Can You Get Disability Benefits for Chronic Alcoholism?

According to a 2024 survey conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 27.9 million people ages 12 and up—about 10% of the U.S. population—have struggled with alcohol use disorder in the past year. Given the prevalence of the disorder (typically referred to as “alcoholism” outside clinical settings) and its potentially damaging health effects, many people wonder if alcohol dependence can qualify them for disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t award benefits to people based on alcohol addiction alone. However, if you have an underlying medical impairment that exists despite problem drinking or you have lingering physical or mental damage caused by alcoholism, you may be able to get disability benefits. Because of the complex factors at play when deciding claims involving alcohol dependence, it’s important to know what medical evidence you’ll need to provide so that you can strengthen your disability application.

When Is Alcoholism Considered a Disability?

As mentioned above, the SSA doesn’t consider alcoholism itself to be a disabling impairment. (The agency had previously awarded benefits based on alcoholism alone, but that stopped in the mid-1990s.) However, alcohol addiction can cause or overlap with many other serious health conditions that Social Security recognizes as potentially disabling. Many of these conditions are included in the “Blue Book” list of impairments that could make you automatically eligible for disability benefits—but only if your condition would persist even without drinking alcohol.

Neurocognitive Disorders Caused by Alcohol Addiction

Neurocognitive disorders (previously called organic mental disorders) are marked by deficits in mental functioning. They can result from damage to the brain, either through injury or degenerative disease. One example of a neurocognitive disorder that’s connected to alcohol abuse is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which is caused by not getting enough vitamin B1 (thiamine). Symptoms include confusion, lack of muscle coordination, vision trouble, and forgetfulness.

To meet listing 12.02 for neurocognitive disorders, you’ll have to have medical documentation of a significant cognitive decline from a prior level of functioning, such as:

• memory loss
• distractibility
• decreased judgment
• difficulties with language
• a decrease in coordination, or
• poor social ability.

Additionally, you’ll need to show how these cognitive symptoms cause “extreme” or “marked” limitations in work-related domains such as the ability to finish tasks on time, follow instructions, interact with others, and maintain attendance.

Alcoholism, Anxiety, and Depression

Depression can be caused or exacerbated by alcohol use. The SSA evaluates depressive disorders under listing 12.04. To meet this listing, you’ll need to provide medical records showing that you have at least five of the following characteristic symptoms of depression:

• low mood
• loss of interest in your usual activities (anhedonia)
• appetite disturbance with weight gain or loss
• changes in your sleep patterns, like insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
• making very slow or very quick movements
• decreased energy
• feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• difficulty concentrating or thinking, and
• thoughts of death or suicide.

Contrary to the belief that alcohol is a relaxant, alcoholism can cause long-term anxiety. Meeting the criteria of listing 12.06 for anxiety disorder means providing evidence of at least three of the following symptoms:

• restlessness
• getting tired easily
• trouble concentrating
• irritability
• muscle tension, or
• sleep disturbance.

Both listings 12.04 and 12.06 require that your symptoms cause “extreme” or “marked” limitations in work-related domains, like getting along with your coworkers or showing up to your job on time.

Peripheral Neuropathy Caused by Alcohol Dependence

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when there’s damage to the nerves that transmit information between your brain and the rest of your body. Alcoholism can cause peripheral neuropathy, often because many alcoholics also have a thiamine (B1) deficiency. This deficiency can cause pain, weakness, and numbness in your hands and feet. You may qualify for benefits under listing 11.14 if your peripheral neuropathy makes you unable to perform very basic movements, like rising from a seated position, or significantly limits you in both physical and mental functional domains.

Alcohol-Related Liver, Stomach, and Pancreatic Diseases

Most liver disease in the United States is caused by chronic alcohol consumption, and many disability applicants list liver damage due to alcohol abuse on their disability applications. But your liver damage needs to be fairly severe in order to qualify for disability benefits—you’ll need to show that you have end-stage or chronic liver disease with at least one serious complication.

Other organs that can be affected by alcohol abuse include the stomach (alcohol can cause gastritis, which occurs when the stomach lining becomes inflamed) and the pancreas (severe pancreatitis can have symptoms like prolonged abdominal pain and dramatic weight loss).

Can You Get Disability Benefits for Alcoholism If You Don’t Meet a Listing?

Very few people will be able to meet the strict requirements of a Blue Book listing, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get disability benefits. If you don’t meet a listing, Social Security will look for evidence of functional limitations that reduce the types of jobs you’re able to perform, a process called “assessing your residual functional capacity (RFC).”

Your RFC is a set of restrictions that reflects the most you’re capable of doing, physically and mentally, in a work environment. For example, if you have symptoms from liver disease that cause you to get tired and out of breath easily, your RFC may restrict you from performing jobs involving heavy lifting or lots of standing and walking. The specific limitations in your RFC will depend on what’s written down in your medical records and self-reported activities of daily living.

Once Social Security has assessed your RFC, the agency will compare the limitations in it to the duties of your past work to see if you could still do those jobs today. If not, then Social Security will need to determine whether any other jobs exist that you can perform given your age, education, skill set, and current RFC. Having an RFC that rules out all full-time work will result in getting disability benefits in what’s referred to as a “medical-vocational allowance.” Most people under the age of 50 will need to show that they can’t do any sedentary jobs in order to get a medical-vocational allowance, but older claimants may qualify under the “grid rules.”

When Alcohol Dependence Can Keep You From Getting Disability

Not only will the SSA not approve disability claims based on alcohol dependence alone, but the agency can also deny your application if there’s evidence that your medical condition would improve with sobriety or abstinence (in other words, alcohol addiction is “material” to your disability claim). For more information on materiality and how it affects your case, see our article on getting disability if you’ve used alcohol or drugs.

How to Apply for Disability Benefits

You can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) using one of the following options:

• File online at Social Security’s website. This method has many benefits, such as giving you a dated receipt of your application and letting you start and finish at your own pace.
• Call 800-722-1213 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to speak with a representative. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, you can call the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• Go in person to your nearest Social Security field office. Some locations require that you make an appointment first, so call ahead before you visit.

If you’re not sure which method to use, check out our article on the best way to apply for disability for more detailed information about each option.

I Received a Disability Denial, What Are My Next Steps?

Most people who apply for disability benefits aren’t awarded on their first try, particularly if chronic alcohol abuse is indicated in the record. If you disagree with the SSA’s decision, you have 60 days from receiving the denial letter to submit an appeal. The appeals process typically involves getting another denial before you can request a hearing with an administrative law judge.

Disability claims where alcohol abuse, dependence, or addiction are an issue can become complicated, especially when intertwined with other medical disorders. Having an experienced attorney who can sort through the evidence and make a persuasive argument to the SSA can increase your odds at a hearing and relieve some of the stress involved in dealing with the bureaucracy. Disability representatives don’t get paid unless (and until) you win and many offer free consultations, so there’s little risk in asking around to find a lawyer you like.