Getting Social Security Disability for Peripheral or Diabetic Neuropathy

Neuropathy (nur-AH-puh-thee) is a medical term referring to damaged or diseased nerves. Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the peripheral nerves—which carry messages between the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body— are damaged. Diabetic neuropathy is a form of peripheral neuropathy caused by both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Doctors don't currently have a cure for peripheral or diabetic neuropathy, and the condition is considered progressive, meaning it gets worse over time.

While some people with neuropathy are able to successfully manage the disorder, others may find that their symptoms interfere significantly with their daily routine. If you have a diagnosis of peripheral or diabetic neuropathy and your symptoms keep you from working full-time for at least a year, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI or SSI).

What Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy Can Qualify for Disability?

Peripheral neuropathy symptoms usually manifest as feelings of numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness. Diabetic neuropathy tends to affect the legs and feet in particular, but can also have an impact on the hands and arms. Typically, you'll experience the symptoms or signs of neuropathy in the part of the body that corresponds to the damaged nerve.

• Motor nerves control movement of your limbs and extremities (arms, legs, hands, and feet). Neuropathy involving motor nerves can cause muscle weakness, loss of coordination, and trouble balancing or staying upright.
• Sensory nerves carry information about sensory input, such as touch, taste, and sight. Neuropathy involving sensory nerves can cause numbness, tingling, burning, pain, and tenderness.
• Autonomic nerves control involuntary processes in your body such as breathing, digesting, and keeping your heart pumping. Neuropathy involving the autonomic nerves can affect your blood pressure or contribute to loss of bladder control.

People with peripheral neuropathy may have difficulty walking, standing, and carrying objects. Chronic pain can further limit their ability to maintain mental focus on even basic tasks. In some very severe cases, people who have numbness in their hands and feet might not feel injuries to these parts of the body, which can lead to infections and even amputations.

While diabetic neuropathy is—unsurprisingly—associated with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy can also be caused by other metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, or immune system diseases. Neuropathy can be inherited or it can be acquired through exposure to hazardous substances, infections (such as HIV or shingles), excessive alcohol consumption, or as a result of cancer treatment.

When Is Neuropathy Considered a Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) awards disability benefits to people who are unable to earn at or above the level of substantial gainful activity for 12 months or more due to a medically determinable impairment. So if your doctor has diagnosed you with peripheral neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy and your symptoms keep you from working full-time for at least a year, you may qualify for disability benefits.

Qualifying for Disability by Meeting the Blue Book Listing for Peripheral Neuropathy

Social Security's medical handbook ("the Blue Book") is a category of conditions that the agency considers especially severe. Disability claimants who have medical evidence that matches the criteria set forth for a condition listed in the Blue Book are said to "meet a listing" and will qualify for benefits.

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the "listed impairments," included under the section for neurological disorders. In order to get disability by meeting the criteria of listing 11.14 for peripheral neuropathy, your medical records must contain evidence of one of the following sets of symptoms:

• Disorganization of motor function (meaning movements that are uncoordinated or ineffective) in two limbs, causing you to have "extreme limitations" in your ability to remain upright, get up from a seated position, or use your arms.
• "Marked" limitations in both physical ability and at least one area of mental functioning that involves thinking clearly, interacting with others, finishing tasks, or taking care of yourself.

Note that "marked" means worse than moderate, but less than extreme. The first set of criteria above requires extreme physical limitations—you'll have to show that you're nearly incapable of performing those basic motions on your own—while the second set of criteria requires less-than-extreme physical limitations. That's why the second set also requires that you have significant mental limitations in concentration, stamina, or social functioning.

Qualifying for Disability When You Have Limitations From Neuropathy That Prevent You From Working

Even if you don't meet the criteria of listing 11.14, the SSA can still award you disability benefits if you have functional limitations from your peripheral or diabetic neuropathy that keep you from working at any job full-time. (This is actually the most common way for the agency to approve a disability claim.) In order to determine what, if any, jobs you can do, Social Security will look at your medical records and daily activities to arrive at your residual functional capacity, or RFC.

Your RFC is a description of what you're capable of doing in a work environment, despite any limitations from physical or mental symptoms resulting from neuropathy. Social Security will compare your current RFC with the duties of your past jobs to see if you could still do them today. If not, the agency will consider additional factors such as your age, education, and skill set to determine whether you could do any other work.

Disability claimants younger than 50 will generally need to show that they can't do even simple, sit-down "other work" in order to qualify for disability. For example, if you often need to prop your legs up high to relieve pain from diabetic neuropathy, it's unlikely that a supervisor at an office job would allow you to put your feet up on the desk, even for a short time. As long as your RFC mentions that you need to elevate your legs throughout the workday (and this restriction is supported by your medical records), Social Security will likely approve your application.

