Can my 25-year-old with anxiety, ADHD and depression qualify for Social Security disability benefits?

For your daughter to qualify for disability, her conditions need to prevent her from doing substantial gainful activity (basically working and earning above a certain amount) for at least 12 months. Mental health conditions CAN qualify, but documentation is extremely important. At 25, she would need about 6 work credits to qualify for SSDI, which means working about 1.5 years and paying FICA taxes. If she doesn't have enough work credits, SSI would be the option since it's need-based rather than work-based. I'd recommend: 1. Gather ALL medical records from ALL providers showing diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing issues 2. Get detailed statements from her psychiatrist/therapist about functional limitations 3. Document all failed work attempts with specific reasons why she couldn't continue 4. Apply for both SSDI and SSI at the same time - let SSA determine which one she qualifies for Be prepared for a long process. About 70% of applications are denied initially. Many people need to appeal and possibly get a hearing before a judge.

My son went through the EXACT SAME THING!!! He has severe anxiety and depression too and it took us THREE TIMES to get approved!!! The system is BROKEN and they deny almost everyone the first time no matter what!!! Make sure you get a disability lawyer - they only get paid if you win and it makes a HUGE difference. My son would still be denied if we hadn't gotten a lawyer for the appeal. Also document EVERYTHING - every panic attack, every time she couldn't get out of bed, every job she had to quit. SSA will try to say she can do "some kind of work" even if it's not what she was trained for. They told my son he could be a "sorter" whatever that means!!! 🙄 Start the application ASAP because it takes FOREVER even if you're approved!!!

Your daughter might qualify, but I should clarify a few things: 1. For SSDI at age 25, she would need approximately 6 work credits (earned by working and paying FICA taxes). She can check her work credits by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. 2. For mental health conditions, SSA uses specific criteria outlined in their "Blue Book" under listings 12.04 (depression), 12.06 (anxiety), and 12.11 (neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD). They evaluate how these conditions limit ability to: - Understand, remember, or apply information - Interact with others - Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace - Adapt or manage oneself 3. The combination of multiple conditions can strengthen a case, especially when they interact (e.g., how anxiety worsens asthma or how ADHD affects ability to maintain employment). 4. Ongoing treatment is critical - SSA wants to see that she's following prescribed treatments but still remains unable to work despite them. I'd recommend applying online at ssa.gov or calling to schedule an appointment. Be extremely detailed about how her conditions affect daily functioning and ability to work.

my brother has similar issues and ssdi denied him first time. they always deny everyone first time but he got approved after appeal. make sure you document EVERYTHING even small things that seem unimportant. also get statements from anyone who knows her - family members, former employers, friends - about how they see her struggling day to day. good luck!!

Just wanted to mention something that helped us tremendously when my wife was applying for disability. Reaching Social Security by phone was IMPOSSIBLE - hours on hold only to get disconnected. We kept trying for weeks until someone told us about Claimyr.com - it's a service that navigates the phone system for you and gets you connected to an actual SSA agent, usually within 20 minutes instead of hours. Saved us so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU For your daughter's application, you'll definitely need to speak with SSA representatives multiple times during the process, so having a reliable way to reach them is crucial. Just thought I'd share what worked for us!

Has she tried working part time? My nephew has anxiety too and works 15 hrs a week at the library. Very quiet and they understand when he needs days off. Just wondering if she's tried something like that?

One important thing to consider: if your daughter does qualify for disability benefits (either SSDI or SSI), she should know that SSA will periodically review her case to see if she still qualifies. These are called Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs). For mental health conditions, these reviews typically happen every 3 years. She'll need to maintain consistent treatment and documentation throughout this time to show she still has limitations that prevent work. Also, if she does attempt to work while receiving benefits, she needs to report this to SSA immediately. There are work incentive programs like Ticket to Work that allow beneficiaries to test their ability to work without immediately losing benefits, but strict reporting requirements apply.

Based on what you've shared, here's what I recommend as your next steps: 1. Help your daughter create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to check her work credits. 2. Gather comprehensive medical evidence: - Clinical records from therapists/doctors - Psychological evaluations if available - Prescription medication history - Treatment notes documenting symptoms and limitations - Any hospitalizations or intensive outpatient treatment 3. Document how her conditions affect daily functioning: - Failed work attempts with specific details - Difficulties with daily activities - Social functioning limitations - Episodes of decompensation (periods when symptoms worsen) 4. Apply for both SSDI and SSI simultaneously online or by calling SSA. 5. Consider getting a disability attorney if initially denied (most work on contingency). The combination of multiple mental health conditions plus asthma could strengthen her case, especially if you can document how they interact to further limit her functioning.

With SSDI, she would get Medicare after 24 months of receiving benefits. With SSI, she would likely get Medicaid immediately in most states. Either way, she would eventually have health coverage, which is important for maintaining the treatment she needs. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: make sure her doctors are specifically documenting how her conditions limit her ability to work. Many doctors focus on symptoms and treatment but don't explicitly address work capacity in their notes. You might want to ask her providers to complete a Medical Source Statement or Residual Functional Capacity form that specifically addresses work-related limitations. Also, if she's denied initially (which is common), don't give up! Request reconsideration within 60 days, and if denied again, request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Success rates increase significantly at the hearing level, especially with proper representation.