How To Prove You Have PTSD in Your Disability Claim
Your Social Security Disability claim for PTSD needs evidence to back up what you say about your debilitating condition.
This can include medical documents, reports, and test results. It can also include statements from people who personally know you and information from your schooling and jobs.
Social Security will study how your PTSD affects you over time. Claims examiners will want to see how you function in familiar, supportive settings, such as at home with family, and also unfamiliar situations, rehabilitative programs, or any live-in treatment programs.
Here is a rundown of details to provide Social Security:
- The symptoms you report
- Your doctor’s diagnosis of your PTSD
- Your psychiatric and psychological treatment history
- Your medical history
- Mental health examination results
- Clinical interviews
- Ratings on psychiatric or psychological scales
- Measures by health professionals about your functioning
- Psychological test results
- Effects of therapy
- Medical imaging
- Laboratory results
- Details of medications you take
- Detrimental side effects of medications
- Observations of you during therapy or exams
- A history of changes in your treatment
- Description of sensory, movement and speech differences
- How long your symptoms might last
In addition to this information from health care professionals, your evidence for disability benefits with PTSD can include statements from people such as family, friends, neighbors, religious leaders, social workers, and others.
They could talk about how you function every day, what symptoms they see, and how your medical treatment affects you.
You can also submit information from school, work, and vocational training programs you’ve recently attended. Social Security may look at special education plans, statements from teachers, job evaluations, modifications to your work because of your mental health, and information from rehabilitation programs.
It’s a lot to put together. Experienced disability attorneys can help, and lighten the burden on you.
Get started by talking to the Social Security Disability law firm of Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor for an initial evaluation of your case.
What Symptoms of PTSD Do You Need to Document?
In all of those records and documents you submit, Social Security will be looking for confirmation that you experience symptoms that it recognizes as being part of having PTSD.
In its official listing of impairments that qualify for disability benefits, this is what Social Security includes for PTSD:
- Anxiety
- Aggressive behavior
- Irritability
- Distressing memories
- Disturbing dreams
- Flashbacks tied to the trauma
- Intensified startle response
- Trouble concentrating
- Sleep problems
- Avoiding situations that remind you of the trauma
- Loss of interest in major activities
- Sustained negative emotions such as fear and anger
- Difficulty feeling positive emotions
Only you know what PTSD is like for you.
Getting it across to disability claims examiners can be difficult.
The Social Security Disability lawyers at Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor listen to you with respect and translate what you’re saying for the people who will compare your case to Social Security’s many rules.
If you had support coming in from disability benefits, it could put you in a firm position to improve your own well-being.
Disability lawyers help you reach a better situation, and you pay no attorney fee until you win benefits.
We’re with You Every Step of the Way
Whether you’re trying to determine if you’re qualified for disability benefits, you need help filing your application, or you received a denial notice and want another chance, our law firm helps from the beginning and stays by your side.
Have a Question about Disability Benefits?
Your health is bad. You can’t work. Your financial stability is threatened. So your head is swimming with questions. How will you get by? How does Social Security Disability work? We’ve gathered answers. See them here:
Disability FAQs »
Hear from a Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor Client
“(My lawyer) did a great job getting my case ready, and the court settled in my favor. I highly recommend Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor.”
