disability benefits–a handful do
Look into other sources of short-term assistance–one good resource in most states is to call 211, a central resource to connect people with various types of local assistance
You’ll also want to give yourself the benefit of an experienced disability benefits advocate who can help ensure that you know your rights and keep your claim moving forward efficiently. To learn more about how Disability Help Group can help you fight for your benefits, call 800-800-3332 or contact us here.
Best Tips When Appealing Your Denied Disability Claim
Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits serve as an important safety net for U.S. workers who become disabled before retirement age. Unfortunately, most claims for Social Security disability benefits are initially denied. In other words, when you file for SSDI benefits, you should be prepared to have to work your way through the process. That means:
If your claim is still denied after reconsideration, request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ), which will offer you the opportunity to share additional information and present witnesses
If your claim is denied after the ALJ hearing, request a review of the hearing decision–however, the Appeals Council gets to decide whether or not to review your case
If your claim is denied by the Appeals Council or they opt not to consider your case, file a lawsuit in federal court
Of course, each stage means additional time. So, you’ll want to make sure that you set yourself up for the greatest chance of success at every stage. Ideally, that means working with an experienced disability benefits advocate to put together your original claim or to help with whatever stage of the appeals process you’re undertaking.
Increasing Your Chances of Winning in the Appeals Process After You’ve Been Denied
The very first step toward successfully appealing your SSDI denial is understanding the reason for your denial. Carefully review your denial letter, and consider contacting your local Social Security Administration (SSA) for more information or getting help from an experienced advocate.
It’s also very important that you meet the deadline for requesting reconsideration or appealing the decision. If you miss the deadline, you can reapply, but you will set your claim back by several months and may lose out on some benefits if you have to start over.
Regardless of whether you are submitting a request for reconsideration or appearing before an ALJ, you’ll want to supplement the record in any way you can. That may mean updated medical records, the results of testing you’ve undergone since you submitted your application, witnesses who observe your daily life, or other evidence that helps show you are disabled.
An Experienced Disability Benefits Advocate Can Help With Your Denied Claim
Perhaps the most important tip is to get the help you need. Part of increasing your chances of success in the SSDI appeals process is understanding what the SSA is looking for and how best to present that evidence. Our disability benefits advocates have extensive experience with Social Security disability claims and appeals and can help you put forth the strongest case possible.
To learn more about how we can help, call 800-800-3332 or contact us here for a FREE consultation.
Social Security disability benefits can provide stable income for a worker who is no longer able to work due to medical disability. But, not everyone who suffers from a medical condition is eligible for SSD benefits. If you are considering applying for SSD, or you have been denied Social Security disability benefits, it’s important to understand what is required to successfully establish your claim.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers different types of evidence to determine your eligibility.
Types of Evidence to Support Your SSD Application
Technical Eligibility
Most of the evidence considered by the SSA relates to your medical condition and your ability or inability to earn a living. However, there is a threshold issue. To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must have accumulated a sufficient number of work credits. Usually, you won’t need to submit evidence regarding work credits, because the SSA has access to your qualifying work history. However, mistakes occasionally happen. You’ll want to verify that your work credits are accurate, and, if necessary, submit evidence to correct the record.
Evidence of Disability
For most SSD applicants, the most significant evidence of disability will come from medical providers. This may include doctor’s notes, test results, and other medical documentation. But, reports from your doctors aren’t the only type of evidence that can help support your claim for disability.
Another common type of evidence the SSA considers is information provided by other people in your life, such as friends, family members, and others who have had the opportunity to observe how your medical condition has impacted your ability to carry on daily activities.
Inability to Engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must demonstrate that you are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to your medical condition or combination of conditions. To make that determination, the SSA will need information about the types of work you have done in the past, your educational level, your age, and other information that will help them determine whether you can perform work of the type you did in the past or adapt to new work.
Assembling Evidence for Your SSD Claim
Putting together a strong application for Social Security disability benefits requires an understanding of exactly what the SSA is looking for and how they use that information. Our disability benefits advocates have extensive experience with SSD claims and appeals and can help you submit the strongest application possible.
To learn more about how Disability Help Group can help, call (800) 800-3332 right now, or contact us here for a FREE case evaluation.
Can I Receive Disability Benefits for Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, potentially disabling condition that scientists don’t yet fully understand. While medical treatment can help manage symptoms, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. Some of the key symptoms include pain in multiple sites in the body, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. There is no conclusive diagnostic test for fibromyalgia, and the diagnosis is usually based on a combination of symptoms and exclusion of other possible causes.
Fibromyalgia is not listed in the Social Security Blue Book, and for a long time, the complex nature of the condition and the unknowns surrounding it made it very difficult to pursue Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) for the condition. However, in 2012 the Social Security Administration (SSA) issued guidance specifically for claims based on fibromyalgia.
Guidelines for SSDI Claims Based on Fibromyalgia
The SSA now says that fibromyalgia may be recognized as a medically determinable impairment (MDI) if certain criteria are met. There are two sets of criteria that may be employed: the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia and the 2010 ACR Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria.
Two of the three criteria are the same under either set of standards:
A history of widespread pain (in both sides of the body, above and below the waist, and spinal) that has lasted for at least three months, and
Evidence that other possible explanations for the symptoms have been excluded through appropriate medical testing
In addition to these two requirements, the SSDI claimant must also show either:
Medical testing found at least 11 “tender points” among 18 listed locations on the body, or
Repeated manifestations of six or more fibromyalgia symptoms, such as fatigue, memory problems, cognitive issues, waking tired, anxiety, depression, or irritable bowel syndrome
Evidence of Disability
If you’re pursuing Social Security disability benefits for this condition, you’ll need objective medical evidence stating so. Diagnosis from your physician is not sufficient, and the SSA will want to review your medical history and the tests used to exclude other possible causes. In addition, you may submit additional information from non-medical sources, including those who have had the opportunity to observe your medical limitations over time.
Submit the Strongest Possible SSDI Claim
Most SSDI applications are denied at first. The more clear, complete, and on-point your application and supporting documentation are, the better your chances of approval. At Disability Help Group, we have extensive experience with disability benefits claims and appeals. We know what type of evidence is necessary to support your claim, and how to present it effectively.
To learn more about how we can help you pursue disability benefits for fibromyalgia, call (800) 800-3332 right now, or contact us here for a FREE case evaluation.
