Social Security Disability is a lifeline for many Americans who struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder. The SSA has strict qualifiers, however, for those who seek disability benefits.
If you believe that your BPD qualifies you for SSD, you have to prove your need.
Determine if you meet the SSA’s criteria
Over 2 million Americans receive SSD benefits due to a psychiatric condition or mental disability. The SSA acknowledges that psychiatric disorders can affect a person’s ability to work and maintain gainful employment, including borderline personality disorder. The SSA maintains a comprehensive list of impairments for various mental conditions. While you will not find BPD explicitly mentioned, you can find the symptoms and limitations associated with BPD in other listed disorders. Symptoms include severe anxiety, emotional outbursts and distrust and suspicion of others.
Establish that you have a disability
To qualify for benefits, you must demonstrate that your condition renders you unable to engage in substantial gainful activity. Collect clinical assessments, medical documentation, treatment records and psychiatric evaluations that describe the severity of your condition. The documents should back up the severity of your condition and its impact on your ability to work.
The SSA evaluates BPD using the Paragraph B criteria. The Paragraph B criteria assess how your condition affects your daily functioning. You must show marked limitations in remembering, understanding or applying information, adapting or managing yourself and interacting with others.
The SSA recognizes the struggle of mental health patients, including patients with BPD. Once you have your condition documented, your doctor may need to agree that your condition will last for at least a year and result in your inability to engage in SGA.
