When many people think of Social Security Disability benefits for illnesses, they probably think of the people who are terminally ill and therefore cannot return to work. However, qualifying for SSD benefits for illness can be accomplished by other people besides those who are dealing with terminal or severe cases of heart disease or cancer – it can be done by those who suffer from mental impairments as well.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental impairment that, fortunately, is well-known and, for the most part, widely understood to cause significant issues for the people who suffer from this condition. Our readers are most likely familiar with PTSD in terms of military service members who return home from a theatre of war to find that their experiences, and recurring episodes of re-living those experiences, keeps them from functioning as they did before the onset of PTSD. But, other people can suffer from PTSD as well, depending on the level of trauma experienced in any given event.
In order to qualify for SSD benefits, those who suffer from PTSD will need to show the Social Security Administration how debilitating the condition is, and how as a result they are unable to work and earn an income. Just like every other application for SSD benefits, an application based on a person’s PTSD will need to include all of the appropriate information to allow the SSA to make the right determination.
At our law firm, we understand that those who suffer from PTSD may need some help in order to get an application submitted to the SSA for review. Qualifying for SSD benefits due to a mental impairment can be more difficult than it is for those who suffer from a physical disability. For more information on how our law firm attempts to help Los Angeles residents who suffer from PTSD, please visit our website.
