Alcohol Dependence and Qualifying for Disability Benefits

Can I get disability benefits if I am suffering from the effects of Alcoholism?

Is a person with alcohol use disorder disabled?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) a person is considered disabled if the individual is an alcoholic or a recovering alcoholic.

Consequently, they may be entitled to accommodation in the workplace if they are qualified to perform the essential functions of a job. The Social Security Administration, however, does not automatically consider alcohol use disorder a disability and it is not listed as a disabling medical condition in Social Security’s Blue Book.

Is a person with alcohol use disorder eligible for Social Security Disability Income?

Since alcohol use disorder is not considered an impairment, an applicant would not qualify for SSDI with alcoholism alone.

However, an applicant may be eligible if they have physical or mental limitations that were caused by the use of alcohol and those limitations impede their ability to function in a work situation. If an applicant’s medical condition matches the criteria of an impairment listing, and if applicant would still have the same functional limitations if they stopped drinking, the applicant would be considered disabled.

How does Social Security evaluate disability when alcoholism is a contributing factor?

First Social Security will examine the medical evidence of alcoholism and decide if alcoholism is a contributing factor to the determination of disability.

The most important element in this evaluation is whether or not Social Security would find the applicant disabled if they stopped using alcohol. Social Security will evaluate the applicant’s current physical and mental limitations to determine limitations the applicant would still experience if they no longer used alcohol. “If we determine that your remaining limitations would not be disabling, we will find that your drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability. If we determine that your remaining limitations are disabling, you are disabled independent of your drug addiction or alcoholism and we will find that your drug addiction or alcoholism is not a contributing factor material to the determination of disability.” This means that if your limitations are 1) caused by alcoholism and are considered reversible and 2) you don’t have any other functional limitations that would qualify for disability benefits, you would not be considered disabled and your application would be denied. To be considered disabled by Social Security, you must prove that you experience limitations even if you are not longer using alcohol.

How can I be approved for SSDI with alcoholism?

It cannot be emphasized enough that if you are still drinking and the Social Security Administration believes that if you stopped drinking your medical condition would improve to the point where you would be able to work, you will not be considered disabled and Social Security will deny your claim.

The best possibility for approval is if you can link your medical condition to the requirements of a listed impairment; many of the diseases and disorders caused by excessive alcohol consumption are covered, but you must be able to prove that you experience the same limitations even without alcohol use.

As with any other medical disorder, it’s essential to provide complete records documenting all your medical conditions including physical exam notes, laboratory results, psychological evaluation reports and records of hospitalizations.

Because alcoholism is not considered a disability by itself, Social Security will evaluate how associated impairments (liver disease, etc.) limit your ability to work. For example, if you have liver disease, you may experience severe abdominal pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. Social Security will conduct a residual functional capacity assessment (RFC) to evaluate your ability to perform routine movement and necessary physical activity in a work environment. Social Security uses the RFC assessment to determine what jobs an applicant can still do, if any. If there is some type of work you can still perform, your claim will be denied, but if Social Security finds there is no job you can do, you may be awarded benefits under a “medical-vocational allowance.”

Alcoholism is a serious medical condition which impacts an individual’s employment as well as their personal life.

If you are unable to work because of the effects of alcoholism, whether or not you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits is a difficult question to answer. An attorney experienced in Social Security Disability can help you evaluate your case and your chances for approval.