What's Considered a Pervasive Developmental Disorder by SSI

Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PPD) disability is also called an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) disability. Both PPD and ASD disorders are disabilities caused by conditions that involve delayed or impaired communication and social skills, behaviors and cognitive or learning skills.  PPD’s include Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and Rett syndrome. PDD’s are usually diagnosed in infancy, toddlerhood or early childhood and continues on into the adult years.

Social Security Supplemental Security Income program will consider Pervasive Developmental Disorder a recognized disability for approval of benefits for an applicant claiming that disability if (1) the limitation on  an adult applicant’s ability to engage in gainful employment is severely impaired, or if, (2) a child applicant’s ability to engage in fundamental daily activities is severely impaired.  The applicant must provide medical documentation of the diagnosis of (1) Pervasive Developmental Disorder and (2) medical documentation of the work related impairments if an adult or the daily functional impairments if a child, as well as meet the general program required financial and asset levels and other initial basic participation requirements.

Rating Levels of Function Severity

Social Security will evaluate factors as to the quality and level of an applicant’s overall functional performance.  They have four broad functional criteria by which they will review and rate the degree severity of limitations posed by a disability on an applicant's ability to function.

• Activities of daily living
• Social functioning
• Concentration, persistence, or pace
• Episodes of mental decompensation

When rating the degree of limitation in the first three function areas they use a five-point scale: none, mild, moderate, marked, and extreme.  The "extreme" rating is a degree of limitation that in an adult will be found incompatible with the ability to do any gainful activity and benefits will be awarded.  If they rate the degree of an applicant’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) disability within the first three functional areas as "none" or "mild" they will generally subsequently conclude that the applicant’s Pervasive Developmental Disorder impairment(s) is not severe and deny the claim, unless the medical evidence in the file indicates that there are other more than a minimal limitations on an applicant’s ability to do basic work activities.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PPD) disability and you would like to apply for benefits with Social Security, Supplemental Security Income program it may be helpful to discuss the circumstances of the disability and the application with a disability attorney to obtain some valuable guidance concerning the application and disability evaluation process.