In the US You can get Disability for PTSD
Do you have PTSD and panic attacks? Do you feel like it is a struggle to do daily tasks? Are you unemployed because of your PTSD?
If so, you may be able to get on disability in the United States.
If you are looking to qualify for disability, your PTSD must be keeping you from working. This can happen if you have symptoms that are so severe that it keeps you from holding a job. You may have been let go from a job because of missing work, or for other reasons including having erratic behavior or panic attacks.
A few years ago I lost a job because of PTSD, and my case worker told me that I may quality for disability because I had lost my job. However, by the time I had my appointment with the SSA, I was working again so I didn't qualify.
If you are unable to work due to PTSD, I highly recommend looking into finding out if your PTSD qualifies you as being disabled. This way, you won't have to worry about needing to maintain a stable job if you are unable to do so.
There are quite a bit of forms that you will need to fill out to apply, and you will need to have your doctor or therapist write an evaluation stating that you have PTSD and you are disabled.
According to FBR Law,
Typically, monthly benefit payments are available to workers who are unable to return to their jobs for longer than a year. If your PTSD results from a traumatic event outside of work and prevents you from maintaining employment, you could apply for benefits. The amount of your payments will depend on the number of years you worked and your average wages before your diagnosis.
For Veterans
If you are a veteran, you can get disability benefits from the VA. According to the VA,
Posttraumatic stress can happen after someone goes through a traumatic event such as combat, an assault, or a disaster. Most people have some stress reactions following trauma. But if the reactions don’t go away over time or they disrupt your life, you may have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Find out if you can get disability compensation or benefits if you have symptoms of PTSD.
When you have PTSD, it can effect your daily functioning in life, and make it hard to get anything done at times. You may have trouble sleeping, trouble working, and trouble interacting in a normal way with others on a daily basis.
Others with PTSD
If you aren't a veteran but you have PTSD, you may still be covered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and be qualified to get a disability.
According to the SSA,
To get PTSD disability, you must have your PTSD to be considered a disability by the SSA. In order to do so, the first thing that you need to do is to meet the medical requirements outlined in the SSA’s Blue Book relating to PTSD disability.
The main criteria for PTSD as a disability is that you are unable to work due to the condition, so this should be well documented. It is important that you have as much information as possible before filing your claim.
Information for your claim
You may need to get copies of your medical records, and employment records. It is also helpful if you document the reasons why you are unable to work. If you have lost a job due to PTSD it is important to have documentation regarding these issues.
According to Nolo, here is the information that you will need to get from your doctor:
In addition, if your treating mental health provider is willing to complete an RFC form or write a letter on your behalf, this could give you a much better chance of being approved. The RFC form should ask for your diagnosis and symptoms, and it should address your ability to:
sustain a routine without special supervision
maintain attention and concentration
understand, remember, and carry out simple and complex instructions
avoid excessive absences from work (more than two days per month)
make simple work-related decisions
interact appropriately with supervisors, coworkers, and the general public, and
be on time to work and avoid taking unscheduled breaks from the job.
Your doctor should also state the medical basis for his or her opinions, and address whether you meet the above listing for PTSD.It can also be helpful to get a lawyer or an advocate to help you with the process. The therapy center where I went most recently had case managers who are able to assist with this process.
There are many listings for lawyers that are able to help you with your case online, and if you are struggling with the paperwork for your disability claim, it may be helpful to consult with a lawyer to assist you in filing your claim.
Filing a claim won't be easy, but if you are unable to work or keep a steady job, it may be a good solution for your finances in the long-term to qualify for disability.
