Understanding Chronic Pain and Social Security Disability

Chronic pain refers to persistent pain that lasts for months or even years, often resulting from underlying conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, or neuropathy. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, your condition must meet the SSA’s disability criteria. Simply having chronic pain isn’t enough on its own; the pain must severely limit your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA), which means you cannot earn above a certain monthly threshold through work.

The SSA’s Criteria for Chronic Pain Claims

To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to chronic pain, the Social Security Administration (SSA) must determine that your pain is severe enough to interfere with your ability to perform basic work activities. This involves meeting certain medical criteria.

Medical Documentation of Chronic Pain

One of the most crucial elements of proving your claim for Social Security Disability is providing detailed medical evidence. The SSA will need to see that your chronic pain is well-documented by healthcare professionals. Here are key things to consider:

• Doctors’ Notes:
  Your doctor’s reports should explain how your pain affects your physical and mental ability to work. The more detailed the documentation, the better. Include information about the intensity, frequency, and duration of your pain, as well as any treatments or medications you’ve tried.
• Objective Medical Evidence:
  While chronic pain is often subjective (meaning it’s based on how you feel), the SSA generally prefers objective medical evidence to support your claim. This could include imaging results (like MRIs or X-rays) or lab results that show an underlying cause for the pain, such as degenerative disc disease or joint damage.
• Treatments and Their Effects:
  The SSA will also want to know what treatments you have tried (such as physical therapy, medication, or surgery) and whether those treatments have been effective in managing your pain. If treatments haven’t provided relief, it strengthens your case for disability benefits.

Proving Your Chronic Pain Limits Your Ability to Work

The SSA evaluates whether your chronic pain affects your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,470 per month for non-blind individuals. If you are working and earning more than this amount, the SSA may consider you capable of working, which can lead to a denial of your claim.

To qualify for SSD benefits with chronic pain, you must show that your pain prevents you from performing work-related tasks, such as:

• Standing, sitting, or walking for extended periods
• Lifting or carrying objects
• Concentrating or focusing for long hours
• Pushing, pulling, or bending

If your chronic pain makes it difficult or impossible to perform these tasks, it can strengthen your claim for Social Security Disability.

The SSA’s Five-Step Evaluation Process

When evaluating your chronic pain claim, the SSA follows a five-step process to determine whether you are eligible for Social Security Disability. Here's how it works:

Step 1: Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

If you’re working and earning more than the SGA limit, your claim will likely be denied.

Step 2: Severe Condition

Your chronic pain must be severe enough to significantly limit your ability to work. The SSA will evaluate how your pain affects your daily activities and your ability to engage in basic work tasks.

Step 3: Listed Impairments

The SSA has a list of conditions called the Listing of Impairments. While chronic pain alone is not specifically listed, conditions that commonly cause chronic pain—like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or back disorders—may be listed. If your condition meets the SSA’s criteria for any of these impairments, you may be presumed disabled.

Step 4: Past Work

The SSA will evaluate whether you can still perform your past work despite your chronic pain. If your pain prevents you from doing your previous job, the SSA will move on to the next step.

Step 5: Other Work

Finally, the SSA will determine if there is any other work you could do, given your pain and limitations. If the SSA determines that you can’t perform any work at all, you may be approved for benefits.