Medical Evidence Needed To Qualify For Ssdi For Post
The question of “is PTSD a disability” can be proven with a presentation of your medical records. When filing for disability benefits with PTSD, your medical records should show at least one detailed documentation of a typical episode of PTSD symptoms. Details that help include the frequency and duration of the panic attacks and what triggers or worsens your symptoms. Additionally, it helps to have your doctor’s professional opinion on if your PTSD symptoms match your normal mental state, and how your PTSD symptoms affect your ability to function both at home and at work.
Qualifying Under The Medical Listing For Ptsd
Social Security evaluates PTSD under the listing for “trauma- and stressor-related disorders,” listing 12.15. For the SSA to find that you’re medically disabled because of your post-traumatic stress disorder, you’ll have to satisfy the requirements set out below.
First, your medical record must contain evidence of each of the following:
- exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence
- involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event
- avoidance of external reminders of the event
- disturbance in mood and behavior, and
- increases in arousal and reactivity .
To find this evidence, the SSA will look at your doctor’s treatment notes to see what medications you take, how you feel and act during doctor’s appointments or counseling sessions, and the results of your mental status examinations. Make sure to let the SSA know if you are hospitalized or switch doctors so the agency can get the important evidence it needs.
Next, Social Security will look to see how much your symptoms limit your mental abilities. Simply having a diagnosis isn’t enoughâyou’ll need to show that your PTSD causes an “extreme” limitation in one, or a “marked” limitation in two, of the following areas:
- understanding, remembering, or using information
- interacting with others in socially appropriate ways
- being able to concentrate on tasks to complete them at a reasonable pace
- adapting or managing oneself .
What If My Ptsd Does Not Meet The Functional Criteria
If you do not satisfy the criteria mentioned above, you will need to demonstrate that your condition is serious and persistent. To show that your PTSD is serious and has been persistent, the SSA will need:
- Medical history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years.
- Evidence of any ongoing medical treatment.
- Demonstrate that you have minimal capacity to adapt to new changes or demands.
The SSA will use both medical and non-medical evidence that you provide to evaluate the limitations in your activities to determine if you are eligible for benefits. You can also provide evidence from family, friends, neighbors, or any mental health programs relevant to your PTSD.
Recommended Reading: How To Increase Va Disability From 70 To 100
Improving Your Chances For Obtaining Social Security Benefits
Its particularly important to see a psychologist or psychiatrist who can document the progression of your illness because this can sometimes be the only official record of your PTSD. If you live with or frequently see family members or friends, ask them to document your behavior over time as well. Since severity is the key to determining whether or not your PTSD disorder qualifies you for benefits, tracking the frequency and nature of your symptoms can help your case.
- Keep a detailed journal, including a calendar of notes about how you feel each day.
- Record any unusual activities you could not do on any given day.
- Keep a detailed history of your current and past medications, as well as any side effects that you experience.
- See a health care professional regularly and take the medication that he/she gives you so that he/she can support your application for benefits.
- Ask your doctor or other health care professional to track the course of your symptoms and to keep a record of any evidence of fatigue, irritability, forgetfulness, unusual behavior, or other hard-to-document symptoms.
- Keep records of how your illness affected you on the job.
Qualifying For A Medical Vocational Allowance
If your condition doesnt meet all the SSA blue book requirements for trauma or stressor-related disorders, you still have a chance of qualifying for disability benefits for PTSD through something called medical vocational allowance. Although it might be disheartening to find out that your condition doesnt qualify under blue book standards, the fact remains that many SSDI recipients actually qualify for their disability benefits via a medical vocational allowance.
Heres how it works: if you dont meet blue book requirements for a trauma- or stressor-related disorder, the SSA is still required to more closely examine your case. If your medical evidence substantiates your claim that PTSD keeps you from maintaining gainful employment, you can still be found eligible for SSDI benefits.
During the process, youll be subject to a residual functional capacity exam by an SSA medical consultant. An RFC helps the SSA establish what kind of workif anyyoure capable of performing. The results of the RFC, in addition to other factors , will ultimately determine your eligibility.
You May Like: How Much Can A Person Make On Disability
How To Ensure Your Ssdi Ptsd Benefits Application Is Approved
If you are interested in getting disability for PTSD, there are a few steps you can take to improve your applications chances of approval. To this end, the most important step you can take is to document everything. Maintain a diary or other record of how you feel each day. In addition, keep a journal of any PTSD symptoms you have. If your symptoms prevent you from participating in any of your usual activities, record that. This includes anything from impeding your ability to work to impeding your ability to exercise, be around certain places or people, or even drive your car.
