ADHD Disability Benefits for Adults

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic mental condition that affects millions of children and adults throughout the United States. ADHD includes an array of problems, including difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.

Approximately 4% of adults are thought to have ADHD. However, many adults with ADHD go undiagnosed.

In past decades, adults with ADHD were ineligible to receive disability benefits. Fortunately, today, adults with ADHD symptoms that are considered disabling by the Social Security Administration (SSA) may be eligible to receive benefits from the federal government.

Contact Paul Baker Law Office now to discuss your potential ADHD Social Security Disability claim for free.

Symptoms and Challenged Related to ADHD in Adults

ADHD can cause a wide range of symptoms and challenges in adults, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Chronic tardiness
• Chronic boredom
• Sleep problems
• Memory loss
• Short attention span
• Inattention to detail
• Impulsiveness
• Physical restlessness
• Difficulty controlling anger
• Mood swings
• Lack of organizational skills
• Trouble with interpersonal relationships
• Substance abuse
• Addiction problems
• Low motivation
• Procrastination
• Low self-esteem

Symptoms like these, in their extreme form, can prevent an adult from being able to perform work duties and hold a job. If cases like this, the individual may be able to get Social Security Disability benefits because of their ADHD.

Requirements for Disability Benefits in Kentucky for Adults with ADHD

To qualify for disability benefits as an adult with ADHD, you must show that you cannot participate in gainful work activity due to one of the following:

• Frequent distractibility, difficulty sustaining attention, and difficulty organizing tasks
• Hyperactive or impulsive behavior
• Significant difficulties in learning or utilizing academic skills
• Recurrent motor movement or vocalization

And extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, in the following areas:

• Understanding, remembering, or applying information
• Interacting with others
• Concentrating or maintaining pace
• Adapting or managing yourself

The Social Security Administration is not as concerned with a diagnosis of ADHD as they are how your condition affects your everyday functioning and ability to work. If you have ADHD and are unable to work because of your mental condition, you are likely entitled to benefits. But if you are diagnosed as having ADHD and the symptoms don’t affect your work performance, you may not be eligible for benefits.

Is ADHD a Disability Under Social Security?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays benefits to adults if they are disabled and unable to work and they are “insured,” which means that they have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

For an adult to be eligible for ADHD disability benefits, they must be unable to perform any “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) due to their mental condition for a period of at least a year.

Applying for SSDI involves several steps that address issues like:

• What is your current work status?
• What is the severity of the ADHD?
• Can you perform the work you previously did?
• Can you do any other type of job?

Adults with ADHD can qualify for disability benefits only in cases where they prove their condition prevents them from performing SGA.

Because it can be difficult to connect an ADHD diagnosis to a disability, it is highly recommended that you work with an experienced Kentucky disability lawyer when filing your claim.

A lawyer can ensure your application for benefits is complete and includes all supporting information detailing your ADHD diagnosis and its effects on you. If your application for benefits is denied, an attorney can help you through the appeals process as they fight tirelessly to secure the benefits you deserve.

If you require assistance filing your disability claim concerning your ADHD diagnosis, call the Paul Baker Law Office today. Our disability lawyers will work to support your claim, seeing you through the process so you can seek the benefits you are entitled to.

Requirements for Disability Benefits in Kentucky for Children with ADHD

ADHD affects approximately 10% of children. The number of children diagnosed with ADHD has increased drastically over the past few decades.

If your family income and assets are low enough to qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and if the severity of your child’s ADHD meets the SSA’s disability listing, your child could be given benefits.

The listing used to evaluate ADHD is 112.11, which requires that your child meets two sets of criteria. Your child’s ADHD must be characterized by one of the following:

• Hyperactive and impulsive behavior
• Frequent distractibility
• Recurrent motor movement or vocalization
• Difficulty learning and utilizing academic skills

You must also prove that your child’s ADHD causes them to have extreme limitations in one of the following areas or a severe limitation in two:

• Ability to concentrate on tasks and comprehend information
• Interacting with others
• Self-management and adaptability
• Abilities relating to learning, understanding, and remembering information

To demonstrate that your child struggles in these areas, you need to gather documentation and evidence from mental health professionals and teachers. Common forms of evidence include psychological treatment notes, medical records, classroom evaluations, and test scores.

Disability Benefits for Children with ADHD

Children under the age of 18 who have ADHD and meet strict disability and income requirements may be eligible for SSI. For a child with ADHD, the program can provide the following benefits:

• Monthly cash payments based on family income
• Qualify your child for Medicaid
• Ensure referral of child into the system of care available under State Title V programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)

Contact a Kentucky ADHD Disability Lawyer

The experienced Kentucky disability lawyers at Paul Baker Law Office can guide you through the process of applying for ADHD disability benefits for yourself or your child. Allow our highly skilled and compassionate attorneys to take the burden off your family’s shoulders.

We have extensive experience with ADHD disability cases. We are ready to pursue your case aggressively. We will also be sure to keep you updated every step of the way. Call us today at so we can help get your child the ADHD disability benefits they need.