A diagnosis of agoraphobia can usually be made if:you're anxious about being in a place or situation where escape or help may be difficult if you feel panicky or have a panic attack, such as in a crowd or on a bus.you avoid situations described above, or endure them with extreme anxiety or the help of a companion.More items...
Given this situation, you may have often wondered if suffering from agoraphobia makes you eligible for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (known as SSDI benefits). The short answer is that, yes, you can qualify for disability due to agoraphobia.
Anxiety can considered a disability if you have well-documented evidence that it impacts your ability to work. If you meet the medical requirements outlined by the SSA's Blue Book and have earned enough work credits, you will be deemed disabled by the SSA and you will be able to get disability for anxiety.
Agoraphobia can be a crippling anxiety disorder, one that prevents people from being around crowds, going into public spaces, or even from leaving their homes. If the agoraphobia is well-documented and makes full-time employment impossible, Social Security Disability benefits may be available.
For someone to qualify for disability benefits, their agoraphobia must be debilitating. Their fear of specific environments due to a potential panic attack could make them unable to work, go to school, operate a vehicle or function properly outside of their home.
Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder. A person with agoraphobia is afraid to leave environments they know or consider to be safe. In severe cases, a person with agoraphobia considers their home to be the only safe environment. They may avoid leaving their home for days, months or even years.
For example, if you are being examined for a medical condition, you should not tell a doctor you have pain everywhere, or your level of pain is 10 out of 10 for everything if your daily activities are not consistent with this level of pain.
What Conditions Automatically Qualify You for Disability?Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., bone, joint injuries, skeletal spine injuries)Special senses and speech (e.g., visual disorders, blindness)Respiratory disorders (e.g., chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma)More items...
Individuals who suffer from panic attacks that affect their ability to function normally at work or home are sometimes eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Objective: Panic Disorder (PD) and agoraphobia (AG) are frequently comorbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but the correlates of these comorbidities in OCD are fairly unknown.
Don't say “get over it” or “toughen up.” This can be frustrating for a person with agoraphobia and it can prevent them from reaching out for help in the future.