Get an ESA Letter in 2021

An ESA is a term commonly used for animals or pets who provide comfort and support to patients suffering from mental health conditions. In most cases, domesticated animal such as mice, rabbits, dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, can qualify for an ESA certification, a term interchangeably used with an ESA letter. But, mostly cats and dogs are the most preferred choices.

These animals are a source of emotional support, that is why the name. Unlike service dogs, these animals do not require any special training.

There is completely no doubt regarding their therapeutic benefits. Infact, various studies and surveys have confirmed to the fact that pets are a source of positivity and happiness in the lives of almost everyone. Because they inspire their owners both mentally and physically.

Various pre-clinical research and studies have revealed that contributing to different activities that involve a pet significantly improves the endorphin levels in the body. These hormones are primarily responsible for managing and balancing the mental health of a person.

Also, some studies have shown that just by petting an animal, patients will most likely witness an improvement in BP levels, which is one of the major causes of heightened anxiety. Plus, a pet makes its owners socially more accepting than otherwise.

In short, they are helpful in providing a sense of calm, comfort, happiness, and safety among patients dealing with mental health problems.

No, ESAs and service animals are not the same type of assistance animals. Service animals is a special category of animals that helps support disabled individuals. Whereas, ESAs helps provide emotional support and companionship to patients suffering from mental health issues. There are basically three classes of assistance animals that are often confused with each other.

Service Animals
As per the guidelines issued by the American with Disabilities Act, these animals need to be specially trained to perform tasks of the patients with some form of disabilities. For instance, fetching, crossing a road, are among the many tasks performed by these animals. Also, these animals are required to have social skills along with impulse control abilities.

Therapy Animals
These animals help provide an environment of comfort in and around institutions such as hospitals, or disaster areas. They can be present in schools or clinics as well. There is no registration required for service animals. The only exception, in this case, is that service animals must be trained properly to provide physical assistance to disabled patients.

Emotional Support Animals
These animals are like emotional caretakers which help people with mental disabilities to perform their tasks better without getting any sudden emotional breaks. For a pet to be an ESA, you must have a valid recommendation by a mental health professional or else you will lose all the benefits of having an ESA.

Many people suffering from a range of mental health disorders are able to add positivity in life just by being with a pet. Here are some of the other ways that a pet offers more than just companionship.

-Helps to deal with emotional outbursts by regulating the hormonal levels. Or just inducing the processes to enhance the levels of endorphins.
-ESAs can be used in coordination with other ongoing treatment therapies. Thereby, enhancing the efficacy of treatments.
-Having ESAs by your side will help to boost the immunity as well. There have been many reports which have confirmed that petting a dog helps in increasing the levels of antibodies.
-Who can forget about those tiny attention seekers? They help the patients to relieve social anxieties as well.
-And of course, having an ESA by your side will help to attain physical health as well.

So, having an ESA letter is a legal validation that will allow you to be with your pet in the following situations-
-You will be allowed to live with your pet with no additional pet charges even in the societies with “no pet policy”.
-Unfortunately, you can no longer fly with your pet inside the cabin.
-You will be allowed to travel in-cabin provided you keep your pet in a carrier and pay the pet fee.

An ESA letter is a recommendation or a legal approval by a licensed mental health professional which notifies that you need a pet as assistance for enabling you to take care of your emotional needs which are otherwise impossible because of a number of known and unknown triggers.

Most people don’t feel the requirement of having an ESA letter. But, under the current circumstances, it is definitely something that can be beneficial in many ways. The reason being, it is supported by one federa law that provide extra benefits besides the known medicinal advantages. So, if you are looking for legal protection such as living with your pet at no additional charges, then you will need this recommendation letter.

An ESA letter issued by the mental health expert should indicate clearly that you are a mental health patient of the doctor, and that you are taking the treatment as per the guidelines laid down by the updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 4 or 5. Plus, it should also state that the doctor has recommended you for an emotional support animal as a part of your therapy treatment plan.

To be eligible for an emotional support animal letter, the mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, or a licensed clinical worker) must suggest that you require an ESA letter. However, in most cases, the qualifying conditions must be stated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 4 or 5.

Below are the medical conditions that Qualify For An Emotional Support Animal Letter

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Any Form Of Fear Or Phobia
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive Disorders
• Body-dysmorphic Disorder
• Personality Disorders
• Social Anxiety Illness

But, the conditions are not limited to these disorders. Usually, the conditions which limit a person’s ability to perform even the normal or daily activities of life because of the sudden fear or phobias surrounding a patient, then you are eligible for having an ESA recommendation. Also, look for your state’s guidelines for obtaining an emotional support animal recommendation before starting with the process of application.

You can also talk to a mental health specialist first to get a clear picture while applying for an ESA letter.

An ESA letter comes with several benefits including living and flying with your pet hassle-free. If you feel your pet is helping you manage your mental condition, you can reach out to a mental health professional or take the telemedicine route. The online process is actually quite easy and convenient.

Here’s how to apply for an ESA letter

• Create an account: Fill out your medical and personal details in a simple online application form.
• Talk to the specialist: The doctor will ask you questions concerning your health condition and evaluate accordingly via video call.
• Get your recommendation letter: After the therapist’s approval, the soft copy will be mailed instantly.

Just make sure the pet that you are registering as an ESA is well-behaved and does not pose any threat to others in the vicinity.

