A woman suffering from PTSD

Disability Advocates Can Help You Steady Your Life

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is famous for the way it afflicts combat veterans. But anyone can experience it.

Many of us go through a traumatic event at one time or another in our lives, such as an accident, serious health scare, a crime or threat of violence, domestic abuse, or a natural disaster or other crisis (like a pandemic).

For some, time will heal the wounds, as they say. For others, the psychological effects of the trauma last much longer and sometimes worsen over time. That’s PTSD.

PTSD can be severe enough that you can’t work because you can’t concentrate, you’re afraid to be around other people, you’re experiencing flashbacks, or any number of other reasons.

If you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD and working is impossible, financial difficulties soon follow. This is what the Social Security Disability benefits program is designed to relieve.

Benefits can give you the support you need to move forward with your life.

The disability advocates at Hanley Disability in Indiana can help you get benefits. Talk to us and tell us about your situation, free of charge.

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IMPORTANT!

Once you’re denied benefits, the clock starts ticking. Don’t wait too long. You might miss the deadline to appeal.

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Two Hanley Disability attorneys

How to Qualify for Social Security Disability with PTSD in Indiana and Nationwide

The good news is you CAN qualify for disability for a mental health condition, and the Social Security Administration DOES recognize PTSD for disability benefits under its “trauma- and stressor-related disorders” category.

Providing evidence of your symptoms is always central to your disability claim.

Symptoms for PTSD vary in nature and severity among individuals, but common elements include:

  • Repeated intense, disturbing thoughts, feelings, flashbacks, or nightmares about the traumatic event
  • Overwhelming feelings of guilt, sadness, fear, or anger
  • Overreacting to triggers that remind you of the event

 

PTSD disability claims are like any other type of disability claim in that you will need to provide evidence that you can’t work for at least a year—not in your present job and not any other line of work. Beyond these basics, there are some specific types of evidence you’ll need to support your PTSD disability claim.

Documents that can support your claim include:

  • Medical records, including radiology reports or scans, to show that your symptoms aren’t caused by a physical injury
  • Employer statements attesting to your inability to function properly in your job
  • Police or military reports, if applicable to your trauma
  • “Symptom and effect” records in which you have kept track of your PTSD incidents, what triggered them and what happened
  • A Residual Functional Capacity form, filled out by your health care provider, measuring the level of daily activity you can handle
  • Observations of family and friends

It doesn’t have to be all on you to do this legwork. PTSD disability advocates at Hanley Disability can handle it for you.

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A Disability Advocate Can Increase Your Chances of Winning Benefits for PTSD

Social Security Disability rejects most claims the first time around. Having an experienced disability advocate on your side can increase the likelihood that your claim will be approved.

For example, when you reach the level of appealing your disability claim in front of a disability judge, one government study found your chances of winning benefits are almost three times better if you have a representative with you.

The prospect of filing a Social Security Disability claim for PTSD may seem daunting. You probably have a million questions: “How do I “prove” I have PTSD? What if I make a mistake in the paperwork? What if I miss a deadline? What if I say something wrong?”

You can rest assured that our experienced disability advocates will guide you through the maze of requirements and help make certain that you submit everything correctly.

Not only do disability benefits provide financial support, but they also give you a break from the chaos.

Hanley Disability has been helping people in Indianapolis, Danville, Franklin, Lebanon, Noblesville, across Indiana, and around the country for more than 30 years.

Social Security Disability is All We Do.

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A happy man that just won benefits for PTSD.
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