Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Benefits in Maine

• You may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if you have worked enough and paid Social Security taxes, and your PTSD prevents you from working for at least 12 months.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for people with limited income and resources, including those who have never worked or haven’t worked enough for SSDI.
• To qualify, your PTSD must be severe enough to stop you from doing any substantial work, and it must be expected to last at least a year or result in death.
• You must provide medical evidence from a doctor or mental health professional showing your diagnosis and how it affects your ability to work.
• Both SSDI and SSI require you to be unable to do your past work or any other job in the national economy.
• You can get help with your application from Maine’s Community Work Incentives Coordinators or Disability Rights Maine.

Sources: SSA.gov, Maine.gov

• Maine does not have a state disability program for adults with PTSD. Instead, residents rely on federal programs like SSDI and SSI.
• MainePERS offers a Disability Retirement Program for public employees who become unable to work due to a medical condition, including PTSD, but this is only for those in the public sector.
• Maine’s Independent Living Services Program helps people with significant disabilities, including PTSD, live more independently in their homes and communities.
• Maine’s Section 811 PRA Program provides permanent supportive housing for extremely low-income people with disabilities, including those with PTSD.
• Maine’s Disability Rights Center offers advocacy and legal help for people with disabilities, including those with PTSD.
• Maine’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and MaineHealth Vocational Services offer work incentives and counseling for people with disabilities who want to work.

Sources: MainePERS.org, Maine.gov, MaineHousing.org, MaineHealth.org, DisabilityRightsMaine.org

• Check if you qualify for SSDI or SSI based on your work history and income.
• Gather medical records and a statement from your doctor or therapist about your PTSD.
• Apply online at SSA.gov, by phone, or at a local Social Security office.
• If denied, you can appeal the decision.
• Contact MaineHealth Vocational Services or Disability Rights Maine for help with your application.
• For supportive housing, contact MaineHousing or your local case manager.

Sources: SSA.gov, Maine.gov

• Step 1: Review eligibility for SSDI or SSI. SSDI is for those who have worked and paid Social Security taxes. SSI is for those with limited income and resources.
• Step 2: Collect medical evidence. This includes diagnosis, treatment history, and how PTSD affects your daily life and ability to work. Ask your doctor or therapist for a detailed statement.
• Step 3: Apply for benefits. You can apply online at SSA.gov, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security office. The application will ask for personal information, work history, and medical details.
• Step 4: Wait for a decision. The Social Security Administration will review your application and may ask for more information. Most applications are denied at first, but you can appeal.
• Step 5: If denied, appeal within 60 days. You can request a reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, or further review.
• Step 6: If approved, you will start receiving benefits. SSDI recipients get Medicare after 24 months. SSI recipients get MaineCare (Medicaid).
• Step 7: For supportive housing, contact MaineHousing or your local case manager to apply for the Section 811 PRA Program.
• Step 8: For work incentives and counseling, contact MaineHealth Vocational Services or your local Bureau of Rehabilitation Services.
• Step 9: For advocacy and legal help, contact Disability Rights Maine.

Sources: SSA.gov, , , ,

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): Monthly payments for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, and whose PTSD prevents them from working.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Monthly payments for people with limited income and resources, including those who have never worked or haven’t worked enough for SSDI.
• Medicare: Health insurance for SSDI recipients after 24 months.
• Medicaid (MaineCare): Health insurance for SSI recipients and others with low income.
• Work Incentives: Special rules that help you keep benefits while working, including funding for career advancement.

Sources: SSA.gov

• MainePERS Disability Retirement: For public employees who become unable to work due to a medical condition, including PTSD. Requires a medically diagnosable condition, functional limitations, and expected permanence.
• Independent Living Services Program: Helps people with significant disabilities, including PTSD, live more independently in their homes and communities.
• Section 811 PRA Program: Provides permanent supportive housing for extremely low-income people with disabilities, including those with PTSD.
• Disability Rights Center: Offers advocacy and legal help for people with disabilities, including those with PTSD.
• MaineHealth Vocational Services: Provides work incentives and counseling for people with disabilities who want to work.
• Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services: Offers vocational rehabilitation and employment services for people with disabilities.

Sources: MainePERS.org, Maine.gov, MaineHousing.org, MaineHealth.org, DisabilityRightsMaine.org

• An ABLE account lets people with disabilities save money without losing eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, and other benefits.
• You can use ABLE funds for qualified disability expenses like housing, education, transportation, and personal support.
• To open an ABLE account, you must have a disability that began before age 26 and meet other requirements.
• Maine residents can open an ABLE account through the national ABLE United program or another state’s program.

Sources: Maine.gov, ABLE United

• For SSI, the federal income limit is $914 per month for an individual in 2024, but Maine may have higher limits for MaineCare (Medicaid).
• For SSDI, there is no strict income limit, but you must not be able to do substantial work.
• For Section 811 PRA supportive housing, you must be extremely low-income, which is 30% or less of the area median income.

Sources: SSA.gov, MaineHousing.org

• If your income or resources change, you must report it to the Social Security Administration to avoid overpayments.
• Overpayments can happen if you don’t report changes or if there is a mistake in your benefits.
• If you get an overpayment notice, you can request a waiver or set up a repayment plan.
• For MaineCare (Medicaid), you must report changes in income or resources to avoid losing benefits.

Sources: SSA.gov, Maine.gov

• MaineHealth Vocational Services
  Phone: 207-662-3111

  Email: [email protected]

  Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

  Website

  Free benefits counseling for Maine residents with disabilities.
• Disability Rights Maine
  Phone: 1-800-452-1948

  TTY: 1-800-437-1222

  Email: [email protected]

  Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  Website

  Advocacy and legal help for people with disabilities.

• Can I get disability benefits for PTSD in Maine?

  Yes, you can get federal disability benefits like SSDI or SSI for PTSD in Maine if your condition prevents you from working. Maine does not have a state disability program, so federal programs are the main source of benefits.

• What medical evidence do I need for a PTSD disability claim?

  You need a diagnosis from a doctor or mental health professional, treatment records, and a statement explaining how PTSD affects your ability to work. The Social Security Administration will review this evidence to decide if you qualify.

• How long does it take to get a decision on my disability application?

  Most applications take 3–6 months for an initial decision. If denied, appeals can take several months to over a year. It’s common to be denied at first, but many people are approved after appealing.

• Can I work while getting disability benefits for PTSD?

  Yes, work incentives let you keep benefits while working. There are special rules for SSDI and SSI that protect your eligibility and may let you get funding for career advancement.

• What is the difference between SSDI and SSI for PTSD?

  SSDI is for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes. SSI is for people with limited income and resources, including those who have never worked. Both require that your PTSD prevents you from working.

• Can I get housing help if I have PTSD and low income?

  Yes, Maine’s Section 811 PRA Program provides permanent supportive housing for extremely low-income people with disabilities, including those with PTSD. Contact MaineHousing or your local case manager to apply.