I was actually receiving disability support (about $3, woah!) for my PTSD, though I didn't realise I had PTSD at the time, this was when I was being told I had depression, etc.
I think it would be a good idea to receive while you are still learning to recover, but not as an excuse to live the rest of your life without working. I moved out of home at 17, and I was so traumatised my the concept of having to work (being around people, not knowing anything, being put on the spot, answering phones, angry customers, etc), that I would have breakdowns from panicking over it.
People thought I was making excuses and being lazy, I was just terrified. I had to go on disability job networks to bide time until I was ready.

It's taken me 4 and a half years, now I finally have the courage, I WANT to work. I could use it as an excuse, but I'm not going to anymore.

I have worked all of my life (with college being an exception), and did so both prior to and after my being diagnosed with PTSD (which is actually C-PTSD along ith a few added bonuses--no doubt--over the past several years). One of my therapists suggested disability. I resisted adamently. I don't want to go on disability or to be certified disabled. To me, this would only complicate my situation more. Despite all that I have gone through, and the fact that so many are surprised I even survived, I want to work, and even "like" working! I just don't like working in the proverbial torture chambers I have for the past decade.
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I think it always depends on the case and each case is subjective. It's not for me to make those types of assessments for others, of course.
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As I mentioned to a counselor in NY the other day...
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If mainstream options would produce and represent a better outcome, it does not make sense to me why those options would not take precedent over disability.
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I've gone through more hell with this condition, and part of that hell has included "systems" that seek to exploit the mental health condition if only to fulfill their own agendas. I'm not suggesting that this is the case in all cases. Likewise, I am also aware of abuses within the system by its consumers--who may simply opt for disability because they don't want to work.
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I WANT to work, but I'm so tired of not finding work and I'm so tired of searching. The process is a roller-coaster that often (in itself) involves high exposure to triggering as well (which creates quite a deterrant that I have to fight with constantly--pulling myself back up). All the effort and time that goes into it with so little return on the investment. It's not easy, but I keep trying.
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I don't know how well I articulated this. I've had a trying evening and haven't slept through a night for over a week now.
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I do hope it was somewhat helpful.

Yeah the term 'disabled' kind of has a stigma attached. I don't class myself as disabled, I class myself as a trauma victim. I would never use the term disabled to an employer.

I think if you need it, yeah by all means.

I think is good, it'll give you a break to heal and get treatment.
Is very hard to handle everything at once while going through severe PTSD and depression.

Yeah some people try to take advantage of the system, because they do, the ones that really need it pay for it.

Hi hmfeather--
If you relly need it, i mean it can become a Catch-22-you wind up just playing out a sick role for the rest of your life for fear of not getting all that easy money--but if you really are having trouble functioning I'll tell ya about it.

SSD based on a Psych disability alone is extremely hard to get- if you have physical maladies- most of us do (we make our bodies ill with PTSD)-get yourself all the documentation you can, on both Physical and Psych--make sure you have CT scans, MRI's etc.. gather all-and the doctors who diagnosed everything- you need reputable with appropriate DSM dx, and physical dx.

Now, if you have alot of retroactive money --how much time have you been off the job?

You may not want a lawyer--they take one third, i think it is.
But if you do--the lawyer will take it from there.

I got it by myself- hate lawyers!!!
Took three hearings before a US Government Law Judge- with them playing a tape recorder on whole hearing and there were psychiatrist-theirs in the room too- I was turned down twice--but I kept appealing it..third time was a charm-- "Fully favorable" and i got all my retro pay too!!!

You have to contact the SS in NYC-it's really the only SocialSecrity people I find that really know it all--phone 1-800-772-1213

They will send you out all the forms...and,
please! use black ink-no pencils or blue pens!--you request a hearing.

They will send you to their doctors first--
who will evaluate you in accordance with values of law based on US Government's standard of what they discern as a true inability to work.

Then they will set up a court date- in some dinky building nearest city to you--
you go on in and plead your case- or have a lawyer do it.

Most (especially in this economy) do not succeed on the first, or even the second try--but keep going for it anyway- if you need it, you need it.--all the best- vangie

I am on disability SSDI bit for physical reasons. I was in a triple rollover while working. So I went thru work comp also. It was extremely difficult to get it and had to hire lawyers and fight. I had a messed up spine but chronic pain was my disability.

So I got a flavor of what it is like to fight them with something subjective as pain.

It is extremely difficult and our state are bankrupt and feds probably the same way. Mant many people are is dirre staights with the economy and things are even tighter.

So as I can see it first of all it is a three to five year battle for me. They will take their time reveiwing it.