However PTSD is impacting your life, document it. Document any visits you have to a psychologist or other medical professional. Any time you seek help from a medical professional, dont just document it yourselfmake sure you get a copy of any of the medical professionals own records of your visit and of their diagnosis. Also, document any medication used to treat your PTSD and maintain a journal of how that medication affects you positively or negatively. Maintaining a thorough record of every aspect of your PTSD will help you prove that your PTSD impacts your life to such a degree that it amounts to a disability.
Documenting Ptsd For Disability
When you apply for SSDI or SSI benefits, you claim must be supported by solid medical evidence that your condition is serious and long-term. This is true for any medical condition, not just PTSD. To ensure you have a strong claim, consider the following questions:
Do you have a supportive medical provider? When determining your disability, the Social Security Administration reviews your medical records for treatment notes and diagnostics that further describe your situation. Its important to make sure youre on the same page as your provider in terms of your diagnosis and limitations before applying. If your provider doesnt agree that you suffer from PTSD or recommends you continue working, your claim is unlikely to be successful.
Do you seek out and comply with treatment? When suffering from any mental illness, it is often difficult to attend treatment sessions regularly. And some individuals struggle with medication compliance starting and stopping medications that may improve their condition. It is important to comply with prescribed treatments since SSA will evaluate whether your condition responds to treatment. If your condition does respond or if there is a question as to whether you are complying with treatment, it is more difficult for SSA to find you disabled.
Recommended Reading: Social Security Administration Las Vegas
Can I Get Ssdi For Ptsd
Post-traumatic stress disorder happens after seeing or going through a traumatic event. The effects of PTSD can be crippling. PTSD causes recurrent flashback episodes and nightmares that can disrupt daily activities. Some forms of PTSD include hyper-vigilance, extreme fear of the event recurring, anger or irritability, and a tendency to be easily startled.
Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder can vary depending upon symptoms, and can involve a combination of counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressant drugs or antipsychotic medications. Disability claims for PTSD can be approved two ways. The first way for approval is for your medical records to satisfy the requirements of Social Security’s disability listing on trauma and stressor-related disorders. The second way for approval is to get a “medical-vocational allowance.” This is the usual way a majority of SSD claims are approved.
Documenting Your Ptsd For Social Security
Gathering all medical notes, including those from any therapy appointments, is critical. Applying for disability can be complex, and many people who dont provide the correct paperwork are denied.
Therefore, its essential to gather every piece of evidence you have available to you. Consult an attorney or disability advocate if you’re unsure. Proper preparation can help you put your best foot forward for the application process.
You May Like: What Does Short Term Disability Cover
Why Are Some Ssdi Benefits For Ptsd Denied
The two most common reasons that people are denied social security for PTSD are that they dont have a medical diagnosis and they cant show that their PTSD interferes with their ability to work.
To get SSDI benefits for PTSD, you must first demonstrate that you have PTSD. To prove that you have PTSD, you need to show a medical diagnosis for it. Otherwise, the Social Security Administration has no concrete evidence of the conditions existence, and they will deny your claim. To get a PTSD diagnosis, you should seek the help of a medical professional. If you speak with your physician initially, they can refer you to a psychiatric professional to aid in diagnosis. If you already see a psychiatric professional, they can run the right tests to make such a diagnosis.
On top of showing a legitimate diagnosis for PTSD, you need to demonstrate to the SSA that PTSD is impacting your life to a significant degree. To be eligible for disability benefits most often means that your condition impedes your ability to function in the workplace and thus amounts to a disability. A diagnosis of PTSD is not enough to prove this. For your condition to amount to a disability, you must be able to demonstrate that the conditions symptoms are affecting your ability to make a living for yourself.
What Does Not Count In The 14
Some activities do not count in the 14 hours per week requirement, such as:
- the time a portable or implanted device takes to deliver the therapy
- activities related to dietary restrictions or regimes, even when these activities are a factor in determining the daily dosage of medication
- activities related to exercising, even when these activities are a factor in determining the daily dosage of medication
- travel time to receive the therapy
- going to medical appointments
View the life-sustaining therapy video to help you understand the criteria.
Don’t Miss: Free Cell Phone For Veterans
How To Win Disability Benefits For Ptsd
August 20, 2021 By Jeremy Schooley
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very real disability that is often misunderstood. Living with PTSD becomes more devastating when sufferers find they can no longer do their jobs. Getting much-needed disability benefits for PTSD can be particularly frustrating.
If you are struggling with PTSD and cannot work, we can help you obtain the benefits you deserve. Marc Whitehead & Associates is a national law firm advocating for the rights of those who have been disabled by PTSD. The disorder can afflict anyone exposed to dire stress or trauma, from veterans in combat to individuals who experience or witness a horrible or life-threatening incident.
