Disability Benefits for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the medical term for a hormone disorder that can cause ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, and symptoms related to an excess of androgen (such as acne or increased body hair). Because PCOS is typically effectively managed with noninvasive therapies like dietary adjustments and prescribed medications, the disorder is unlikely to meet Social Security standards as a disabling impairment on its own.

Complications from PCOS, however, may qualify you for disability benefits if they keep you from working full-time for a year or more. A diagnosis of PCOS means that you’re more likely to develop conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, liver inflammation, and uterine cancer, among others. If your PCOS results in another diagnosis that's causing significant interference with your daily routine, you may want to learn what records you’ll need to get disability benefits.

Is PCOS a Disability?

Social Security awards disability benefits to people who have a medically determinable impairment that prevents them from engaging in substantial gainful activity (about $1,700 per month) for twelve months or longer. In order to do this, you’ll need medical evidence of functional limitations that either meet a “disability listing” or rule out all full-time jobs.

This can pose a challenge for people with only PCOS since the syndrome is often well controlled with medication and lifestyle changes. It’s more likely that you’ll be considered disabled if you have complications from PCOS or a combination of PCOS and another impairment.

Is PCOS a Listed Impairment?

PCOS is not one of Social Security’s “Blue Book” listings that automatically qualify for disability benefits. However, many heart conditions are covered in the Blue Book, as well as very severe liver disease and several cancers of the reproductive system. Even if you don’t have a disorder that “meets a listing,” you can still qualify for disability benefits if you can show that you’re unable to do any job on a regular basis due to your PCOS or related impairments.

Can I Get Disability for Reduced Functioning from PCOS?

In order to determine whether you can work, Social Security reviews your medical records and activities of daily living to see what limitations you have, physical and mental, that affect your job performance. The agency will then arrive at a set of restrictions called your residual functional capacity (RFC) that represents the most you’re still able to do in a work environment.

Social Security compares the restrictions in your current RFC with the duties of your past jobs to see whether you could still do them today. If not, the agency will determine whether any other work exists that you could perform despite the limitations in your RFC. Social Security must include medically documented restrictions from your combined impairments when assessing your RFC.

Note that both of the examples above involve claimants who were younger than 50. In order to get disability benefits, younger claimants generally need to show that their RFC rules out even the simplest, sit-down jobs. (In Social Security lingo, this is called having an RFC for “less than sedentary” work.) But if you’re at least 50 years old and can’t do your past work anymore, you may still be able to qualify for benefits even if you can do sedentary work under the agency’s medical-vocational grid rules.

Can I Get a VA Rating for PCOS?

Veterans who have service-connected PCOS may qualify for a VA disability rating. Under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 C.F.R. §4), PCOS can be evaluated using diagnostic code 7615 for disease or injury to the ovary. This diagnostic code allows for compensable VA ratings of 10% (if your symptoms require continuous treatment) or 30% (if your symptoms aren’t controlled by continuous treatment). For more information, see our article on how VA disability ratings work.

What Are the Disability Benefit Amounts for PCOS?

Social Security doesn't award benefits based on the type of medical condition you have. Rather, the amount you'll receive if you're approved depends on whether you're eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI eligibility is based on your work history and how much you've contributed to the program in payroll taxes, while SSI is a needs-based benefit available to people with limited resources.

For 2026, the maximum you can receive in SSDI benefits is $4,152 per month (although the average amount is much lower, at $1,630). SSI benefits are tied to the federal benefit rate, which in 2026 is $994 per month minus any countable income you have in that month. Some states also offer modest supplemental payments in addition to the federal SSI rate. You can learn more in our article on SSDI and SSI monthly check amounts.

VA benefits are calculated differently, using a combination of your disability rating and your living situation. For example, in 2026, veterans with a 10% disability rating are entitled to $180.42 each month, regardless of whether they’re married or have any dependents. Individual veterans with a 30% rating and no dependents can get $552.47 monthly in disability compensation, however, while married veterans with a 30% rating and one dependent child can get $666.47 each month. You can visit the VA website listing the current disability compensation rates to see the tables used to determine specific benefit amounts.

How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits?

Applying for Social Security benefits is a fairly straightforward process. You have several methods to choose from:

• File online using the agency’s SSDI application portal (or SSI portal, for certain eligible claimants).
• Call the Social Security national hotline at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778 for the hearing impaired) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Go to your local Social Security office and speak with a representative in person.

The VA application process works much in the same way. Visit our article on filing for veterans disability benefits for more information.

What Happens If I Don’t Qualify for Benefits?

Both Social Security and VA disability applications typically involve multiple appeals. If your Social Security claim is denied, you have 60 days from the date of the denial letter to submit an appeal. You can also appeal a VA denial, but the timeframe is much more generous–you have one year from the >>>Getting ADA Accommodations for PCOS<<<

You aren’t obligated to get representation for your appeal, but it’s usually a smart move. Consider hiring a disability attorney (preferably one with experience dealing with the VA, if you’re seeking veterans benefits). Your lawyer can gather your medical evidence, correspond with the SSA or VA on your behalf, and represent you at a hearing. Disability attorneys don’t get paid unless you win and many offer free consultations, so there’s little risk in asking around to find a lawyer who’s a good fit for you.