The symptoms of a neurodevelopmental disorder can make it hard to earn a living. If this kind of condition impairs your ability to work, you should know that the Social Security Administration evaluates people with neurodevelopmental problems to see if they qualify for disability benefits.
Provided you have the right medical evidence, you could make a good case to receive SSDI if you meet the following requirements.
Behavior and motor problems
Social Security will want to know how your condition affects your behavior. You may suffer repeated distractions and struggle to pay attention and organize yourself. Alternatively, you may be hyperactive and cannot exercise patience very well. Suffering from at least one of these two afflictions is a qualifying requirement.
Social Security will also evaluate whether or not you suffer from a learning disorder. Even if you do not have major problems conducting academic assignments, you may have recurrent vocalization or motor movements, such as tic disorders, that make it hard to function in a work environment.
Cognitive disorders
The second main requirement for SSDI is that your condition extremely limits one mental function or markedly limits two of them. Social Security lists four areas of mental functioning that your disorder may impact:
- Ability to interact with other individuals
- Concentrating, persisting or keeping up a pace
- Self-management and adaptation
- Retaining, understanding and using information
Given that neurodevelopmental disorders affect people differently, you should be ready to show that your condition has a strong negative impact on your capacity to work. Even if Social Security does not accept your application, there are options to appeal the decision and possibly reverse a denial.
