Vivian Marlowe
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly known as alcoholism, is a common substance use disorder that affects millions of Americans annually. While it is no longer considered a disability in itself, those with AUD can qualify for disability benefits if they have a related impairment or illness that would persist even if they stopped drinking. This includes neurocognitive disorders, cirrhosis, peripheral neuropathy, and other irreversible illnesses caused by alcohol consumption. The process of determining whether an individual's impairment is caused by alcoholism is called a drug or alcohol addiction (DAA) determination. The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates claims for disability benefits based on the severity of the impairment and whether it would still be disabling if the individual stopped using alcohol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcoholism considered a disability | No |
| Alcoholism considered a contributing factor to a disability | Yes |
| Conditions caused by alcoholism | Liver disease, heart disease, cancer, peripheral neuropathy, gastritis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, neurocognitive disorders, organic brain syndrome, anxiety |
| Requirements for disability benefits | Must prove that disabling medical problems would exist even after stopping drinking |
| Benefits provided | SSDI, SSI |
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What You'll Learn
Alcoholism and the impact of stopping
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), commonly known as alcoholism, is a medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol consumption despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available. AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe, and is considered a brain disorder.
The impact of stopping alcohol depends on the individual's level of alcohol use disorder. When the effects of alcohol wear off, individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms, including trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, dysphoria, malaise, feeling low, or seizures. These symptoms can be mitigated by a gradual reduction in alcohol consumption, also known as tapering, under medical supervision.
Additionally, stopping alcohol consumption can have a positive impact on an individual's health and well-being. Alcohol misuse can affect the whole body, including the brain, gut, pancreas, lungs, cardiovascular system, and immune system. Reducing alcohol intake can lower the risk of alcohol-associated cancers, such as head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. It can also improve liver function, reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy, and decrease the chances of alcohol-related injuries, violence, poisoning, overdose, and other social harms.
Furthermore, stopping alcohol consumption can improve an individual's mental health and cognitive function. Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways and can affect mood, behaviour, and the ability to think clearly and coordinate movements. By quitting alcohol, individuals may experience improved mood stability, better impulse control, enhanced cognitive abilities, and a reduced risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
It is important to note that stopping alcohol can be a challenging process due to the addictive nature of the substance. Professional support and treatment are often necessary to achieve and maintain sobriety. Treatment options include behavioural therapies, mutual support groups, and medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. Seeking help from healthcare providers or support groups can increase the chances of a successful and sustained recovery.
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Liver disease
Alcohol abuse is a material factor in determining Social Security eligibility. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) focuses on the impact on the disability if the individual ceased abusing alcohol. In other words, if the SSA finds that a person is disabled, they then look at whether they would still be disabled if they stopped using alcohol. If the person would no longer be disabled if they stopped drinking, they would not qualify for benefits.
Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of liver disease in the United States. It can cause acute alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and chronic liver disease. To qualify for Social Security disability benefits for liver disease, the condition must be severe enough to meet or equal the chronic liver disease listing in the SSA's Blue Book. The SSA CLD score is calculated using formulas that include three laboratory values: (1) serum total bilirubin (mg/dL), (2) serum creatinine (mg/dL), and (3) International Normalized Ratio (INR). All of the required laboratory values must have been obtained within 30 days of each other.
To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, a person must also show how their liver disease affects their ability to work. Generally, a person may be considered disabled by the SSA if they are unable to work for a period of 12 months or longer due to a medical condition or mental health condition, or if their condition is expected to be terminal. The SSA uses a five-step sequential process to determine if a person is disabled:
- If the person is working, they cannot earn more than a set amount, known as substantial gainful activity (SGA). For 2022, SGA was $1,350 for people who are not blind.
- The person's impairment or combination of impairments must significantly limit their ability to perform basic work and is either expected to last for a year or longer or to result in death.
- The SSA determines whether the person's liver disease is severe enough to meet or equal the chronic liver disease listing.
