Pain is subjective and can be challenging to prove, especially to the extent of preventing a person from working. For this reason and more, yes, it is harder to get disability for chronic pain conditions. However, it’s not impossible to obtain—with the proper medical diagnosis, tests, clinical notes, medical records, and doctor’s opinions.
Talk to a disability lawyer to get help with your disability claim. They have experience in adequately completing and filing disability claims for chronic pain conditions.
Does Social Security Consider Chronic Pain to Be a Disability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not consider chronic pain conditions a disability. Unfortunately, they do not independently qualify as a viable reason to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are without options. An experienced SSDI lawyer may assess your situation and find a way.
What Constitutes a Chronic Pain Condition?
The SSA limits disability benefits to injured parties who develop severe disabling conditions that render them unable to work. While the SSA does not acknowledge chronic pain conditions as a viable disability, the SSA Blue Book defines a list of impairments that qualify a disabled person for benefits.
Many of these medical impairments cause chronic pain and may make you eligible for disability benefits, provided medical professionals can diagnose and document these conditions.
Examples of impairments that may cause chronic pain and make you eligible for disability benefits involve:
- Back and spinal injuries
- Cancer
- Systemic lupus
- Neurological disorders
- Chronic renal disease or kidney failure
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Somatoform disorders
If your chronic pain is linked to one of the conditions listed in the SSA Blue Book, it may be easier to file and be approved for disability. Your attorney and medical professionals can work together to explore all feasible options for your chronic pain disability claim.
How Can I Increase My Chances of Getting Approved for Disability Benefits?
You can take several precautions and measures to increase your chances of getting approved for disability benefits for chronic pain. For example, you may successfully increase your odds by organizing medical evidence, keeping a chronic pain journal, establishing your functional limitations, meeting time limits, accommodating SSA requests, and hiring a Social Security lawyer.
Organize Your Medical Evidence
Organizing your medical records and documents detailing your chronic pain condition is essential for proving your injuries. Your medical evidence should include test and lab results, physician notes, and treatment plans illustrating the severity of your injuries and subsequent pain.
Keep a dated record of your doctor, specialists, and pain management appointments and any out-of-pocket costs associated with their visits, such as copays, deductibles, and prescription meds.
Keep a Chronic Pain Journal
Keeping a detailed and dated chronic pain journal is necessary for demonstrating a pattern of consistent chronic pain.
You can grab any journal or a plain notepad to document symptoms, including:
- Your pain level on a scale of one to ten
- The location and duration of your pain
- The frequency and intensity of your pain
- How daily activities are affected by your pain
- Activities that aggravate or worsen your pain
- Whether you take pain medications to alleviate your pain, including dosage and any experienced side effects
- Pain management, like heating pads and ice packs
- Treatments you undergo for pain, such as massage, physical therapy, and chiropractor adjustments
- Sleep disturbances due to chronic pain
Writing down your chronic pain symptoms is helpful. In addition, video documentation may support an SSA claim for chronic pain—primarily when medical evidence doesn’t fully capture the severity of your pain and limitations.
Video evidence can demonstrate how pain affects movement, abilities to lift objects, and performance of everyday tasks. It may also capture the persistence and intensity of pain by showing its daily impact on life.
Establish Your Limitations
To increase your chances of getting approved for disability for chronic pain conditions, you must clearly explain how your pain limits your abilities to perform daily tasks, work-related responsibilities, and things you once enjoyed in life, like hobbies.
For example, if you were in a bowling league or led a Yoga class before your injuries and you no longer participate due to chronic pain, you need to document those limitations and restrictions. You must thoroughly document limitations on mental capabilities.
Meet Time Limit Requirements
You must meet duration requirements to qualify for disability benefits. Chronic pain must be expected to persist for a minimum of 12 consecutive months or result in wrongful death.
Your medical records must indicate the long-term nature of your chronic pain condition. They must demonstrate at least one year of symptoms before filing a disability claim.
Accommodate Social Security Requests
Do not delay or dismiss communications with the SSA. They warrant a quick response when requesting medical documentation and additional information. If you do not respond within a timely manner, the SSA will deny your disability claim for chronic pain conditions.
Hire a Social Security Lawyer.
Because it is harder to get disability for chronic pain conditions, it makes sense to hire a Social Security lawyer. Their knowledge, skills, qualifications, and experience can alleviate your burden.
Furthermore, they work for contingent fees. Contingent fees allow disability attorneys to provide their clients with no upfront costs for their invaluable services. And they only get paid if the SSA approves your disability.
How Can a Disability Lawyer Help With My Chronic Disability Claim?
You don’t have to go through this complex process alone.
A disability lawyer provides value in assisting with your disability claim in the following ways:
- Represent your legal interests to secure disability for chronic pain
- File applications and appeals within statutes of limitations in your state
- Gathering ample evidence demonstrating your chronic pain
- Connecting you with local resources and medical referrals
- Negotiating on your behalf
Schedule a free claim evaluation with a local Social Security lawyer to determine a way to get disability for your chronic pain condition. Act quickly to meet time limits for filing and any potential appeals.
