When you experience a mental illness that leaves you emotionally unstable and uncertain about your identity, you may suffer from borderline personality disorder. This condition can make it very difficult for sufferers to work in order to support themselves. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration does recognize personality disorders, including borderline personality disorders, in its "Blue Book" listing of impairments.

Meeting the Requirements of the Blue Book Listing for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Even when a condition is listed as an impairment by the Social Security Administration, applicants still must prove that they are eligible for benefits. Qualifying for disability benefits due to borderline personality disorder requires that you show the following: Social Security Listing of Impairments

  1. You have a deeply ingrained inability to adapt.
  2. You desire to be secluded.
  3. You are inappropriately suspicious or hostile.
  4. You suffer from odd thoughts, perceptions, speech, and behavior.
  5. You have persistent mood disturbances
  6. You have intense and unstable relationships and engage in impulsive and damaging behaviors.

In addition, you must show that your inability to adapt causes at least two of the following:

  1. You experience episodes of decompensation. This means that you have a temporary worsening of symptoms, you lose the ability to adapt to normal stress, and you have difficulty with normal activities of daily life.
  2. Your daily living activities are restricted, which then disrupts your ability to function normally.
  3. You have difficulty functioning socially.
  4. You have difficulty concentrating.

Proving your disability based on a mental condition is not as straightforward as it may at first seem. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help walk you through this process and improve your chances for success. We encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation at 888-904-6847.

Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Boston, MA?

If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 508.283.5500 to schedule your free consultation.

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Nephateria Ary 12/16/2016 01:40 PM
I have lived with the BPD my whole life I am a 36 year old female I have a extensive history on my mother's side of the family of mental disorders and personality disorders I do not know who my biological father is but I have a step father my parents were neglectful and semi abusive but they have always show love to me and for me and we have a good relationship to this day if that's what you call any relationship that I have. I have worked previously in my early twenties I have not been able to hold a job since about 25 i seem to be highly intelligent person although never able to contain or be consistent with it I have a 13 year old daughter who I do not have custody of who has severe ADHD and many learning disabilities . I was first diagnosed when I was 19 maybe 20 but I haven't seen a psychologist since I was 15 for other reasons I believe
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Fernando soares 09/14/2017 10:35 AM
In 34 m. I need help
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Angelica 03/07/2018 01:16 PM
I was diagnosed on November 5,2015 and i have difficulty staying with a job because i become suspicious and have odd behavior with co workers I have difficulty talking to people in stressful situations and problem solving i become nervous and have difficult expressing myself
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Jennifer 04/16/2018 07:20 PM
I am 43. I have a Ms degree in Psychology and a BSW in Social work. I want to work but everytime I work I quit in 4 months or so because I get paranoid and start to see the truth in what people are really about. I also have a lot of trouble according to my therapist with reality. I can't keep a hold of reality I guess, because every few months I give away about everything I own as a result of decompensation. I am trying but even in therapy, I can't get better. I did try to get ssdi once but they said I didn't work enough credits. Also I had earnings but not really.I claimed misc. income on our taxes for about 10K but I have even found out now I might not have been even allowed to do that without my receipts but I gave them all away when I cleansed again in February. I am not sure what to do. My therapist says I must get ssdi since I don't and can't work but I don't think I qualify- can you advise?
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Kim Hampton 05/12/2018 09:41 AM
I have bpd. I did not have enough work credits. The judge saw how bad I was and gave me SSI.
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Shawntae Alexander 05/19/2018 07:39 PM
I’m 49 years old and was diagnosed with bpd in my late teens. I struggle with keeping stable working relationships with my coworkers and have managed to alienate everyone in my office. This due to paranoia and my perception of manipulating others before they get me. I enjoy being isolated and work best that way. I’m on medication and currently under the care of a psychiatrist. I was in therapy but felt she had wronged me. I find it difficult to work but have to support my 16 year old daughter. I’m trying to cope but it is a struggle each day.
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Jennifer Wilson 05/21/2018 09:20 PM
Thank you for this edifying explanation of SSDI requirements. I already receive SSDI for BPD(among many other diagnoses) but I have been questioning WHY I receive it. I know other people wonder why I "get paid for not working" since I appear to be in otherwise good health. I was having doubts myself about my circumstances. My therapist has an important position at a local university and his word carries a lot of weight. I assumed his professional clout had secured my benefits, I was shocked when I was immediately approved.I was shocked when I was approved again at recertification three years later as I was no longer in his care(I imagined I was failing him and taking up too much of his time, I fled in shame and abandoned the DBT therapy program that I had participated in for two years). Reading this has granted me a more comprehensive understanding of my illness and its consequences. I am the living embodiment of every one of those bullet points here. My situation makes so much more sense to me now, and I believe this will help others to understand better than I could explain. I feel relieved. I'm not a fraud, then.
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