Is It Possible to Win SSDI for Chronic Pain Conditions?

Chronic pain can be debilitating and interfere with your ability to work and perform the activities of daily life. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 24.3 million American adults in the 2023 National Health Survey reported suffering from chronic pain, and 8.5 percent of them experienced chronic pain that interfered with their ability to work. If your pain is severe enough to prevent you from working, you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Scroll down to learn how to win SSDI for chronic pain conditions.

Qualifying for SSDI with Chronic Pain

While pain can prevent you from working, it can be difficult to prove and measure. The Social Security Administration doesn’t recognize chronic pain as a disability or list it in its Blue Book. You’ll need to prove you have a physical or mental impairment with objective tests and symptoms. Qualifying for SSDI for chronic pain conditions will require you to provide evidence of your disabling condition. You might do this by presenting evidence of a different, listed medical condition that causes your chronic pain, such as one of the following:

• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Back injury
• Chronic kidney disease
• Somatic disorder
• Neurological disorder

If you don’t have a listed condition, you might still qualify if your medical condition keeps you from performing substantial gainful activity at your former job or any other position.

Factors the Social Security Administration Considers

The SSA wants to understand whether your chronic pain prevents you from performing any substantial gainful activity. The agency will complete a Residual Functional Capacity assessment to determine whether you can perform any work based on your education, age, ability to drive, and work history.

Some of the factors the SSA considers when people apply for SSDI for chronic pain include the following:

• Your pain’s duration, intensity, frequency, and location
• Pain medication you take and its side effects
• Treatments you undergo
• How you manage pain
• What triggers your pain or exacerbates it

Evidence Needed

You’ll need to gather and submit evidence that demonstrates how your pain causes severe functional limitations. Some examples of the types of evidence you might need include the following:

• Diagnostic information
• Doctor’s notes
• Nurses’ notes
• Physical examination
• Laboratory tests
• Imaging studies (MRIs, X-rays, CT scans)
• Statement from your former employer about how your condition affects your ability to work
• Statement from your doctor about how your condition affects you and how long it is expected to last

To qualify for SSDI for pain conditions, your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months. It’s a good idea to keep a daily pain journal in which you detail how your pain affects your ability to engage in routine activities. Be honest and don’t exaggerate, but provide details about your pain’s intensity and how it affects you.

Earnings History and Financial Requirements

You must have earned enough work credits to qualify for SSDI for chronic pain conditions. In general, you need 40 work credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years. You earn four credits per year if you earn enough to meet the minimum requirement. In 2025, one work credit is granted for each $1,810 you earn up to $7,240. If you earn more than that, you will still only earn a maximum of four credits in a year.

If you do work, you can’t have earned more than the amount the SSA considers to equal substantial gainful activity. If you’re not blind, the SGA is $1,620 per month. If you’re blind, it’s $2,700 per month.

Other Options

If you don’t qualify for SSDI for chronic pain conditions because you don’t have enough work credits or earn too much money to meet the SGA limit, you might qualify for a different option, such as long-term disability insurance through your employer. If you simply don’t have enough work credits but don’t work enough to exceed the SGA, you might qualify for SSI. This is a different program offered through the SSA for disabled people that isn’t dependent on having an earnings history.

The attorneys at Ellis & Associates can review your case and help you understand whether you might be eligible for SSDI or a different program for your chronic pain condition. To learn more, call us at 800-MR-ELLIS to schedule a free consultation or send us a message online.