Can You Win Social Security Disability Benefits for Pervasive Developmental Disorders? Try using SSA Listing 12.10

Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders can cause people who suffer from those conditions to have severe difficulties interacting in a social manner, developing interests, and even communicating in a normal way. Because of this, these individuals often have trouble forming relationships, reading social cues, and surviving in the work environment – especially if it requires them to interact with others to do their job.

If you or someone you loves suffers from a pervasive developmental disorder that makes it difficult to keep a job, it might be possible to qualify for disability benefits through Social Security. The Social Security Administration offers two methods by which people can prove their eligibility:

1. Show that you meet the medical severity requirements set down in the Social Security Administration’s Listings of Impairments for a qualifying disability.
2. Go through the Five Step Sequential Evaluation Process and prove that the issue that you are suffering from is the equivalent of one of the qualifying disabilities listed by the SSA.

What is the SSA’s Listings of Impairments? As the name implies, it is a compendium of the various disabilities the Social Security Administration recognizes as qualifying conditions, as well as the specific criteria that an individual needs to meet in order to get benefits. You should always attempt to qualify through option one first. It’s a lot simpler to prove that you deserve benefits if you can show that you are suffering from an issue the Administration has already approved.

How do you qualify with a pervasive developmental disorder?

Criteria to Meet to Get Benefits for Pervasive Developmental Disorders

In their Listings of Impairments, the SSA includes several severity requirements that an individual has to meet to get benefits for one of these disorders. The criteria are divided into two sections, A and B, and both of these sections need to be met in order to qualify.

1. Have findings of the following that are backed by medical documents:
   1. Autistic disorder requires that you show specific difficulties in reciprocating in social situations, trouble with both verbal and nonverbal communication, lack of imagination, and interests and activities that are incredibly restricted.
   2. Other pervasive disorders require that you show specific difficulties in reciprocating in social situations, trouble with both verbal and nonverbal communication, and a lack of imagination
2. These issues result in two or more of the below:
   1. Severe restriction in the activities of daily living
   2. Trouble functioning socially
   3. Difficulty keeping pace, concentrating, or persisting
   4. Ongoing personality disturbances

There is only one objective medical test that the SSA currently accepts as support for these types of claims: a Pupillometry. Positive results on this test in conjunction with other evidence from your medical history can go a long way towards helping your claim.

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There Is Always the Five Step Process

Not everyone with a pervasive developmental disorder qualifies under Listing 12.10, but many of these people still manage to win their claims and get disability benefits. How? By having an experienced professional guide them through the Five Step Sequential Evaluation Process.

If you end up having to go this route, you want someone knowledgeable by your side. A disability lawyer can help you to provide the SSA with the right kind of information. You want to show that, even though your condition doesn’t match what they have in their listings, it’s still enough of an impairment to be considered the equivalent of a listing.

You do this by proving that your issue has prevented you from keeping a job for at least 12 months. It’s not as straightforward as the other method, but with the right team on your side can be done.

Whichever route you choose to qualify through, it pays to understand how the SSA works and what evidence truly will help your case. Because of this, your chances of success can increase if you work with an experienced Social Security disability attorney who can answer your Social Security questions and guide you through the process. Learn even more about the claims process by reading our Social Security Disability eBook for free.

Call or text 800-562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form