Social Security Disability for Veterans with PTSD: Explained!

Social Security disability benefits are available to US veterans who cannot work or function normally at all due to PTSD. These veterans can receive up to 100% VA disability status and the maximum available social security payments.

Both the VA and the Social Security Administration may provide them with partial or full disability benefits plus payments, depending on their situation.

If you are also a veteran looking for assistance in understanding:

• The severity of your PTSD
• Your eligibility for social security disability benefits from the VA
• The complete application process and additional tips

This article might be able to help you out. You could get advantages that could last a lifetime, so keep reading!

What is PTSD in Veterans?

PTSD is one of the most common mental conditions affecting a vast majority of soldiers serving in the US military. Combat PTSD is more prevalent than PTSD in civilians arising generally due to non-combat reasons.

Starting with the devastating after-effects of World War II and the Korean War, 3 out of 100 military veterans were affected by severe PTSD. At least 10 out of 100 US veterans who served in the Vietnam War reported a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD. The Persian Gulf War resulted in extreme trauma, eventually triggering PTSD in about 21 out of 100 veterans.

And last but not least, at least 29 out of 100 US veterans suffered from serious PTSD at a later point in their lives after the Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom service eras.

Combat missions can put the life of these veterans at greater risk, and they have most likely faced grave dangers during the course of their military service. Such bad experiences and unforgettable bitter memories may trigger PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder in many veterans.

War zones are vile places that can induce long-term traumatic memories contributed by horrific accidents, brutal bombings, merciless killings, troublesome political situations, and even sexual assault, rape, or abuse, also known as MST (Military Sexual Trauma).

Symptoms that Should Not be Ignored (Non-negotiable)

Every veteran experiences unique symptoms depending on the nature and intensity of their traumatic past.

Also, these symptoms may not be very evident in the initial phase for weeks, months, and even years. So, it is important to be aware of key mood or behavioral changes that may eventually trigger full-blown PTSD symptoms. Here is what you should be mindful about:

1. They try to Avoid or Deliberately Escape Certain Places

Places or environments that constantly remind veterans of their past trauma will be avoided by them. Most veterans struggling with PTSD have a hard time dealing with noisy streets or a place demanding social interactions.

These can bring up unpleasant recollections of traumatic events of the past.

2. They are more Likely to Become Hyperalert or Extra Vigilant

Veterans become emotionally fragile and explosive due to extreme PSTD, characterized by increased insomnia, loss of focus, snappy behavior, hostility, and excessive irritability. Do watch out for these tell-tale signs to prevent violent actions later on.

3. They Move Away from Negative Discussions about their Past Trauma

Veterans with PTSD, unfortunately, do not have much control over their emotions. So, negative sentiments can easily be triggered due to seemingly casual discussions that can lead to terrible memories flooding back without any warning. So, veterans with PTSD will have a tendency to dodge such topics altogether to avoid reliving those memories.

4. They Frequently Experience Nightmares or Flashbacks

Intense PTSD can set off terrifying dreams reminding veterans of traumatic war-zone incidents. These nightmares and flashbacks can not only cause incredible physical discomfort, palpitations, and cold sweats; but also trigger painful emotional difficulties in the form of fear, remorse, and shame.

5. They Turn to Risky Behavior to Cope

Trouble sleeping and inability to relax with friends or family can take a toll on the mental health of many veterans. The constant feeling of isolation or inability to enjoy life normally leads to a gradual withdrawal from routine activities.

This manifests itself in many ways, such as a lack of involvement in everyday life, the development of unfavorable views about the world, and dependence on drugs, unsafe sex, and other harmful impulsive actions like suicide, etc., for temporary relief or detachment.

If you come across any of the above symptoms in your loved ones who are veterans, you must initiate a formal diagnosis of PTSD.

Difference Between VA PTSD Disability and Social Security PTSD Disability

Although veterans can receive both benefits together, qualifying for VA PTSD disability differs from qualifying for Social Security PTSD disability. And both these systems work completely independently from each other.

