Is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder a Disability: Can You Get Disability for PTSD?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Prior to and during the Vietnam War, PTSD was neither widely recognized nor well understood as a condition, with little knowledge of its symptoms or classification as an illness.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was officially recognized as a diagnosable condition in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). That same year, it was included in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III).

Even though PTSD was officially recognized as a mental illness in 1980, the symptoms of PTSD have been known as various other names throughout history including: “shell shock” during WWI and “Combat Fatigue” during WWII. PTSD was not used until the 1980s when it was officially recognized by the APA.

To get PTSD recognized, researchers met with Vietnam Veterans, Holocaust Survivors and other individuals that had experienced trauma.

If you are trying to get social security disability benefits for PTSD, our firm can help. The Harris Disability Law has been helping Nevada residents with disability claims for many years. Contact our firm today and one of our representatives will reach out to you to discuss your case and how we can help.

What Makes PTSD Different Than Regular Anxiety Disorder?

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, accident, act of violence, or combat in war.

While it is normal to experience some symptoms after a traumatic event, these symptoms last for over a month and can significantly affect the daily life of the person who suffers from PTSD.

People who experience PTSD may experience difficulty in sleeping, frightening memories of the event, difficulty concentrating and feelings of being detached or numb after the event.

While some individuals recover from traumatic events and resume their lives with minimal lingering effects, others struggle to regain a sense of normalcy. For those with PTSD, the symptoms can be so severe that they make everyday activities feel impossible.

There are treatments for PTSD and it is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration.

How Is PTSD Evaluated as a Mental Impairment for Disability?

Although PTSD is considered a mental impairment and is recognized as a disability, it is very difficult to prove to get disability, even severe cases.

Since mental illnesses are harder to see; unlike physical ailments that have concrete visible symptoms that can be quantified by a diagnosis.

Mental illnesses are harder to prove by mental health professionals.

To be considered for Social Security Disability benefits there are steps that need to be taken to be considered.

• Medical Documentation: In order to be considered for disability due to a PTSD diagnosis, you must be able to provide medical evidence and records that support your claim. This includes records from therapy sessions and documentation indicating the severity of your PTSD symptoms.
• Functional Limitations: Since PTSD can severely impact your life and ability to function normally, you must prove that your PTSD symptoms prevent you from performing work-related activities in a normal manner. These activities include understanding job functions, memory, concentration, and interacting with others while working.
• Severity of Your Symptoms: The Social Security Administration will evaluate the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your ability to work.
• Meeting the Social Security Administration’s Listings: The SSA has specific criteria that must be met to qualify for a mental illness diagnosis and approval for disability. Meeting these criteria can improve your chances of getting disability approval.
• Inability to Work: You must provide records and a provable history demonstrating that your PTSD is the reason for your inability to work or maintain gainful employment.

What Is the Social Security Administration Approval Process for PTSD?

In order to receive disability from the SSA, there is a 5 step process to determine your eligibility.

This includes evaluating your work activity, the severity of your impairment, medical history and records, past work history and the ability to perform other work.

The process is as follows:

1. Current Work Activity: If you are currently working in “Substantial Gainful Activity,” the SSA will find that your PTSD is not severe enough to cause you to be disabled, and the process won’t continue. You must not be able to work gainful employment due to your PTSD diagnoses and symptoms.
2. Severity of Impairment: SSA will assess your condition to determine the severity. Your PTSD must be severe and significantly limit your ability to perform basic work-related activities. These limitations must be expected to last for at least one year or result in death due to symptoms. This may sound harsh, but the SSA sees thousands of people trying to get SSI disability who don’t need it, so SSI will do its due diligence to ensure that people who genuinely need SSI disability receive it and not those attempting to defraud the system.
3. Medical Listings: The SSA has a list of medical criteria that must be met to receive disability benefits. The SSA will use medical records and other documentation to determine if your symptoms match their medical criteria.
4. Past Work: If your medical records don’t match the list of medical requirements, the SSA will evaluate your past work performance and job to assess if you can still perform your previous work.
5. Other Work: The SSA will assess your ability to perform other work based on your age, education, work experience, and the limitations of your impairment.

What Can I Do If My PTSD Disability Claim Is Denied?

Living with a temporary or permanent disability is never easy, no matter the nature of the injury or impairment.

Since there are many people who claim to need disability and really don’t, the SSA has made the process more difficult for people who actually need it.

Even if you have taken all the proper steps and submitted the proper forms and records your claim may be denied the first time around.

If your claim is denied you do have options; you can appeal the decision by requesting a reconsideration, filing a supplemental claim with new evidence, or seeking a review of your case from a higher level or even having a court review your claim.

You will receive a denial letter from the SSA. Make your read and understand the reason for the denial.

If you are unsure of the meaning behind the denial, speak with someone who can give you clarification of the denial.

Once you understand the denial you can use any of the following options to have the claim reconsidered:

• Request for an appeal and reconsideration: You have the right to have another examiner review your case. To request this, you’ll need to submit form SSA-561. This is a good first step in the appeals process, as a fresh set of eyes might lead to a different outcome.
• Supplemental Claim: If you have new evidence, especially medical evidence supporting your claim, you can file a supplemental claim to include the new information. This allows the SSA to re-evaluate your claim with the additional evidence.
• Higher Level Review: If you feel your claim is still not being taken seriously, you can request a higher-level review of your case.
• Court Review: If all previous appeal methods fail, you have the option to file a lawsuit in a U.S. district court.

What Benefits Can I Receive After Being Approved for PTSD Disability?

If you are approved for disability due to a PTSD diagnosis, your monthly benefit will depend on whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the circumstances of your claim.

According to the Social Security Administration, in 2025, the average SSDI payment for an individual is $1,580 per month, though almost two-thirds of recipients receive less than this amount. The maximum SSDI benefit in 2025 is $4,018 per month, though this is typically only available to those with very high lifetime earnings. If you have dependents (spouse and children), the average household SSDI benefit in 2025 is approximately $2,800 per month.

In addition, if you have limited resources, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income or SSI. In 2025, the maximum federal SSI payment is $967 per month for individuals and $1,450 per month for couples.

Check out our article on the difference between SSDI and SSI to understand which program might be right for your situation.

What Benefits Are Available for Veterans with PTSD?

PTSD is associated with veterans who have served in combat. If you are a veteran suffering with PTSD you may be eligible for VA disability benefits that are separate from SSDI benefits.

VA disability benefits range from 0% (no payment at all) to 100% disabled the highest payment with the amount increasing based on the number of dependents.

What Steps Should I Take If I Have PTSD and Can’t Work?

If you or a loved one is suffering from PTSD from traumatic events and can no longer work, you need to apply for SSDI disability.

You can apply in person at the local Social Security Office, by phone by calling the SSA, or online through the Social Security Administration website.

Since PTSD is usually the result of a traumatic experience and you or your loved one has already suffered enough trauma, getting you the disability you need to heal and move forward should not be another traumatic experience.

Failing to follow the steps for Social Security Disability benefits could lead to a denial. No matter where you are in the process you should speak with an experienced Social Security Administration advocate.

An SSA advocate can advise you as to what you need to do and what steps to take to ensure that you are approved for benefits as soon as possible.

Our firm has helped residents of Nevada successfully navigate the complex and often confusing process of applying for Social Security Disability benefits. We understand that this is a difficult time for you and your family, and we are committed to providing you with the compassionate and effective representation you deserve.

Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation for free.

Frequently Asked Questions About PTSD Disability