disabilities - Philips & Raaymakers Law https://philipsraaymakerslaw.com Personalized Legal Representation Sun, 21 Sep 2025 18:57:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://philipsraaymakerslaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-Philips_Raaymakers-logo-2021-Final-32x32.jpg disabilities - Philips & Raaymakers Law https://philipsraaymakerslaw.com 32 32 Filing for Disability with ADHD or Autism: What You Need to Know https://philipsraaymakerslaw.com/filing-for-disability-with-adhd-or-autism-what-you-need-to-know/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=filing-for-disability-with-adhd-or-autism-what-you-need-to-know Sun, 21 Sep 2025 18:55:01 +0000 https://philipsraaymakerslaw.com/?p=2823 With increasing awareness and acceptance of mental and behavioral health disorders (disability), as well as increasing access to mental health treatment resources, diagnoses of ADHD and autism have become much more common than they used to be. We meet with many families
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]]> With increasing awareness and acceptance of mental and behavioral health disorders (disability), as well as increasing access to mental health treatment resources, diagnoses of ADHD and autism have become much more common than they used to be.
We meet with many families who ask whether ADHD or autism automatically qualifies them for disability benefits. The short answer is no, not necessarily- but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. The key is knowing the difference between having a disability and being disabled under Social Security’s rules.
Many individuals can live (and thrive!) with ADHD or autism. They are able to work, raise a family, and live independently. However, for those with more severe symptoms, that may not be possible. To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, a person’s condition must be so severe that they are unable to keep a full-time job on a consistent basis, even with treatment and support. For example, ADHD might cause such severe problems with focus and organization that work tasks can’t be completed. Or autism might make it extremely difficult to manage stress, communicate, or interact with others in a work setting.
It’s important to keep in mind also that for children, the rules are a little different. A child can be found disabled if their condition significantly limits their daily functioning. However, once they turn 18, Social Security uses the adult standard which is much stricter. What this means is that some young people who received disability as children for conditions like ADHD or autism may not continue to meet the requirements as adults. Families should prepare for this transition and gather documentation to show how the conditions continue to affect work-related activities.
The takeaway: having ADHD or autism, like most any medical condition, doesn’t automatically mean you will qualify for disability benefits, but if the condition causes severe functional limitations, you may have a strong case.
Every situation, like every person, is unique, so if you’re unsure, we are always here to guide you, connect you with resources, and help you understand your options.
Sarah and Chuck

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