Having an ESA letter has a lot of perks- like living in a place even with “no pets allowed” policies at no additional costs or deposits. However, for that first you are required to have access to a genuine ESA letter or recommendation by a licensed mental health professional.

Here are some tips and tricks to start a conversations to an ESA doctor right away.

-Start with a complete homework concerning ESA. Basically, it involves understanding the concept of an ESA such as benefits, its effects on an individual, requirements, and others. This will help to avoiding trapping in any scams whatsoever.
-Get all the medical health records in one place before applying for an ESA letter online. This will save you a lot of time while filling out the online form.

-Although, your doctor will let you know whether or not you will be qualified for having an ESA letter. Still, you can search if your medical condition is a part of the qualifying condition list. For instance, the following conditions are included in the list for sure — anxiety, depression, ADD, bipolar disorder, motor skill disorder, etc

-While asking for an ESA letter, you need to honest and never lie of having any mental health issue. Or else you will have to face consequences.

There are three types of assistance animals — Service, Therapy, and Emotional Support Animals. While service dogs are protected by the American Disabilities Act. There is one more federal ESA law which provide perks to the patients suffering form any form of mental health disability.

-Fair Housing Act (FHA)
As per this Act, you and your ESA will be allowed to live in a “no pets” policy housing societies or condos. The law clearly states that landowners or building managers will have to provide a reasonable accommodation for you and your pet. Plus, they cannot charge anything extra while renting you the apartment such as pet deposits.

But, all of this can only be possible only when you have a valid ESA recommendation letter for your pet that too signed by a licensed mental health professional. Or else you might have to face legal penalties for faking your pet as an ESA.

As per the new guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation, you can no longer fly with an ESA. You will be allowed to travel with your ESA as a normal pet, provided you pay the pet fee and carry your ESA in a carrier or in-cargo.

According to the FHA 1988, Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973 and Title 2 of ADA, no landlord can discriminate you against renting an apartment because of your disability. This is because an ESA is essential for a person in need of emotional support.

According to this law, a landlord is required to provide you with a reasonable accommodation (which is a suitable change to the ongoing guidelines which will help the patient to live and enjoy the place equally as others) in case of patients with requirement for a pet as an assistive aid. Also, the rule is applicable to the housing societies and condos which have “no pets” policy.

However, there might be some exceptions to this rule, where a landlord can deny your request for renting an apartment. For instance, if you ESA is threat to the safety of others. Or if your ESA is responsible for sudden financial burden to the providers. Or buildings with 4 or fewer units where the landlord lives in one of the units.

In other circumstances, if you have a valid recommendation letter with all the exceptions covered, then you can file a complaint to HUD. For more information visit: www.hud.gov/offices/fheo or call 1-800-669- 9777.

The advancement of technology has its fair share of pros and cons. So, if you are not careful while applying for an ESA letter, you might end up paying a fine around $1000, or your rights of having an ESA might be dissolved.

Some tips and tricks that will help you to avoid such scam websites or portals.

-Don’t fall prey to instant approvals. Such sites work for just duping people and providing with fake letters without letting them talk to a professional.

-Beware of the hidden costs. Some websites circulate ads of minimal amounts for obtaining ESA recommendations. However, you must understand that a licensed professional would expect to earn something for consultations. There is nothing that comes “free” in this world.

-Websites with physical address mentioned. There are many websites which are working only by providing the PO Box number or nothing at all. You must only obtain your ESA letter which have a medical clinic with established clinic history.

-Registration for ESAs. Legally, there is no requirement of having any form of ESA registration other than having an ESA letter. So, if sites are asking you pay extra for registration. Stop right there.

So, check for the licensed doctor’s official letter, the license number, date of issuance, your name, and you will be good to go.

Legally, having a vest for your emotional support animals is definitely not required. But, still, buying it will be of good use especially because people are able to identify you ESA even at distance. Also, having an ESA vest will be helpful while traveling and finding an accommodation as it will notify the people that its an assistance animal.

In addition to that, it will help signify that your ESA is on the “work mode”, or something like “don’t disturb”. Reason being, pets are very cute which engage a lot of viewers wherever they go. So, having a vest on your ESA will help you maintain the desired calmness and peaceful environment which is the ultimate requirement of any mental health patient.

So, finding a suitable vest for your companion should always be on the list of requirements. For that, you need to measure the size of your ESA, preferably cats or dogs around their girth.

Once that is sorted out, check for the fabrics, and style of vest as per your need or requirements. These might be-

Cape Vests that comes in two sizes- regular and tiny which are light in weight with high durability.
They might be available in mesh or cotton fabrics.

Harness Vests
These are made using a high quality materials with water-resistant properties. They come along with leashes as well.

There is a lot of difference between the types of assistance animals. For instance, service animals are allowed to be with their handlers at all times. However, the case is not same for emotional support animals. Emotional support animals are only allowed to rent an accomodation without paying additional pet fee.

The rule of ESA's apply to the college dorms as well after HUD asked FHA to include college dormitories into the housing act as well.

For others, you need to ask beforehand, if they allow an emotional support animal into their premises or not. If you have planned an outing with your pet, here are some tips that you need to follow for avoiding any mess afterward.

You need to judge whether or not taking your ESA in the public would be a good idea. See for the mood of your ESA, or else you will end up paying extra bills to the place owners.

Take along water and food for your pet or else they might turn a fun evening into a horrible event. You might end confusion by having a ID card and vest for your ESA. Keep emergency contacts for your ESA always within your reach to avoid any sudden mishappenings.