Yes, you can get disability for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but eligibility depends on the severity of your symptoms, how they impact your daily life and ability to work, and the specific disability program in your country (like the NDIS in Australia or PIP/ESA in the UK, or SSDI in the US). You'll need substantial medical evidence showing your condition is diagnosed, reasonably treated, and significantly limits your functional capacity, often requiring proof that it prevents you from working.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
Some people with BPD may meet the criteria for the NDIS, in particular those who have co-existing mental and physical health diagnoses. It is possible for people to recover from BPD however, and to go onto the NDIS, it is required you have a permanent disability.
The benefits you may be entitled to include:
Many people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often encounter difficulty with relationships, mood swings, and abandonment issues. However, this does not mean a person with this disorder cannot live a healthy life. In fact, several people diagnosed with BPD are high-functioning individuals.
Understanding High Functioning BPD
Individuals with this diagnosis may have impulsive behaviors, experience intense anger, and undergo frequent mood swings that drastically affect how they interact with others. As a result, maintaining stable relationships can be difficult due to their emotional and behavioral state.
Why BPD Symptoms Peak in Early Adulthood. In the 20s, identity formation and independence conflict with emotional vulnerability. Research shows impulsivity and mood swings occur most frequently between the ages of 18-25.
The symptoms of BPD are very broad, and some can be similar to or overlap with other mental health problems, such as: Bipolar disorder. Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) Depression.
If left untreated, the consequences of BPD can become more deeply rooted and widespread. Substance misuse often becomes a coping crutch, increasing chaos in personal and social life. Physical strain increases—stress-related illnesses and poor health habits accumulate, burdening the mind and body.
Many Autistic people are misdiagnosed with borderline/emotionally unstable personality disorder (BPD/EUPD), with most professionals preferring to accept the initial diagnosis rather than acknowledging the realities of what it means to be Autistic.
BPD splitting involves intense shifts in perceptions and emotions. People may quickly alternate between idealising and devaluing people, situations, and themselves. This can lead to unstable relationships, rapid mood swings, impulsive behaviour, and difficulty tolerating ambiguity.
Criteria for getting disability with borderline personality disorder. The SSA has extensive criteria for all mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder. To qualify, you'll have to prove that your BPD is persistent, ongoing, and makes it impossible for you to hold a job.
Common BPD medications include antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Wellbutrin), antipsychotics (Abilify, Seroquel, Risperdal, Zyprexa), mood stabilizers/anticonvulsants (Lithobid, Depakote, Lamictal, Tegretol), and anti-anxiety drugs (Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, Buspar).
Empathy and compassion – People with BPD experience greater internal and external turmoil. However, this in turn allows for the ability to recognise and have greater insight for others in similar situations.
People with psychosocial disability and episodic and fluctuating conditions can still access the NDIS. You must still meet all the requirements to become an NDIS participant set out in the NDIS Act. We need evidence that the impairment caused by the mental health condition is likely to remain across your lifetime.
Clinicians can be reluctant to make a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). One reason is that BPD is a complex syndrome with symptoms that overlap many Axis I disorders.
The “3 C's” often used in understanding BPD are: Clinginess (fear of abandonment), Conflict (intense relationships and mood swings), and Confusion (unstable self-image and identity).
BPD is predominantly characterized as a disorder involving emotional dysregulation, yet psychotic symptoms frequently occur in individuals with BPD, with about 20–50% of patients reporting psychotic symptoms.
Fear of Abandonment & Being Alone
For many with BPD, the fear of abandonment represents one of the most challenging aspects of living alone. This core symptom can trigger intense emotional responses when physically separated from others for extended periods.
Studies have found that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aggregates in families, and twin studies estimate the proportion of the phenotype variance due to genetic factors (heritability) to be about 90%.
BPD symptoms often start to emerge in early adolescence. 5 Symptoms may worsen through adolescence, particularly if risk factors like low socioeconomic status, stressful life events, family adversity, and exposure to abuse are present.
Below are a few common quiet BPD signs: Avoids conflicts by emotionally shutting down. Extreme mood shifts. Emotional breakdown in private.
Symptoms - Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder often co-occurs with other mental and physical conditions. These can include mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder, externalizing disorders like conduct problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and metabolic-related disorders like diabetes and obesity.
Some of the symptoms of BPD are also symptoms of other conditions, which can lead to a misdiagnosis. Examples of these symptoms include impulsivity, shame, anger, feelings of emptiness, intense emotions and suicidal thoughts. Conditions that have many of the same symptoms as BPD include: Bipolar disorder.
Avoid sarcasm or other tones that may be misunderstood. Tone it down and slow down to allow the person a moment to process their feelings. Listen without expressing personal judgement and blame and reflect back their own words in a calm manner.