Can You Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease?

Dealing with the relentless pain of degenerative disc disease (DDD) can make daily tasks feel impossible. This leaves many wondering,
can you get disability for degenerative disc disease? Yes, but getting approved can be challenging. This guide will help you navigate the process, covering everything from understanding DDD to gathering the right medical documentation.

Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease isn’t truly a disease. Cedars-Sinai explains that it is a condition where spinal discs break down. These discs cushion your vertebrae.

As they wear down, they can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. DDD mostly affects people in their 30s and 40s.

Sometimes, an injury triggers these problems. Certain exercises can offer pain relief.

Can You Get Disability for Degenerative Disc Disease? The Application Process

Many people with degenerative disc disease struggle with the disability claim process. Let’s explore how disability applies to DDD, starting with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

This program, available through the Social Security Administration (SSA), uses a five-step sequential evaluation for disability benefits. This process also determines if your DDD qualifies for Social Security disability insurance. Here’s an overview:

1. Are you working? The SSA determines if your income is below substantial gainful activity (SGA), $1,620 per month (as of 2025).
2. Is your medical condition severe? The SSA assesses if your DDD meets their definition of “severe,” impacting your ability to perform basic work activities.
3. Does your condition meet a listing? The SSA checks if your condition matches listing 1.15 in their Blue Book. This listing covers skeletal spine disorders, like nerve root compromise, which cause limited mobility and pain.

Meeting a listing often requires significant functional limitations, demonstrable through medical imaging. For less severe cases, focus on proving work restrictions that prevent you from performing any job. This can be challenging, but it can establish that your medical condition prevents you from doing past relevant work. It also may be evidence that prevents you from other less-demanding jobs.

Navigating SSDI can be confusing. Experienced professionals can help you through this process. Expert help is available for those applying for disability.

Medical Evidence for Degenerative Disc Disease Disability Claims

Medical evidence is crucial for SSDI applications. A clear diagnosis is essential for degenerative disc disease disability claims.

Your medical records must show the progression of your DDD, treatments, and impact on daily life. Include doctor’s reports, imaging studies (MRIs, CT scans, X-rays), and therapy records. Your records should detail how degenerated discs are affecting your nerve roots. Be sure to include medical documentation that shows any limitations in basic motions. Include evidence of pain levels and nerve root compression.

The SSA uses imaging tests to assess your spine and spinal discs. They consider the severity of musculoskeletal disorders, referencing their detailed listing in Section 1.04.

Long-Term Disability and Degenerative Disc Disease

Long-term disability (LTD) insurance provides financial support. Unlike SSDI, which is a government program, LTD insurance is typically an employee benefit or a private policy. Both can offer help to those with degenerative disc disease.

LTD insurance doesn’t require your condition to meet specific federal listings. You must show that your condition prevents you from working. A clear diagnosis and medical evidence, similar to SSDI requirements, is vital. Clearly document your pain, restrictions, and difficulties with physical activities.

FAQs about
can you get disability for degenerative disc disease

How much disability can you get for degenerative disc disease?

The benefit amount varies depending on whether you receive SSDI or LTD. Your prior earnings also factor into the amount.

SSDI calculates benefits based on your average lifetime earnings. LTD typically provides a percentage of your salary, usually between 50% and 60%.

What are the stages of degenerative disc disease?

DDD doesn’t have formally defined stages. However, the degenerative disc changes are often viewed in phases:

1. Dysfunction: Minor tears and swelling in the disc cause changes in motion, pain, and limited range of motion.
2. Instability: More significant tears and changes in the discs, like thinning, affect vertebral movement. This instability leads to limited function and potentially severe limitations with everyday tasks.
3. Stabilization: The body attempts to heal the spinal column. Bone spurs may form near the spinal discs. While this offers temporary stability, it can irritate nerve roots and cause chronic pain.

Can you work if you have degenerative disc disease?

Many individuals with DDD continue to work, especially those with less severe symptoms. This depends on job demands, individual abilities, and treatment effectiveness. Adjusting your daily activities can help.

However, severe physical limitations, like needing frequent posture adjustments, can hinder work, especially physically strenuous jobs. Bending or sitting can become difficult or impossible.

Does sitting worsen degenerative disc disease?

Sitting can increase stress and inflammation on spinal discs, leading to pain. While some individuals with DDD may find relief through specific positions, stretches, or medication, others experience significant pain with any movement. Even extending, walking or sitting for a long time can cause discomfort, prompting them to consider longer-term disability benefits.

Conclusion

Can you get disability for degenerative disc disease? Yes, but approval requires planning and documentation. Understanding DDD, gathering strong medical evidence, and seeking professional support can improve your chances of a successful claim. Consider consulting a disability attorney and getting a functional capacity evaluation. The Social Security Administration has strict guidelines for what is considered disabled due to a medical condition.

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