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Anxiety

Do I Qualify For Disability Insurance Benefits For Anxiety?

Disability insurance companies don’t always make it easy for policyholders who have anxiety to get the disability benefits they deserve.

The Common Reasons Disability Carriers Deny Anxiety Disability Claims

Many claims are denied because the disability insurance company says:

  1. There is no objective basis of the anxiety diagnosis,
  2. There is no objective basis for the restrictions and limitations assigned by your physician, or
  3. There is no causal relationship between your anxiety disorder and/or your restrictions and limitations, and your inability to do your own or any occupation.

Worse, many disability insurance policies define anxiety disorder as a mental nervous condition, which generally limits benefits to 24 months maximum.

Some policies also provide that if any mental nervous condition in any way contributes to your overall disability, benefits are limited to 24 months. For example, you might have undergone back surgery and become anxious. Your benefits might be limited to 24 months.

Nancy Cavey, who has 35 years experience handling disability cases, often battles disability carriers about this issue. She works closely with you, your family and your physician to overcome the claims denial or termination of benefits after 24 months.

Ms. Cavey offers a free initial consultation and welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your disability claim.

What Is An Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety is fear associated with the expectation of being physically or mentally injured by some real or imagined danger.  Anxiety disorders can include:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder;
  • Various phobic disorders, including simple phobia, social phobia, and agoraphobia;
  • Panic disorder;
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder; and
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Anxiety-Long-Term-Disability

What Are The Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorder?

Symptoms shown by those with an anxiety disorder include:

  1. Feelings of panic, fear and numbness;
  2. Problems sleeping;
  3. Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet;
  4. Shortness of breath;
  5. Heart palpitations;
  6. An inability to be still and calm; and
  7. Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

How Do I Get The Disability Insurance Benefits I Deserve For Anxiety?

Anxiety can interfere not only with your daily activities but with your ability to work. Anxiety symptoms can damage and even destroy professional relationships and result in poor work performance.

If you no longer can work or your doctor has told you to apply for disability before you apply for benefits, you should:

  • Obtain a copy of your disability policy. See how it defines “disability,” “occupation” and “self-reported conditions.” You’ll need to understand what you have to prove to get your benefits for anxiety disorder. There can be a mental nervous limitation in your policy that classifies anxiety disorder as a mental disorder, or the policy can be silent on the issue. Find out what your policy says before you apply for benefits.
  • Obtain a copy of your medical records. Review them to see if there is an objective basis for your diagnosis, what your records say about your report of symptoms and your restrictions and limitations.
  • Obtain a copy of your personnel file to see whether your anxiety has affected your work performance.
  • Obtain a copy of your job description. Create your own description of your physical duties with an explanation of how your symptoms impact your ability to do your occupation. Be sure to explain how your symptoms have impacted your work relationships and your ability to get along with others at work.
  • Provide your doctor with the occupational description. Ask your doctor to prepare a report that explains the objective basis for your diagnosis, the objective basis of your restrictions and limitations, and the objective reasons you can’t perform some or all of the material and substantial duties of your occupation.
  • Prepare a diary that explains your symptoms and the side effects of medication you are taking. Be sure to give examples of how your symptoms interfere with your ability to do things on a daily basis.
  • Hire Nancy Cavey to help you file your initial application. The application process is confusing and designed so you and your physician make mistakes that can result in a delay or even a denial of your benefits. Ms. Cavey knows how to prepare and file a winning shock and awe disability application that leaves the carrier little reason to question your claim.
  • Hire Nancy Cavey to help you appeal a wrongful denial or termination of your disability benefits. Disability carriers are in the business of collecting premiums and not paying disability benefits for anxiety disorder.

Carriers routinely cut off benefits at 24 months and misapply the mental nervous condition limitation. They’ll use any reason to deny your claim. The odds of getting your benefits on appeal are greater when you are represented by an experienced ERISA/private ID policy disability attorney.

Contact Disability Attorney Nancy L. Cavey, Who Can Help You Regardless Of Where You Live

Anxiety disorder can make it difficult, if not impossible, to work. You owe it to yourself and your family to get help today! Nancy Cavey can review your policy and your medical records, and explain to you what your policy says and how to get your disability benefits.  Call today for a free consultation at727-477-3263.