Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses can be crippling to some sufferers, leaving them unable to interact with the world at large. Loud voices or noises, certain sights and smells and other triggers can occur without warning, causing the PTSD victim to suffer intense side effects.
As expected, in a workplace setting, the reactions of triggered PTSD survivors can be or appear to some as inappropriate or very odd. Because of this, some workers can no longer continue working at their jobs.
What does the SSA say about getting benefits for PTSD?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) approves some PTSD claims made by applicants if they can prove that they meet the following criteria:
- Your PTSD prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA) and is likely to continue to do so for at least a year or longer (or already has).
- Your medical diagnosis prohibits you from engaging in work you did at previous jobs and prevents you from adjusting to other duties or careers. This can be in combination with other conditions that are also impairing, even if no one condition alone prevents you from working.
- You lack the ability to shift to some other form of work for which you might be qualified due to your limitations, age, lack of qualifications or some combination of those issues.
As you might expect, benefits for PTSD are typically reserved for only the most serious cases. Those exposed to conditions in war zones, victims of terrible accidents and natural disasters or those who were victims of violent crimes and/or domestic abuse often qualify.
Does that mean if your situation falls outside of those parameters that you will not be able to qualify for benefits? Not necessarily. Seeking experienced legal guidance can help you understand if you might qualify and how to best present your claim.
