| Anyone who's suffered a panic attack while at work | | | | inability to work. We consider you disabled under Social |
| knows how frightening that scenario can be. One of | | | | Security rules if you cannot do work that you did |
| the most common symptoms during a panic attack is | | | | before and we decide that you cannot adjust to other |
| the overwhelming urge to flee or escape the place | | | | work because of your medical condition(s). Your |
| where the panic attack began. If you're at work, | | | | disability must also last or be expected to last for at |
| obviously that can be next to impossible. | | | | least one year or to result in death." |
| Panic disorder victims, who suffer frequent panic | | | | Specific guidelines for anxiety related disorders are |
| attacks, may even develop agoraphobia (or fear) of | | | | found in Social Security's Listing Of Impairments in |
| the workplace. Many people in this situation suffer | | | | Section 12.06. According to these guidelines an anxiety |
| panic attacks caused by worrying about having the | | | | sufferer must have "a persistent irrational fear of a |
| next panic attack while at work. This can become a | | | | specific object, activity, or situation which results in a |
| miserable and cruel cycle that can lead to poor job | | | | compelling desire to avoid the dreaded object, activity, |
| performance, high absenteeism, and even | | | | or situation. Or recurrent severe panic attacks |
| unemployment. | | | | manifested by a sudden unpredictable onset of intense |
| In the United States, panic disorder sufferers can | | | | apprehension, fear, terror and sense of impending |
| appeal to the Social Security Administration for help | | | | doom occurring on the average of at least once a |
| through one of its two largest disability programs - | | | | week". |
| Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental | | | | Since the Social Security Administration approves |
| Security Income. | | | | panic attack disability benefits on a case by case |
| However, it is important to note that Social Security | | | | basis, there is a formal application process. There are |
| pays only for total disability cases. They do not | | | | strict guidelines for average monthly income made |
| approve benefits for partial or short-term disability. So | | | | year-to-date, case severity, and future work plausibility. |
| what does the Social Security Administration define as | | | | However, for those stricken with debilitating anxiety |
| total disability? Program rules are strict in this sense: | | | | and panic attacks that make work impossible, it offers |
| "Disability under Social Security is based on your | | | | a glimmer of hope and financial assistance. |