Who qualifies
ESA Letter Qualifying Conditions
There is no official government list of qualifying conditions. What matters is whether a condition substantially limits a major part of your daily life, and that's a judgment a licensed professional makes after meeting you.
Conditions That Often Qualify
This list is common ground, not a checklist. Being on it doesn't approve you, and being missing from it doesn't rule you out.
- Anxiety disordersGeneralized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder
- DepressionMajor depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorderIncluding complex PTSD
- Bipolar disorderBipolar I and II
- Obsessive-compulsive disorderOCD and related conditions
- Panic attacksWith or without a panic disorder diagnosis
- PhobiasIncluding agoraphobia
- Autism spectrum disorderWhere an animal helps with regulation
- ADHDWhere symptoms substantially limit daily life
- Insomnia and other sleep disordersWhere tied to a mental health condition
- Eating disordersAssessed individually and carefully
- Substance use recoveryAs part of a wider treatment plan
- Grief and adjustment disordersIncluding after a major loss
- Seasonal affective disorderWhere symptoms are significant
How the Decision Is Made
The Fair Housing Act talks about a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Working, sleeping, eating, learning, and caring for yourself all count. So the question isn't which condition you have, it's how much it affects you.
That's why a real appointment matters. A professional has to ask about your history, your symptoms, how long they've lasted, and what changes when your animal is around. A form that returns an instant answer hasn't done any of that.
It also means nobody can tell you in advance that you qualify. Any site that does is guessing, or lying, and a landlord who calls to verify will find out.
Qualifying Conditions FAQs
Do I need a diagnosis to qualify for an ESA letter?
Not beforehand. You don't have to walk in with a diagnosis. What matters is that a licensed professional evaluates you and finds a condition that substantially limits a major part of daily life. Many people get that assessment for the first time at this visit.
Is anxiety enough to qualify?
It can be. The test isn't the label on the condition, it's how much it limits you. Anxiety that keeps you from working, sleeping, or leaving the house is very different from ordinary nervousness, and only a professional evaluation can tell them apart.
What if I don't qualify?
You are never charged, because we only take payment after a provider approves you. That happens in roughly one in eight visits. The professional makes an independent decision, which is exactly why the letter carries weight with a landlord in the first place.
Does the type of animal matter?
For an ESA, most household animals can qualify, and no training is required. For a psychiatric service dog it must be a dog, and it must be individually trained to perform tasks.