Getting Social Security Disability Benefits for PTSD in the Carolinas
PTSD Stops You from Working, You May Qualify for Disability Benefits.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results from trauma. You might have experienced the trauma directly, or you could have been threatened, witnessed something traumatic, or even heard about it.
It’s not something that just happens to combat veterans. It can happen to anyone.
If your symptoms won’t fade or go away—if you’re still feeling effects months or years after the event—you may have PTSD.
And PTSD can be severe enough to make it impossible for you to function in a job, adding financial strain to your mental anguish.
Social Security Disability benefits can help you stabilize your life.
Benefits include monthly checks, allowing you to focus less on paying your bills and more on your own wellness.
But the last thing you need is to struggle with a complicated government program. Most people get denied benefits on the first try.
This is where the Carolina disability lawyers at Pilzer Klein can step in. Give yourself a break by letting us take care of your disability application for you.
Social Security Disability Is All We Do.
PTSD Symptoms Can Make Everyday Life Unmanageable—and Qualify You for Disability
An exaggerated startle response, nightmares, flashbacks, anger, or overreacting to things that remind you of the trauma can have a serious impact on your life—complicating even routine tasks like picking up your mail, going to the grocery store, or walking your dog.
Many PTSD symptoms make it impossible to work. These include but not aren’t limited to:
- Recurring intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings about the trauma
- Difficulty understanding, remembering, or applying information
- A desire to avoid people
- Difficulty concentrating, persisting, or maintaining your pace
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is designed to help. SSDI covers many traumas and stress-related disorders, including PTSD.
That is, it will cover it if your application is in order and accompanied by all the required documentation.
This is what the Pilzer Klein Social Security Disability attorneys do for you.
You could have multiple medical conditions that factor into your disability claim. Physical impairments and other mental health problems may combine with PTSD to convince Social Security that you should get disability benefits.
We know how to present this to Social Security. You can start by having us look at your situation for a better idea of what you can expect from the disability benefits qualifying process.
How to Apply for Disability Benefits for PTSD in South Carolina, North Carolina
The application you file for benefits must be meticulously filled out in its entirety. Skipping or misunderstanding even one question could lead to Social Security denying your benefits.
You’ll also need detailed and complete medical documentation that shows:
- What happened to you (what was the trauma?)
- A diagnosis of PTSD
- Details of any therapy you’ve received
- What medications you’ve been prescribed and how they’ve helped or not helped
- What a typical episode of PTSD looks like for you (what happens, how often, how long does it last, what triggers an episode?)
- How PTSD prevents you from working (a “Residual Functional Capacity” form filled out by your doctor can be a big help here.)
Note that this is just a summary of the documentation and evidence required. Social Security Disability’s rules are longer and more involved.
But with an experienced disability attorney—Pilzer Klein has helped thousands of people over decades—you can rest easier knowing that someone capable is handling your claim.
How an Experienced Disability Attorney Can Help You
You’re not legally required to get a disability attorney to help with your application, but doing so can give you a better chance of being approved for benefits, partly because you can avoid mistakes from the beginning.
And if you’ve already applied and been rejected, your disability attorney can help with your appeal, which includes steps like explaining your case to a disability judge.
This system is new to you. But an experienced disability lawyer works on cases like yours every day. They know the rules and steps inside and out, and they’ll help you gather all the documentation you need.
At Pilzer Klein, we help people in Greenville, Asheville, Spartanburg, Anderson and everywhere in South Carolina and North Carolina.
We will treat you and your case with the respect and dignity you deserve.