If you have diabetes that significantly impacts your ability to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.
However, the key point there is that diabetes must affect your ability to work. Simply having a diagnosis isn’t enough — the Social Security Administration requires proof that your condition severely limits your daily functioning or has led to serious complications.
To qualify, you’ll need comprehensive medical documentation. This includes medical records establishing the diabetes diagnosis, a history of treatment, and the presence of complications like neuropathy, vision loss, kidney disease, or frequent hospitalizations due to blood sugar issues. SSA also considers how your condition affects your ability to perform basic work tasks such as standing, walking, concentrating, or using your hands.
Though some of the complications from diabetes are included in the Social Security’s Listings, which automatically qualify for disability, diabetes itself does not have a Listing.
That means you’ll need to establish that you have a residual functional capacity that limits your ability to do any job, not just your previous one.
It’s essential to work closely with your doctors and collect detailed medical records, including lab results and physician notes. Consistency in your treatment and documentation is key to building a strong claim. Social Security will require records of regular treatment with specific limitations to approve a disability claim for diabetes.
And because the disability process can be complex and confusing, having an experienced disability attorney on your side can improve your chances of success.
