Personality Disorders Benefits in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Proving Personality Disorders for Social Security or SSI Disability Benefits

If you have a personality disorder that prevents you from working, you may be entitled to Social Security or SSI disability benefits. Like other mental disabilities, such as depressive and anxiety disorders, proving that your personality disorder makes you incapable of work can be difficult. But we’re here to help you through this often stressful process.

What are Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders can present in a number of different ways and can be difficult to identify. Individuals who suffer from these kinds of disorders may not demonstrate the symptoms during brief encounters. They’re often intelligent and highly communicative, which can lead others to doubt their eligibility. Still, personality disorders can be crippling for those afflicted as well as their loved ones.

According to the SSA Blue Book, individuals with a personality disorder are both inflexible and maladaptive with serious occupational and social impairments that limit their ability to function. These disorders are enduring, meaning that they are not limited to occasional episodes.

Instead, individuals who qualify for SSI disability benefits for a personality disorder will have a long history that demonstrates the disorder’s effect on both their personal and professional life. This history typically includes a pattern of failed attempts to join the workforce and unstable relationships. It may also include a number of arrests for altercations.

Proving Personality Disorders for Disability Benefits

When paired with an evaluation by a licensed mental health professional, the kind of history outlined above can demonstrate an individual’s inability to work. Per the Blue Book linked above, medical documentation needs to demonstrate a pattern of at least one of the following:

1. Distrust and suspiciousness of others;

   • Detachment from social relationships;

   • Disregard for and violation of the rights of others;

   • Instability of interpersonal relationships;

   • Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking;

   • Feelings of inadequacy;

   • An excessive need to be taken care of;

   • Preoccupation with perfectionism and orderliness; or

   • Recurrent, impulsive, aggressive behavioral outbursts.

To be eligible for SSI disability benefits, medical documentation must also show “Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning:

1. Understand, remember, or apply information

   • Interact with others

   • Concentrate, persist or maintain pace

   • Adapt or manage oneself ”

Let Us Help

If you need a disability attorney in Chattanooga, TN, we’re here to help. We understand how frustrating it can be to suffer through a condition that isn’t visible to the naked eye. And we have a proven track record of helping clients get the help they need to live a fulfilling life. Give us a call or reach out online so we can start putting a plan in motion to get you the assistance that you deserve.

Further Resources:

Personality Disorders: MedlinePlus – Personality disorders are long-term patterns of thoughts and behaviors that cause serious problems with relationships and work.

Disability Evaluation Under Social Security – Most mental illnesses fall under this listing under the Listings of Impairments.