Anxiety Disorders and Long-Term Disability Claims

Anxiety disorders can affect an individual’s ability to function, and the effects can be paralyzing and disruptive to one’s daily life. If you believe you may have an anxiety disorder, seek medical attention and treatment. If your anxiety is disrupting your ability to work, you may want to file a long-term disability claim.

Read on to learn more about anxiety disorders, what you can do to improve your chances of getting approved for benefits, and what to do if the insurance company denies your long-term disability claim in Canada.

You can also watch a segment of the Disability Law Show below to find out more about your rights.

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Understanding Anxiety Disorders

An anxiety disorder is the presence of frequent and intense feelings of anxiety, worry, or fear daily. It is estimated that 5% of the population experiences an anxiety disorder in some form.

Anxiety disorders can present without a reason but are sometimes also be the direct cause of a medical condition or health problem. It can also present in episodes of sudden panic at heightened levels without warning (panic attacks). These feelings are combined with an inability to control them, and as such they can interfere in your daily functioning immensely. They can lead to trouble sleeping, concentrating, breathing, and avoidance of any daily activity that may increase anxiety or panic.

What are the types of Anxiety Disorders?

There are four types of anxiety disorders

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• Panic Disorder

• Specific Phobias

Other conditions where anxiety is experienced

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Treatment can include psychological evaluation, medication, counselling and therapy. Getting help early is critical with anxiety disorders, so seek medical attention if you have any of these symptoms.

Why are claims for anxiety disorders denied?

The applicant has not sought the appropriate medical attention

Even if your family doctor has diagnosed you with an anxiety disorder, this may not be enough to have a claim approved.

It is important that you see a psychiatrist or specialist that can address the particular issue that is keeping you from being able to function in your everyday life, and especially at work. It is also important to note the frequency of your medical visits. At a minimum, you should be seeing a specialist once a month, maybe more. Attendance is mandatory if you want to have your disability properly monitored and documented. Even if you do not feel like attending appointments, or find them overwhelming, ask for support in seeking treatment.

It is important that you are seeking medical attention to get the help you need to recover and get better. The point of seeking medical attention is to help you get back to normal and be healthy once again.

Not enough medical evidence or documentation to confirm your diagnosis

If you are receiving regular care for your disorder, there will be evidence and documentation to prove that you have been consistently and significantly impaired by your condition. Failure to follow through with appointments will inevitably lead to less documentation and less paper trail. Your doctor cannot document your symptoms if they don’t see you.

Even if you don’t see any change in your mood or level of anxiety, stick with your treatment plan and document it every step of the way.

How to improve your chances of getting your benefits approved

Keep records of your treatment journey

Keep records of your medical visits, prescriptions taken, medications attempted, and any specialists you see in the process of getting a proper diagnosis. Journaling and tracking your mood and symptoms on your own is also a good idea. Remember, it is the documentation that the insurance company will be reading and reviewing to determine whether you are considered disabled, so you want to make sure they have as much of it as possible or necessary.

Present a narrative of your illness

Your insurer may take the position that you can move into another occupation, when that is in fact not the case and against medical advice from your doctor. Your insurance company may request a skills assessment, and use the result to insist you can do similar work. If the results of the skills assessment performed by the insurance company goes against your doctor’s advice, you need to contact us.

What to do if your long-term disability claim is denied

The disability claims process can be a long and complicated process and can seem overwhelming in the face of intense anxiety. If the insurance company denies your long-term disability claim for an anxiety disorder, you need to seek the help of our experienced team of disability lawyers immediately. We know how your insurer thinks, and how their internal process works. The team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has years of experience successfully fighting on behalf of clients.

You have more power than you think. We will help you understand and interpret your insurance policy, compile evidence, gather expert testimony, and most importantly, make sure your claim is a success and that you get the disability benefits that you deserve.

If your disability claim is denied in Canada, you need to contact the experienced long-term disability lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP immediately at 1-855-821-5900 for a FREE CONSULTATION. We will review the facts of your situation, tell you if you have a case, and take the fight to the insurance company on your behalf. Don’t let them walk away with the money that they owe you in your time of need.

Advice you need, compensation you deserve.

Additional Resources

• Anxiety Canada
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
• Government of Canada – Mental Health – Anxiety Disorders
• Everyday Health
• National Institute of Mental Health
• Anxiety & Depression Association of America
• American Counselling Association