VA PTSD disability benefits are only dedicated to US veterans, and the eligibility is evaluated by the US Department of Veteran Affairs. If you are a veteran trying to seek VA PTSD disability benefits, this is what you can expect.

The VA assesses your PTSD condition to decide the severity of the disorder on a percentage scale of 10% to 100%, which is called your VA disability rating. However, only combat-induced trauma is taken into consideration.

In a nutshell, how much your PTSD impairment restricts your future employment is determined by your VA PTSD disability rating. Even if you are able to work, you may still qualify for VA PTSD disability compensation.

However, this is not the case with social security PTSD disability for veterans. The SSA, therefore, does not follow a percentage rating system to determine eligibility.

Firstly, the VA disability payments differ significantly from social security disability compensation. Also, the conditions required for social security disability benefits are entirely different.

If you are a veteran who is totally disabled and unable to even function normally on an everyday basis, only then are you eligible for payments from the Social Security Administration or the SSA.

How to Get Social Security Disability for Veterans with PTSD?

Generally, disabled, blind, or those who are 65 years of age and older but have financial constraints are eligible for SSI benefits and compensation.

Veterans can apply for SSI or SSDI even if their PTSD is caused due to non-combat reasons. So, if service-connected PTSD disability did not cause your discharge from the US military, you are still entitled to PTSD disability benefits/compensation.

However, you must satisfy the below criteria to qualify:

• Your PTSD symptoms are severe and chronic in nature
• You have had these major symptoms for at least a year
• You have significant functional limitations or disabilities, which could be either mental or physical, disrupting your daily lives and making you completely ineligible to work or earn any income
• Mandatory medical records to be shared, such as your complete medical history (including your psychological history, past diagnostic test results, past medications, results of past clinical interviews, etc.), and records from your psychiatrists, your primary care physician, other licensed medical professionals, testimonies from close friends/acquaintances, school or work records and social workers involved in your treatment journey
• You have difficulty adjusting to changes in work or life in general
• Your PTSD condition must be on the SSA’s list of impairments causing severe disability
• You satisfy all the criteria for PTSD disability mentioned in the Trauma and Stressor-related Disorders Blue Book

How to Apply/Submit Social Security Disability Claim?

The application process is cumbersome, but here are the different ways to submit your claim.

• You can visit your nearest SSA office 
• You can visit ssa.gov/ssi to submit your claim online
• You can contact them via phone at (800) 772-1213
• If you have speech or hearing impairments, you can also contact them via teletypewriting or TTY at (800) 325-0778

Moreover, to verify your identity, the SSA will need the following documents as well:

• Combat and civilian medical history
• Your official birth certificate
• DD-214 form indicating military discharge due to PTSD
• Your saving bank account numbers where you will receive direct payments
• Previous year’s tax return or W2 proof
• If you are an immigrant not born in the US or any of its territories, you must provide legal documentation to help the SSA check your immigration status and the social security numbers of you and your family members

The SSA has complete authority to stop the disbursement of payments or benefits if your PTSD disability improves and is no longer an obstacle in your work or everyday life.

Conclusion

Remember that even though the SSA and the VA work as independent government bodies in the US, they engage in regular collaboration with each other to maintain maximum transparency and ensure all your documentation is properly cross-verified.

So, it is important that you keep your paperwork genuine and updated at all times, make submissions on time and be true to your claim with enough evidence.

To simplify things and easily help you sail through complex bureaucratic processes, you can hire an attorney to take care of all the legalities.

He or she will ensure you have gathered appropriate proof to align well with your claim, do not miss crucial supporting documents or dates, and your PTSD disability claim is accepted without any hiccups.

Hope the article helped you get a comprehensive understanding of how social security PTSD disability benefits work for veterans. Feel free to comment down below with your thoughts.