Our Survey Showed That Applicants With Mood Or Anxiety Disorders Had A Lower Chance Of Approval Than Those With Other Mental Or Cognitive Difficulties
If you find it hard to hold down a job because of a severe mental or emotional conditionsuch as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, or autismyou might be asking yourself: What are my chances of getting Social Security disability benefits? To help answer that question, we surveyed readers around the United States who recently went through the process of applying for SSDI or SSI . Here’s what we learned from the experiences of readers who filed claims for mood or anxiety disorders.
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Many Canadians with disabilities dont get approved because they opt to fill out their T2201 Form themselves rather than seek the help of a professional. If youre living with a severe and prolonged mental or physical disability, we can get you approved for the Disability Tax Credit.
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How Long It Takes To Recover From Ptsd
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a severe mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying or traumatic event. People with this condition often experience negative and disturbing thoughts. These thoughts may remain in the mind of the individual for years, even after the traumatic event. Counseling and relaxation techniques often help in coping with the condition.
The condition may disrupt the everyday activities and functioning of the brain. Its symptoms can be categorized into the following four groups:
- Avoidance An individual may tend to avoid the places, people, and situations that may remind them of the traumatic event.
- Cognition and mood An individual may develop negative thoughts and feelings of guilt or blame.
- Intrusion The unpleasant memories may lead to nightmares and may affect the mental state of the individual.
- Arousal and reactivity The individual suffering may have difficulty concentrating and may have a constant feeling of being on edge.
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Social Security Disability And Ptsd: Do I Qualify
May 13, 2021 by Andrew Price
One of the most common medical conditions approved for Social Security Disability benefits is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder . If you suffer from PTSD and are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits, its important to stay informed so you know what to expect.
How To Get Social Security Disability Approved For Ptsd
According to the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD affects about 3.5 million adults in the United States. It is a mental health disorder that may cause extreme and disturbing thoughts and emotions in people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event, such as war, a serious car accident, or sexual violence.
People with post-traumatic stress disorder may experience nightmares and flashbacks forcing them to relive or be reminded of the traumatic event. The APA estimates that one in 11 people will, at some point in their lives, be informed by a health care professional of a PTSD diagnosis.
If you have been diagnosed with PTSD that causes you to be unable to work, you may qualify to get Social Security disability PTSD benefits provided the condition meets guidelines to qualify for them. You should begin with a free consultation and claim evaluation with an SSD advocate at London Eligibility to learn more about how the facts of your specific condition may affect your ability to qualify for benefits.
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Long Term Effects Of Ptsd
Post-traumatic stress disorder may have a long term effect on a patients life and overall health. The following are some of the common long term effects:
People struggling with this condition often experience intense emotions of pain, fear, and nervousness. At times, an individual may even feel they are in danger and act aggressively toward others. Many people rely on destructive coping mechanisms such as drug or alcohol abuse to deal with the condition. It can result in anxiety and serious complications that impact the mental and physical strength of an individual.
People often avoid socializing with family and friends. They may refuse to participate and engage in social gatherings. This behavior may increase feelings of insecurity and helplessness. It can impact an individuals ability to live and socialize with others.
You may experience difficulty sleeping because of horrifying nightmares. The traumatic event may affect the ability to rest and sleep well. In severe cases, long term sleep disturbance can even lead to insomnia. The lack of sleep increases the risk of additional health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and healthy weight maintenance.
The Ssa Medical Documentation Listing For Ptsd
To establish that you have a mental impairment, the SSA will require medical evidence from an acceptable medical source. To satisfy the requirements for PTSD, an applicant must present medical documentation of all the following:
- Exposure to death or threatened death, serious injury, or violence.
- Subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event.
- Avoidance of external reminders of the event.
- Disturbance in mood and behavior.
- Increases in arousal and reactivity.
It is important to provide all available medical evidence of your PTSD condition from your physician, psychologist, clinical mental health counselor, and all other health care providers.
Applicants that provide the SSA with complete and accurate evidence in a timely manner can help accelerate the processing of their claim.
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How Do You Win A Ptsd Claim
Get out in front of your VA PTSD claim or appeal and dont wait for the VA to assist you in developing these elements: Know the 4 Pillars of a PTSD Claim and KNOW what evidence is and is not in your C-File already. Know how to prove up your UNIQUE type of Stressor Event. Get a solid Diagnostic Exam.
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.
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Ssdi For Ptsd: Satisfying The Ssa Listing With Ptsd
To meet the requirements of the listing, you must have medical documentation of all of the following: exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or violence subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event avoidance of external reminders of the event disturbance in mood or behavior and, increases in arousal and reactivity.
Your symptoms must cause an extreme limitation of one or a marked limitation of two of the following:
How We Can Help You With How To Apply For And Get Approved For Social Security Disability Benefits Fast As Possible
We at SocialSecurityRights.net provide free online assistance to people seeking their right to Disability benefits, get all the SSDI benefits they are entitled to as fast as possible and without the hassle of otherwise going it alone in a very complex system where the odds of an approval are low without professional assistance, in which we provide you free and easily. We can provide the experience to help guide applicants through the entire Social Security Disability approval process and the determination to help fight for their rights. Since we are always up-to-date with the latest Social Security Disability news to keep you informed of all of your SSDI rights and options, having your own particular Disability circumstance examined through us, will help to ensure that any current changes in SSDI rules are considered in your claim which could potentially increase your chances of approval.
Once you can have your own particular Disability benefits claim reviewed through us, we can get you on the right track to:
- get all wrongfully denied SSDI payments with back pay and
- reinstate the Disability payments.
