POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) AS A BASIS FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS AND SSI 

PTSD is a mental health disorder* that affects individuals who either experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as war combat, sexual assault, child abuse, car accident, or natural disaster. The condition can severely impact the sufferer causing, for example, flashbacks, nightmares, or other impairment related to the memory of the trauma. 

In order to qualify for Disability Benefits or SSI based on PTSD, you must be unable to work on a regular basis and either meet the Social Security listing for that impairment** or be rendered unable to perform all previous jobs and any other work. In other words, if your condition results in an inability to maintain employment and you meet or equal the Listing, you will be considered disabled at Step 2 of the Sequential Evaluation Process. Alternatively, you may still qualify for benefits even if the impairment does not meet or equal the Listing but results in symptoms severely impacting your ability to concentrate, accept supervision, interact with coworkers, sustain tasks, and/or carry out instructions. 

If you meet the above criteria, you may qualify for disability based on PTSD. It is imperative, however, that these limitations and restrictions are well-documented by you and your medical providers. All medical records from doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals will be considered when evaluating the symptoms caused by your PTSD. 

Your attorneys at Green & Greenberg will develop the record to prove your inability to work including request and submission of a residual functional capacity form from your mental health provider specifying your vocational limitations. 

Call the offices of Green & Greenberg to get started today. 

*See Exhibit 1.3-4 DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD. 

**See SSA Listing 12.15(11) Trauma and stressor-related disorders.