Getting Social Security Disability Benefits for Addison's Disease

Addison’s disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough of certain hormones (cortisol and aldosterone) that are important for regulating your metabolism. The disease is related to another disorder, Cushing syndrome, that results from chronically high levels of cortisol.

Many people with Addison’s disease can successfully manage the condition with long-term hormone replacements. But others have a harder time properly treating the hormone imbalance, causing functional limitations that interfere with their daily routine and limit the types of jobs they can do. If symptoms from Addison’s disease keep you from working full-time for at least one year, you should learn what evidence you’ll need to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

When Is Addison's Disease Considered a Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers you disabled if you have a medically determinable impairment that keeps you from earning above the substantial gainful activity level for twelve months or longer. Specifically, the agency needs to see medical records showing that you meet the requirements of a listed impairment or that you have a residual functional capacity that rules out all work.

Meeting a Disability Listing

Listed impairments are health conditions that the SSA treats as potentially automatically disabling. These listings are collected in the agency’s “Blue Book” along with the requirements needed to be considered disabled for each listing. If you have documentation of certain specific test results, medical imaging, or physical abnormalities in your medical records, you may get Social Security benefits by “meeting a listing.”

Addison's disease is a type of adrenal gland disorder, so disability applications based on the disorder fall under Blue Book section 9.00 for endocrine disorders. Because the hormones produced by your adrenal glands are critical in maintaining many different body functions, the effects of Addison’s disease can be evaluated using several different listings, which are covered in section 9.00. For example, gland dysregulation can affect bone calcium levels, causing adrenal-related osteoporosis with fractures that may be evaluated under listing 1.06, Fracture of a lower extremity bone, or listing 1.07, Fracture of an upper extremity bone.

Other potential listings include 4.02 and 4.05, for adrenal-related hypertension that worsens heart failure or causes recurrent arrhythmias; 5.08 for weight loss due to an adrenal-related digestive issue; or 12.06 for mood disorders such as depression. Additionally, Addison's disease is sometimes caused by long-term infections, such as tuberculosis or HIV, which can qualify under listing 3.02 (for chronic respiratory disorders) or 14.11 (for HIV infection) respectively.

Having Limited Ability to Work

Even if you don't meet the requirements of one of the above listings, you might still qualify for disability benefits if Social Security determines that you have a residual functional capacity (RFC) that rules out all full-time employment. Your RFC is a set of limitations, physical and mental, that describes what tasks you’re still able to do at work despite the symptoms of Addison's disease.

Physical abilities that the agency assesses when creating your RFC include sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. Mental abilities include your ability to focus, respond appropriately to supervision, and interact with the general public. For example, if you have Addison’s symptoms that cause fatigue when standing for longer than 15 minutes or increased anxiety around strangers, your RFC may limit your ability to work in jobs involving being on your feet and dealing with customers.

Social Security then compares your current RFC with the demands of your past jobs to see whether you can do those jobs today. So if your past work experience was in the retail or service industry, for example, and you have an RFC that restricts your ability to stand and communicate appropriately with others, the agency will likely find that you can’t return to that line of work.

If Social Security doesn’t think you can do your past work, the agency will then need to see whether any other jobs exist in significant numbers that you can still do despite the limitations in your RFC. For most disability applicants under the age of 50, this means that your RFC has to keep you from performing even the most basic sedentary work. Applicants 50 and over may have an easier time qualifying for benefits thanks to a special set of rules known as the “medical-vocational grid.”

Medical Evidence You’ll Need to Get Disability for Addison’s Disease

Medical evidence is the foundation of every disability claim. Social Security will review your medical records for information about whether you meet a listing or what limitations to include in your RFC. When you apply for disability benefits, you’ll need to provide the names and contact information of all medical providers you’ve seen for treatment of Addison’s disease. The agency will then, with your permission, request and review these records, so it’s important to let Social Security know where and how to find the following documents:

• progress notes from visits to your primary care physician
• clinical results for blood test results showing abnormal hormone levels
• objective imaging (such as X-rays or MRIs)
• hospital admission and discharge summaries, if any
• physical therapy records, and
• medication lists, including dosage, frequency, and side effects.

Addison’s disease can interfere with your body’s ability to maintain consistent blood sugar, steady your immune response, regulate sodium levels, and respond to stress. Your records should reflect these issues, as well as symptoms like:

• changes in blood pressure or heart rate
• extreme weakness and fatigue
• chronic diarrhea and unintentional weight loss
• anxiety or change in mood and personality
• joint and muscle pain
• difficulty standing, and
• slow, sluggish movements.

“Adrenal crisis” is a life-threatening complication of Addison’s disease and as such requires immediate medical attention. If you’ve had one or more episodes of adrenal crisis, it’s very important that you obtain those hospital records and provide them to the SSA for review.

How to Apply for Disability Benefits

You can apply for disability benefits online, in person at your local Social Security field office, or by calling 800-772-1213 (TTY:800-325-0778) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Many people prefer online filing, which allows you to complete the application on your own time, but others like having a representative help them fill out the paperwork.

You can check out our step-by-step guide to filing for benefits and our article about the best way to apply for disability for additional information about the application process.

What If I Don’t Qualify?

Few people are awarded disability benefits on their first try, but you can appeal the denial—preferably with help from an experienced disability attorney or advocate. A lawyer can help you gather medical evidence, handle communications with Social Security, and represent you at a disability hearing.

If the cost of a lawyer is a concern, many communities have legal aid or other services that provide assistance and resources for people applying for disability benefits. Disability attorneys work on contingency—meaning they get paid only if you win—and many offer free consultations, so it doesn’t hurt to ask around to find a lawyer you like.