Some people are disabled by PTSD alone, while others with PTSD struggle with additional impairments. Research has linked traumatic stress exposures and post-traumatic stress disorder to such conditions as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders, eating and sleep disorders, and other diseases.
Ptsd Symptoms And Treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder , or post-traumatic stress injury , is an anxiety disorder that usually occurs after a person has been involved in a traumatic event, such as military combat, sexual assault, childhood abuse, severe car accident, or a natural disaster. Those with PTSD commonly experience nightmares, flashbacks, or panic attacks that seriously interfere with everyday life. Some people will think obsessively about their past trauma, while others will become emotionally numb and avoid thinking about it at all costs. PTSD is also commonly characterized by:
- feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or shame
- difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- anger and irritability
- trouble sleeping, and
- excessive anxiety or fear.
While almost all people who live through a trauma will experience some degree of shock or fear as a result, those with PTSD have long-lasting, severe symptoms that tend to worsen over time if left untreated. Treatment for PTSD often includes some combination of medication, counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or psychotherapy.
Recommended Reading: Best Car Donation For Veterans
Benefits For Widows Or Widowers With Disabilities
If something happens to a worker, benefits may be payable to their widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse with a disability if the following conditions are met:
- The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse is between ages 50 and 60.
- The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse has a medical condition that meets our definition of disability for adults and the disability started before or within seven years of the worker’s death.
Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses cannot apply online for survivors benefits. If they want to apply for these benefits, they should contact Social Security immediately at 1-800-772-1213 to request an appointment
To speed up the application process, complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of your appointment.
We use the same definition of disability for widows and widowers as we do for workers.
James Scott Farrin Wants To Help You With Your Ptsd Disability Claim
The Social Security Disability team at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin understands how confusing the claims process can be. And we also know that many people think they cannot afford an attorney. We work on a contingency fee basis so that you pay no attorneys fee unless we get you compensation.2 Call us today for a free case evaluation today.
Don’t Miss: What Is Considered Short Term Disability
Can You Do Any Other Type Of Work
If you cant do the work you did in the past, we look to see if there is other work you could do despite your medical impairment.
We consider your medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have. If you cant do other work, well decide you qualify for disability benefits. If you can do other work, well decide that you dont have a qualifying disability and your claim will be denied.
Does Ptsd Qualify For Ssdi
Living with post-traumatic stress disorder can be debilitating and have an outsize impact on your life. According to the American Psychiatric Association , PTSD affects more than 3% of all adults in the United States each year. For some, PTSD is manageable and does not impact their life on a daily basis. For others, PTSD is more debilitating and can impact every facet of their life.
Sometimes, PTSD can make functioning in a workplace environment almost impossible. If your PTSD is debilitating, you may be eligible for social security disability for PTSD in the form of SSDI benefits.
Read Also: Is Degenerative Disc Disease A Disability
Contact Ludwar Law Firm For Help With Your Disability Claim For Ptsd
Calgary-based Ludwar Law Firm focuses on helping clients in Alberta and Saskatchewan with long-term disability claims.Long-term disability clients particularly those who are suffering from PTSD are dealing with much more than just the legal aspects of getting their claim approved.Our clients appreciate being able to talk to people who can explain the process, their options, and what will happen during their claim. With more than 25 years of experience and an ongoing focus on long-term disability claims, Ludwar Law Firm stands out above the rest.For more detailed information or to ask questions about your unique situation, we welcome you to contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Ludwar Law Firm
How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits For Mental Health
If you or someone you love has a mental health impairment, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration offers disability benefits to people of all ages who are unable to work due to a serious illness. While it can be challenging to qualify with a mental health disorder, a staggering 19% of disability recipients do have a mental illness, so its more than possible to be approved.
You May Like: How To Cure Blood Phobia
Also Check: Is Drug Addiction Considered A Disability
Mental Residual Functional Capacity
One of the best ways to increase an applicants chances for approval with a mental illness such as PTSD is to have his or her treating doctor fill out a mental residual functional capacity form. Typically when an applicant initially files for disability benefits, a medical examiner from the SSA will fill out a mental RFC based on the applicants medical documentation. This form is an assessment of an individuals mental limitations caused by his or her disabling condition. The SSA will use this assessment to determine if the applicant is capable of working despite his or her limitations. If the applicant is seen as unfit for employment, the SSA will award the applicant Social Security Disability benefits.
However, this medical examiner makes a medical decision without even seeing the applicant in person. Because of this, the SSA gives more creditability toward a RFC filled out by the applicant’s treating doctor since the doctor has direct experience with the applicant’s disabling condition. To learn more, visit our page about Residual Functional Capacity.