Does anyone know if you can receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Disability Check if you have APD?

Question

Does anyone know if you can receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Disability Check if you have APD?

I believe my son of 18 years has Antisocial Personality Disorder, his psychologist said he has 'sociopathic tendencies'. And he has never held a job for more than 4 months without getting fired for one reason or another. I was just curious if the government would help out in this situation?

Thank You!

Answer 1

Here are the specific rules that the Social Security Administration uses to evaluate whether a personality disorder qualifies for disability:

"12.08 Personality disorders: A personality disorder exists when personality traits are inflexible and maladaptive and cause either significant impairment in social or occupational functioning or subjective distress. Characteristic features are typical of the individual's long-term functioning and are not limited to discrete episodes of illness.

The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied.

A. Deeply ingrained, maladaptive patterns of behavior associated with one of the following:

1. Seclusiveness or autistic thinking; or

2. Pathologically inappropriate suspiciousness or hostility; or

3. Oddities of thought, perception, speech and behavior; or

4. Persistent disturbances of mood or affect; or

5. Pathological dependence, passivity, or aggressivity; or

6. Intense and unstable interpersonal relationships and impulsive and damaging behavior;

AND

B. Resulting in at least two of the following:

1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or

2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or

3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or

4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration."

Your son would only be eligible for SSI payments if he lives alone and has little or no income. He is also not going to be found eligible for disability unless he is unable to work. If he simply chooses or prefers not to work, he will not qualify for disability payments of any kind. If his current earnings are more than $940 a month, he would not be qualified for disability benefits.

If he is eligible for benefits, your son MAY qualify for payments under your (or his father's) work history - which I'm assuming represents more income 'credits' than his. That would be helpful, because it is unlikely that an 18-year old has earned enough credits to qualify for benefits based on his own work history.

I've linked to the Social Security website that explains the process - step-by-step. I hope this helps you. Good luck!