Claimants 50 years of age and older can have an easier time getting disability because Social Security doesn't expect them to switch to less demanding work unless they've acquired transferable skills at their past jobs. So somebody who's 55 and has only worked as a plumber—but can no longer lift 20 pounds due to peripheral neuropathy—will likely be found disabled because they can't use the skills they learned as a plumber in a less strenuous job.

Medical Evidence You Need to Get Disability for Peripheral or Diabetic Neuropathy

Having appropriate medical documentation of your neuropathies is very important. When disability claims examiners review applications, they start by looking at your medical records. Your records should include visits to your doctor's office, your doctor's treatment notes, and the results of any diagnostic testing you've had. For claims involving peripheral or diabetic neuropathy, the examiner will be on the lookout for the following test results:

• Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) studies, which record the electrical activity through your muscles to see if they move slower or faster than normal.
• Electromyography (EMG) testing, another type of electrodiagnostic nerve function test that measures the electrical activity of a muscle.
• Blood tests for nutritional deficiencies, IgM monoclonal gammopathy, and anti-MAG antibodies.
• Quantitative sensory testing (QST), which assesses damage to nerve endings.
• Autonomic testing, which monitors your blood pressure and heart rate in different positions.
• Imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scans.
• Nerve biopsy, a surgical procedure to remove part of a nerve to look for abnormalities.

Social Security will also want to see evidence that you've tried various treatments for your symptoms and that you're making an effort to improve your condition. If you haven't tried appropriate treatments, the SSA can't really know if the treatment would be effective or if you would still be disabled. Common treatments for peripheral neuropathy include:

• Assistive devices. If you're using a walker or cane, it shows the SSA that you have difficulties maintaining balance. It helps to have a prescription from your doctor for use of the assistive device.
• Mechanical aids. Your doctor might have recommended a hand or foot brace, a wrist splint, or orthopedic shoes.
• Prescription medication. You should provide the agency with a list of any medications you're taking for neuropathy, as well as any side effects from the medication.
• Medical treatment. Describe any other treatments you've tried, such as physical therapy, biofeedback, or electrical nerve stimulation.

Depending on your particular symptoms, Social Security may also want to know whether you've considered surgical options. Keep in mind that any restrictions in your RFC must reflect limitations in your medical records, so any difficulties you have with balance, coordination, muscle strength, muscle control, walking, or standing should be communicated to your doctor so that they can be included in the doctor's clinical notes. You may also want to consider asking your doctor to write a letter detailing what specific limitations are caused by your neuropathy.

SSDI and SSI Disability Benefit Amounts for Neuropathy

Social Security doesn't award disability benefits based on the specific medical diagnosis you've received or the types of limitations keeping you from working. Instead, the amount of money you'll be paid every month depends on whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI eligibility is based on your employment history, in the form of "work credits" you accumulate by earning taxable wages. SSI is a needs-based program that doesn't take your employment history into account. Instead, eligibility is determined by establishing household income and assets below a certain threshold.

If you qualify to receive SSDI, your monthly benefit rate will be calculated based on your average lifetime earnings before you became disabled. In 2025, the maximum amount you can receive in SSDI is $4,018 per month, but the average amount is much less, at $1,580. This discrepancy is due to the wide variation in employment history and earnings between beneficiaries.

SSI monthly benefits are equal to the federal benefit rate—$967 per month in 2025—minus any countable income you have in that month. Many states provide a modest supplemental benefit amount to the federal benefit rate, depending on your living situation.

How to Apply for Disability Based on Peripheral or Diabetic Neuropathy

If you're applying for SSDI, you can file your whole claim online using Social Security's web portal. Applying online is generally the fastest and easiest way to apply for benefits. You don't have to finish it all at once—just keep track of the "re-entry" number the agency provides you with when you first begin the application so you don't have to start all over again.

If you're applying for SSI, you can also file online (in some circumstances). Social Security recently created a streamlined version of the entire SSI application with as few as 12 questions, depending on your answers. But you can only use the online SSI application if you haven't been married or applied for SSI before, whether for yourself or for a child. The agency plans to expand this online application process in the near future.

Both SSDI and SSI applications can be filed by calling 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0078) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and speaking with an agency representative. You can also apply in person at your local Social Security field office. Field offices are typically open weekdays, 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. Some require that you make an appointment before you visit, so it's helpful to call ahead and check.

What If Your Neuropathy Doesn't Qualify You for Benefits?

Keep in mind that most disability claims aren't approved on the first try ("initial determination"). Because peripheral and diabetic neuropathy are both progressive conditions, many claimants who don't quite meet Social Security's definition of disability when they apply may have had their functioning deteriorate noticeably by the time they're scheduled for a disability hearing—which can often be up to two years after their application date.

Try not to get too discouraged if you've received a denial letter, even if it's your second time. Most disability claims are approved at the hearing stage, where you can benefit from having an experienced disability lawyer representing you. Consider bringing the denial letter to a consultation with an attorney and going over it together. The attorney should be able to spot any weaknesses in your case (such as missing medical evidence) and identify what strengths should be brought to the disability judge's attention.