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Do I Qualify For Disability With Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS)

By Chris Sharry on December 11th, 2017 in

Do I qualify for disability with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD-NOS)? PDD-NOS stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). PDD-NOS was one of several autism diagnoses that are now included in the overall diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with the publication of the DSM-V.

In the DSM-IV, the essential features of PDD-NOS are severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills; and stereotyped behaviors, interests, and activities. The criteria for Autistic Disorder are not met because of late age onset; atypical and/or sub-threshold symptomatology are present.

You may meet the criteria for disability if you meet the requirements of one of Social Security’s official disability listings.  Social Security publishes the criteria for a number of common illnesses to qualify for disability, and if you meet the criteria for your particular condition, you automatically qualify for benefits.

The listing for Autism Spectrum Disorders for adults is 12.10:

12.10 Autism spectrum disorder (see 12.00B8), satisfied by A and B:

1. Medical documentation of both of the following:
   1. Qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction; and
   2. Significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

AND

2. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):
   1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).
   2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).
   3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).
   4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4).

The listing for Autism Spectrum Disorders for children is 112.10:

112.10 Autism spectrum disorder (see 112.00B8), for children age 3 to attainment of age 18), satisfied by A and B:

1. Medical documentation of both of the following:
   1. Qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction; and
   2. Significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

AND

2. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 112.00F):
   1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 112.00E1).
   2. Interact with others (see 112.00E2).
   3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 112.00E3).
   4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 112.00E4).

If you do not meet the listing, you may still qualify for disability benefits if you are not performing substantial gainful activity and if the impairment prevents you from doing your past relevant work or other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.

For children, to functionally equal the listings, an impairment(s) must be of listing-level severity; that is, it must result in “marked” limitations in two domains of functioning or an “extreme” limitation in one domain.  Domains are broad areas of functioning intended to capture all of what a child can or cannot do. SSA uses the following six domains:

1. Acquiring and using information,
2. Attending and completing tasks,
3. Interacting and relating with others,
4. Moving about and manipulating objects,
5. Caring for yourself, and
6. Health and physical well-being.

Please contact us if you have any questions about applying for disability with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS) or the application process in general.