Ryan Findlay | March 13, 2025 | Personal Injury
How Can I Get Long-Term Disability Benefits for Depression and Anxiety?
Depression and anxiety can be debilitating conditions. They can impact a person’s ability to function in daily life, including being able to work. Simple tasks may become impossible to perform. If this happens to you, you may qualify for long-term disability benefits for depression and anxiety.
How Can Depression and Anxiety Interfere With Work?
A person diagnosed with anxiety or depression cannot turn off their symptoms when they walk into work. Their symptoms continue throughout the day. Unfortunately, symptoms of anxiety and depression can significantly interfere with a person’s ability to perform job tasks.
Common ways depression and anxiety interfere with someone’s ability to perform their job:
- Lack of energy: A lack of energy and fatigue can cause someone to work at a slower pace. It can also lead to errors.
- Social Interaction: The intense emotions caused by depression and anxiety can impact how a person is able to interact with co-workers, customers, and others. It could lead to conflicts and misunderstandings.
- Motivation: A loss of motivation and interest can create inefficiency and decrease productivity. A person may have difficulty beginning or completing work.
- Lack of Concentration: Indecisiveness and the inability to concentrate can negatively impact a person’s work. They may have trouble solving problems and executing tasks.
- Physical Issues: Anxiety and depression can cause physical symptoms, including high blood pressure, digestive problems, and headaches. Dealing with health problems can also be a problem at work.
- Avoidance: An employee may develop avoidance behaviors to deal with situations that can trigger anxiety or bouts of depression. This behavior could lead to problems at work as the person actively avoids some situations and people.
Dealing with the symptoms of depression and anxiety can be challenging. If the conditions interfere with work, an employee may lose their job. Sometimes, the symptoms are so severe that a person may stop going to work because they cannot cope with being in a social setting.
Depression and Anxiety Disorders and Long-term Disability
Several conditions could result in long-term disability benefits.
Those conditions include, but are not limited to:
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that results in a persistent loss of interest and feelings of sadness. It affects a person’s behavior, feelings, and thoughts. A person may experience suicidal thoughts.
Symptoms of MDD include:
- Loss of energy or fatigue
- Persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- Significant weight gain/loss or changes in appetite
- Hypersomnia or insomnia
- Loss of pleasure or interest in favorite activities
- Feelings of excessive guilt or worthlessness
- Diminished ability to make decisions, concentrate, or think
A person must have at least five symptoms over two weeks for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder. Many things, including biochemical imbalances, genetic factors, environmental triggers, and psychological factors, may cause MDD.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be caused by a traumatic event or series of events that cause psychological stress.
Symptoms include:
- Flashbacks
- Intrusive memories
- Anger or excessive aggression
- Persistent negative thoughts
- Sleep disturbances
- Panic attacks
- Low mood
- Depression
- Risky behavior
A person must experience symptoms for a month or longer to be diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD may be diagnosed with other disorders, including depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders.
Anxiety Disorders
Several anxiety disorders can produce symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- General Anxiety Disorder
- Specific Phobia
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
When these conditions become severe, they can significantly impact daily functioning, including a person’s ability to maintain steady employment.
Qualifying for Long-Term Disability Benefits for Depression and Anxiety in Canada
A person can qualify for long-term disability benefits if they are diagnosed with depression or anxiety, and the conditions prevent them from working. However, the subjective nature of anxiety and depression disorders can make it difficult to qualify for long-term disability. Insurance companies challenge the severity of the symptoms and the person’s credibility.
Applying for disability benefits can be overwhelming for anyone, but especially for someone suffering from debilitating anxiety or depression. It is essential to work with an experienced Hamilton long-term disability lawyer.
A lawyer can help you:
- Gather the medical evidence required to prove your diagnosis and the severity of your symptoms.
- Complete all paperwork to avoid errors and mistakes that could delay approval.
- Provide support and guidance as you prepare for a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE).
- Assist you in locating medical experts and specialists to provide evidence to support your claim.
- Ensure compliance with the requirements contained in your long-term disability insurance policy.
- Promptly file an appeal if your disability claim is denied.
If you cannot work because of anxiety or depression, seek legal advice promptly. The sooner you begin the process of applying for LTD benefits, the sooner you may receive the money you need.
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If you need legal help with a personal injury case, contact the team at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
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