Is PTSD a Disability?

Disability for PTSD

VA considers any of these to be a traumatic event:

• You suffered a serious injury, personal or sexual trauma, sexual violation, or
• You were threatened with injury, sexual assault, or death [1]

Types of PTSD Disability Benefits

Does PTSD Qualify for Disability?

Does PTSD count as a disability? Yes. Most people think of physical injuries and illnesses when they think of disabilities. However, mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are also disabilities. PTSD can prevent a person from returning to work or making their regular income. Many employees suffering from this disorder can’t perform their job-related duties or find work elsewhere.

Workers who have PTSD could pursue benefits through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance or Social Security disability. Is PTSD permanent disability? It depends on your condition and treatment. If you meet the specific requirements, you could collect the benefit payments you need to pay for medical treatment and supplement your lost wages.

Is PTSD a Disability?

Is PTSD disability? Yes. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers post-traumatic stress disorder a disability. It falls under the category of trauma and stressor-related disorders. According to the SSA, PTSD occurs after witnessing or experiencing a stressful or traumatic event. They can also result from learning about a close friend or family member’s experience. [2]

The SSA mentions common symptoms of trauma and stressor-related disorders, such as PTSD. They include:

It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a typical reaction to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People with PTSD may feel stressed or frightened, even when not in danger.

While most but not all traumatized people experience short-term symptoms, the majority do not develop ongoing (chronic) PTSD. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some experiences, like the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, can also cause PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. Symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to interfere with relationships or work to be considered PTSD. The course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic.

A doctor with experience helping people with mental illnesses, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, can diagnose PTSD.

Avoidance symptoms include:

• Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the traumatic experience
• Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event

Things that remind a person of the traumatic event can trigger avoidance symptoms. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her routine. For example, after a bad car accident, a person who usually drives may avoid driving or riding in a car.

Arousal and reactivity symptoms include:

• Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or “on edge”
• Having difficulty sleeping
• Having angry outbursts

Arousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic events. These symptoms can make the person feel stressed and angry. They may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

Cognition and mood symptoms include:

• Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event
• Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
• Distorted feelings like guilt or blame
• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities

Cognition and mood symptoms can begin or worsen after the traumatic event but are not due to injury or substance use. These symptoms can make the person feel alienated or detached from friends or family.

It is natural to have some of these symptoms for a few weeks after a dangerous event. When the symptoms last more than a month, seriously affect one’s ability to function, and are not due to substance use, medical illness, or anything except the event itself, they might be PTSD. Some people with PTSD don’t show any symptoms for weeks or months. PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or one or more of the other anxiety disorders. [3]

Is Complex PTSD a Disability?

Does complex PTSD qualify for disability? Yes. In 1988, Dr. Judith Herman of Harvard University suggested that a new complex PTSD diagnosis was needed to describe long-term trauma symptoms. [4] Such complex PTSD symptoms include, according to her formulation:

• Behavioral difficulties (e.g. impulsivity, aggressiveness, sexual acting out, alcohol/drug misuse, and self-destructive behavior)
• Emotional difficulties (e.g. affect liability, rage, depression, and panic)
• Cognitive difficulties (e.g. dissociation and pathological changes in personal identity)
• Interpersonal difficulties (e.g. chaotic personal relationships)
• Somatization (resulting in many visits to medical practitioners)

Many traumatic events (e.g., car accidents, natural disasters, etc.) are of time-limited duration. However, in some cases, people experience chronic trauma that continues or repeats for months or years at a time. Some have suggested that the current PTSD diagnosis does not fully capture the severe psychological harm that occurs with prolonged, repeated trauma.

In addition to PTSD, chronic trauma is sometimes associated with other comorbidities, including substance use, mood disorders, and personality disorders. A thorough assessment using validated instruments is critical to creating a comprehensive and effective treatment plan.

An individual who experienced a prolonged period (months to years) of chronic victimization and total control by another may also experience difficulties in the following areas:

• Emotional regulation. May include persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, and explosive or inhibited anger.
• Consciousness. Includes forgetting traumatic events, reliving traumatic events, or having episodes in which one feels detached from one’s mental processes or body (dissociation).
• Self-perception. It may include helplessness, shame, guilt, stigma, and a sense of being completely different from other human beings.
• Distorted perceptions of the perpetrator. Examples include attributing total power to the perpetrator, becoming preoccupied with the relationship with the perpetrator, or being preoccupied with revenge.
• Relations with others. Examples include isolation, distrust, or a repeated search for a rescuer.
• One’s system of meanings. It may include a loss of sustaining faith or a sense of hopelessness and despair.

How To Get Social Security Disability Approved PTSD?

The process of obtaining PTSD benefits varies based on the type of benefits being applied for. Winning a PTSD social security disability claim will be different than qualifying for a VA PTSD claim. The first step for any PTSD disability claim is to file a claim with the agency or insurance company that will provide the benefit.

Before filing, carefully examine the benefits provider’s requirements for filing a claim, and guarantee that you have all the paperwork and information required to file the claim. If you require assistance filing the claim, call the benefit provider or have someone you trust call them to see how they can accommodate you. Government agencies like the Social Security Administration or the VA will be able to assist with filing a claim if you are unable to do so.

If your claim has been denied, you will generally be able to appeal the denial. Pay careful attention to the appeal dates and guarantee that any paperwork is filed on time. If you pass the appeal dates, you may have to wait a period — normally a year — and refile. You should provide any additional paperwork and documentation required during the appeals process. Depending on the intricacy of your case and the reason for your appeal, you may desire to consider consulting a lawyer who can help you complete the appeals process. Many lawyers will provide a free consultation and give you some advice during these consultations that could help guide you in the appeals process.

General Requirements for Disability PTSD Programs

Social security disability requirements for PTSD can change yearly, but five requirements are currently used during the Social Security PTSD evaluation process. As of 2019, these five requirements include:

• You must be unable to earn over $1220 a month by working
• Your condition must be severe, limiting your ability to work for at least 12 months
• Your case of PTSD is considered disabling
• You must be unable to do the work you previously did
• You must be unable to do other types of work

You should be eligible for PTSD disability Social Security benefits if you meet these five requirements.

Applying for VA disability benefits will require you to file a claim with the VA. Before filing, review the PTSD disability rating system to see how the level of disability for PTSD is determined. By ensuring that you have the documentation to achieve the highest level of disability applicable to your case, you will be more likely to get a larger monthly benefit.

The process for filing for benefits through private or employer-sponsored insurance will differ based on the company that provided the insurance policy. Ask for a copy of your policy before filing and review the filing process, what is covered under your policy, and any supporting documentation that may be needed.

Deciding to get help and taking steps to start can be hard. There are several effective PTSD treatments. This means you have options. Many professionals provide evidence-based talk therapy and medication to people who go through trauma. Treatments with the strongest evidence should be the first line of treatment for PTSD whenever possible, considering patient preferences, values, and clinician expertise.

We Level Up FL provides world-class care with round-the-clock medical professionals available to help you cope. All work as a team, providing PTSD Treatment for successful recovery. Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation.