Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect nearly every part of a person’s daily life, including their ability to work. For some people, symptoms may make it difficult or impossible to maintain consistent employment.
So, is PTSD a disability?
PTSD can qualify as a disabling condition for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) when the condition is severe enough to prevent someone from performing substantial work activity and the person meets Social Security’s requirements for disability.
However, having a PTSD diagnosis does not automatically qualify someone for SSDI. Social Security looks at how the condition affects a person’s ability to function and work, as well as the medical and other evidence supporting the claim.
Can You Get SSDI for PTSD?
Yes. PTSD is one of the mental health conditions that Social Security considers when evaluating disability claims.
Social Security evaluates PTSD under Listing 12.15, Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. The listing addresses symptoms associated with trauma / stressor-related disorders and considers how those symptoms affect a person’s ability to function.
But there is an important distinction:
You do not necessarily have to meet every requirement of Listing 12.15 to potentially qualify for SSDI.
Social Security considers the overall severity of the condition and its impact on a person’s ability to perform work-related activities. A person whose PTSD does not meet the specific requirements of the listing may still be found disabled based on the limitations caused by the condition.
That’s why a PTSD claim is about more than simply establishing a diagnosis.
What Does Social Security Look for in a PTSD Claim?
When evaluating a mental health disability claim, Social Security considers how the condition affects a person’s functioning.
For PTSD, this may include symptoms such as:
- Intrusive memories or distressing thoughts
- Flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoidance of people, places, or situations
- Hypervigilance
- An exaggerated startle response
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating
- Problems interacting with other people
- Difficulty adapting to changes or stressful situations
- Problems maintaining consistent functioning over time
The severity and frequency of symptoms matter, but so does their impact on a person’s ability to function in a work environment.
For example, someone may have difficulty maintaining attention long enough to complete tasks, interacting appropriately with coworkers or supervisors, handling ordinary workplace stress, maintaining a consistent schedule, or adapting to changes in routine.
These functional limitations can be important when Social Security evaluates whether someone can work.
A PTSD Diagnosis Alone May Not Be Enough
One of the biggest misconceptions about disability claims is that receiving a diagnosis automatically means a person qualifies for disability benefits.
It doesn’t.
A diagnosis establishes that a medical condition exists. A successful disability claim generally requires evidence showing how that condition limits the person’s ability to work.
Consider two people who have both been diagnosed with PTSD.
One person may experience symptoms that are well controlled with treatment and have relatively little impact on their ability to work.
Another may experience frequent flashbacks, severe anxiety, difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep, problems interacting with others, and an inability to tolerate ordinary workplace stress.
Both people have PTSD.
Their ability to work may be very different.
That’s why the focus of an SSDI claim needs to extend beyond the name of the diagnosis.
What Evidence Can Support an SSDI Claim for PTSD?
Medical evidence can play an important role in establishing the severity of PTSD and its effect on functioning.
Depending on the individual circumstances, relevant evidence may include:
- Treatment records from mental health professionals
- Psychiatric evaluations
- Therapy records
- Medication history
- Documentation of symptoms and treatment response
- Hospitalization or intensive treatment records, when applicable
- Statements from treating providers
- Evidence documenting limitations in daily activities and functioning
- Work history and information about difficulties maintaining employment
Consistency is important. Social Security may consider medical records, treatment history, reported symptoms, observations from medical professionals, and other evidence when evaluating a claim.
It’s also important to remember that more evidence isn’t necessarily better if the evidence doesn’t explain the claimant’s actual limitations.
The goal is to provide a clear picture of what the person experiences, how frequently they experience it, how severe it is, and how those limitations affect their ability to function.
What If Your PTSD Doesn’t Meet the Listing?
This is an important question because many people assume that failing to meet a specific Social Security listing means they cannot qualify for disability.
That’s not necessarily the case.
Social Security evaluates disability claims through multiple steps. If a person’s PTSD does not meet or medically equal Listing 12.15, Social Security can still evaluate the person’s residual functional capacity (RFC) and determine what work-related activities they are capable of performing.
For someone with severe PTSD, that evaluation may involve limitations involving concentration, persistence, pace, social interaction, adapting to changes, handling workplace stress, or maintaining a regular work schedule.
If those limitations prevent the person from performing their past work or other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy, the claim may still result in a finding of disability.
In other words, not meeting the PTSD listing does not necessarily mean the end of an SSDI claim.
Can PTSD and Other Conditions Qualify You for SSDI?
Yes.
People applying for SSDI do not necessarily have only one medical condition. PTSD may occur alongside other mental or physical conditions that also affect a person’s ability to work.
Social Security considers the combined effects of a person’s medically determinable impairments when evaluating disability.
For example, someone may experience PTSD along with depression, anxiety, a chronic pain condition, or another physical impairment, or may be a veteran pursuing VA disability compensation related to service-connected PTSD.
The important question is how the person’s conditions—and the resulting limitations—affect their ability to function and maintain substantial work activity.
This is another reason it can be a mistake to focus solely on whether one diagnosis “qualifies.”
What If Your PTSD Claim Has Been Denied?
A denial does not necessarily mean that you cannot receive SSDI.
Social Security disability claims can be denied for many reasons. Sometimes the issue involves insufficient medical evidence. Sometimes the evidence does not clearly establish the severity of the person’s limitations. In other cases, Social Security may determine that the claimant can still perform past work or other work.
If your claim has been denied, you may have the right to appeal.
The appeals process has multiple stages, and the evidence and arguments presented during an appeal can be important. Understanding why Social Security denied the claim is an important first step in determining what needs to be addressed.
How Parmele Disability Advocates Can Help
Living with PTSD can make ordinary responsibilities feel overwhelming. Navigating an SSDI claim at the same time can add another layer of stress.
At Parmele Disability Advocates, we assist people in navigating the Social Security disability process, helping you understand your options, answering questions about the process, helping identify and support the evidence needed for your claim, communicating with Social Security, and advocating on your behalf.
If PTSD or another condition is making it difficult or impossible for you to work, you don’t have to figure out the disability process alone.
Contact Parmele Disability Advocates to learn more about your options and how we may be able to help.
Parmele Disability Advocates — Real Compassion. Relentless Advocacy.