According to the federal government, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects the lives of about 12 million adults in the United States at any given time. It is projected that at some point in their lives, 6% of the population will develop PTSD.
PTSD is a serious mental health disorder that you may develop after being exposed to or witnessing a life-threatening event. Feeling on edge, sleep disturbance, and upsetting memories and nightmares of the event are normal reactions that generally subside within a few weeks or a few months of the traumatic event.
If you are among the group of people whose PTSD symptoms do not subside and interfere with their ability to do in daily activities, including going to and functioning at work, you may be eligible for PTSD disability benefits.
You should speak with a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist for a proper evaluation and diagnosis. Once that has been completed, contact a PTSD disability benefits lawyer for help completing an application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Exposure to death or serious physical harm, either as a victim directly impacted by the event or as a witness or family member, may cause you to develop PTSD. Some of the symptoms, which may develop immediately or may not develop for several months after the incident or event, include the following:
Someone with PTSD may develop other disorders, including drug and alcohol abuse and depression. If you believe that you may have PTSD, you need to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or a psychologist.
To qualify for disability benefits through SSI or SSDI, you must have a medical condition that is severe enough to satisfy the disability definition used by Social Security. If your impairment is contained in the Listing of Impairments maintained by the Social Security Administration, it is considered to be severe enough to meet the definition.
Listing 12.15 of the Listing of Impairments is for disorders related to trauma or stressors. PTSD may qualify as a listed impairment provided your medical records prove each of the requirements of the listing. In addition to proof that you were exposed to an event or incident involving death or a threat of death, serious injury or violence, you also must have flashbacks or other intrusive memories of the event.
If you cannot meet the listing criteria, you may qualify for PTSD disability if your medical records prove that you qualify for a vocational allowance. Benefits through a medical-vocational allowance require proof that PTSD symptoms are severe enough to prevent you from engaging in substantial gainful activity and also prevent you from doing the type of work you did in the past or do any other type of work.
A disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC, can assist you with an application or an appeal of a denial of PTSD disability benefits. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim assessment.