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Is Ptsd A Disability
Megan Hull is a content specialist who edits, writes and ideates content to help people find recovery. As a Florida born-and-raised… read more
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Many people who have post-traumatic stress disorder wonder, Is PTSD considered a disability? The answer to this question is not a simple, straightforward yes or no. Technically, PTSD itself is not always considered a disability, but it can lead to partial or complete disability. Simply having PTSD does mean that you are considered disabled, but if the symptoms of PTSD are so severe that they affect your ability to function in society or in the workplace, then this would be considered a disability.
For the purposes of Social Security, you either meet the criteria for a PTSD disability or you dont. Disability for the purposes of the U S. Department of Veterans Affairs is different. When looking at the disability that occurs from PTSD, VA disability criteria allows for different levels of disability. The VA allows for 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% disability, depending on how the person applying for disability meets their criteria.
Applying For Disability Benefits For Ptsd Using The Medical
The majority of disability benefit cases involving post-traumatic stress disorder are not considered serious enough to last for the period of time required under the listing. In this case, you may use the medical-vocational allowance to help you obtain the disability benefits you need.
To qualify under the medical-vocational allowance, a mental consultant for theSocial Security Administration must deem your symptoms as serious enough to prevent you from working, even though your condition does not meet the requirements under the listing for post-traumatic stress disorder. For example, if you have been experiencing issues with your concentration, or have developed poor sleeping habits that cause you chronic fatigue, these limitations may interfere with your ability to work or keep a job.
If you suffer from PTSD along with other mental disorders or physical limitations, you will have a better chance of being successful with your application for disability benefits. This is particularly true if you are aged 55 or older, have little education, or no prior history of gainful employment.
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Social Security Disability Insurance And Ptsd
Posttraumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder caused by a traumatic event. People who witness or experience an event that triggers intense horror, helplessness, or fear, sometimes develop PTSD as a result.
Just because you experience trauma, doesnt mean that youll definitely develop PTSD most people are able to recover from their experience through effective coping methods over time. However, some people find that they cant heal on their own symptoms worsen and are severe enough to interfere with daily life. In these cases, the person is usually diagnosed with PTSD.
Additionally known as shell shock, battle fatigue, or posttraumatic stress syndrome, PTSD affects those who have served in combat and those who havent. Traumatic events such as violence, rape, abuse, and natural disasters can also be triggers.
Applying For Ssd What To Expect
When the Social Security Administration evaluates your application, they will review your medical records and look for information such as:
- When you were diagnosed with PTSD
- How long you’ve been undergoing treatment
- Treatment, including prescription medications you’re taking
- Other medical conditions you have, including depression
- Expected prognosis
- And other details
Remember, the Social Security Administration wants to see proof that the PTSD is severe. Meaning, it should prevent you from holding a job. The Social Security Administration will also review your income and work history, as well as your age, education, etc.
If you haven’t worked enough or recently enough to have paid into the Social Security system, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits.
If the Social Security Administration denies your initial application, don’t give up. The government denies the majority of claims, even when people are entitled to receive SSD benefits. You’re not alone. But you must act quickly you have only 60 days to appeal. You can reapply after the deadline, but the SSD application process will start over again.
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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.
Is Ptsd Considered A Disability
Cases involving posttraumatic stress disorder may be approved by the Social Security Administration if they meet criteria in the Blue Book or through a medicalvocational allowance. Most PTSD cases are approved through the latter. If your symptoms are less severe than the listing, you may still be awarded a medical allowance if you are prevented from working at your former vocational position and from working at another position that would pay you a substantial income.
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The Advantage Of Having A Lawyer
One of the most critical things you can do to increase your chances of receiving SSDI or SSI is to hire a disability lawyer. As our survey results showed, 55% of readers who had an attorney received benefits for their mental impairments, either at the application stage or after a hearing. That’s a significant improvement over the 36% who got benefits without a lawyer’s help.
Don’t be afraid to include a diagnosis of PTSD if it is relevant or contributes to your disability. Some health issues are often exacerbated by PTSD and other related mental health issues. This process is entirely too overwhelming to accomplish without the assistance of a skilled and caring disability attorney.
Candyce, 37, Oregon
Experienced disability attorneys understand Social Security’s complicated rules for mental disorders. A lawyer can work with your doctor or psychologist to provide helpful medical evidence, request Social Security to send you for I.Q. or memory testing, or, if Social Security sent you to a mental exam and the doctor’s opinion hurts your case, your lawyer can work to cast doubt on the doctor’s opinion.
What Does Ptsd Do To A Person
People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares they may feel sadness, fear or anger and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.
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How Does The Process Work
You receive a Ticket in the mail. You take this Ticket to any Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency , and if you both agree to work together, the EN or VR will help you with job training, finding employers, information about work incentives, materials to send to prospective employers, and other tasks that will help you go to work. Participating in the Ticket to Work program means that youre protected from a Continuing Disability Review based on your potential ability to work.
Our Experienced Attorneys Will Fight For The Ssdi Benefits You Deserve
Are you suffering from PTSD? If so, turn to the experienced Social Security disability attorneys at Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett for help obtaining the SSDI benefits you deserve. Applying for SSDI benefits is a stressful, challenging process that you shouldnt face alone. Let us guide you through the process and work tirelessly to secure the SSDI benefits you are entitled to by law.
If your claim has been denied, our attorneys can also assist you with the process of appealing the SSAs decision. Contact our law office now to schedule a free consultation regarding your case.
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