How hard is it to win disability for panic attacks?

[Rob2008]

Is anyone here on social security disability for panic attacks?  How hard was it to win your case?

[MrGreen]

Not that hard in Ireland. Once you produce evidence you are attending a shrink and are on medication. By way of showing that it hampers your life. I have been on it for nearly 15 yrs now. First check in all that time was made on me last year. To see was I still eligible for it. Lucky I was in hospital at the time. So they couldn't deny it. And I am still on it. But not every country is like Ireland.

[ILADVOCATE]

As happens in representing people for benefits in a voluntary capacity I have the Social Security manual that has the criteria for the various disabilities. Its not confidential information but it would take up a page to print the criteria for anxiety disorder. Best thing is to pm me. As with anxiety disorder along with any criteria its not the disability itself its how it affects your ability to work. They look at past work history. Then they look at current level of social functioning and ability to do basic skills such as cook, clean and wash. Relating to people. Understanding and comprehending things. With anxiety disorder, frequency of panic attacks, phobias and how they impact on you. If you want more information please pm me. And if you want a specific in person meeting I'd suggest going to your local independent living center. There's one in every county of every state:
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html
You have to have solid information from your psychiatrist and expect to be denied and have to go before to an appeal before a judge. That's extremely common and with proper representation (which many il centers provide) initial denials are often overturned.

[RubyWitch]

I'll have to let other's answer this for themselves, but my guess would be that it's damn near impossible. I've never heard of anyone being on disability for them. With medication and psychotherapy, even the worst panic attacks can be controlled. I'm sure you'd need the support of numerous doctors and psychiatrists to uphold a claim that you're unable to function in the workplace. You would, no doubt, have to prove that every possible form of therapy and medication has failed to help you. Sorry, but I think it's a lost cause. Which is just my opinion.
Good luck
Greenlydia