- The SSA determines the person's residual functional capacity (RFC), or their ability to perform work-related activities despite their limitations.
- The SSA decides whether the person is disabled based on their RFC.
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Mental disorders and addiction
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly called alcoholism, is one of the most common substance use disorders in the United States, affecting millions of people each year. While alcoholism and drug addiction are no longer considered disabling by themselves, they often co-occur with and may contribute to other mental disorders.
If you are seeking disability benefits for an unrelated impairment, you will need to meet the SSA's stringent listing requirements and pass the DAA (drug or alcohol addiction) determination. This is a process to determine whether your drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor to your disability. If your underlying condition would persist or if your symptoms would remain even if you stopped drinking or taking drugs, then your substance abuse is not a contributing factor to your disability. In this case, you may still be eligible for disability benefits.
If you are seeking disability benefits for a condition caused by substance abuse, you can still qualify as long as the limitations from the condition would persist even when abstaining from drugs or alcohol. For example, cirrhosis caused by excessive alcohol intake often leads to permanent organ damage and can qualify for disability benefits. Other alcohol-related conditions that may qualify include liver disease, heart disease, cancer, peripheral neuropathy, and neurocognitive disorders. However, it is important to note that the severity of the condition will be evaluated, and you will need to meet the Blue Book listing requirements.
It can be challenging to disentangle the effects of substance abuse from mental disorders, and this process is further complicated by the fact that substance abuse can mask underlying mental illnesses. To prove that your mental disorder is disabling, separate from substance abuse, it is helpful to establish a period of sobriety. This allows Social Security to evaluate your mental health symptoms without the interference of drugs or alcohol. A doctor's note from a physician or psychiatrist who has seen you regularly can also be persuasive in supporting your claim.
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Physical disorders and addiction
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly called alcoholism, is one of the most common substance use disorders in the United States. While alcohol use disorder is not in itself a qualifying disability, the chronic, long-term effects of heavy alcohol use can cause significant impairment and disability.
If an individual has developed a qualifying disability due to AUD, such as liver disease, heart disease, or cancer, they may qualify for disability benefits for that condition. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers you disabled if you have a "medically determinable" severe impairment that prevents you from working full-time for at least one year.
To qualify for disability benefits, an individual must show that their disabling medical problems would exist even if they stopped drinking. In other words, the effects of alcohol on their health must be irreversible. For example, cirrhosis caused by excessive alcohol intake often leads to permanent organ damage and can be a qualifying disability. Additionally, alcoholism can cause peripheral neuropathy, which results in pain, weakness, and numbness in the hands and feet. If an individual can show that their neuropathy has a severe, negative impact on their ability to work and function socially, they may qualify for disability benefits.
The SSA will evaluate whether an individual's alcohol use is a contributing factor to their disability through a process called "drug or alcohol addiction (DAA) determination." If the DAA determination shows that the individual's current drinking is causing or worsening their impairment, they will not qualify for disability benefits. For example, if an individual has severe heart disease and their drinking makes the condition worse, they will not be eligible for disability benefits. However, if their drinking is not a contributing factor, and their disability would still be present if they stopped drinking, they may qualify for benefits.
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Applying for disability benefits
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly called alcoholism, is one of the most common substance use disorders in the United States, affecting millions of people each year. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considers substance use disorders like AUD a disability because they can cause substantial impairment in a person's daily life.
If you are applying for disability benefits, it is important to note that Social Security will not grant your application based on a diagnosis of chronic alcoholism alone. Instead, you must demonstrate that you have a physical or mental impairment that would still exist even if you stopped drinking. This could include conditions such as liver disease, heart disease, or cancer, which may qualify you for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
To qualify for SSDI or SSI disability benefits, you will need to show that your impairment severely impacts your ability to work and function socially. This could include conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, which is caused by damage to the peripheral nervous system, or anxiety, which is common among those with alcoholism.
The process of applying for disability benefits typically involves submitting an application online, over the phone, or through fax or mail. It can take 3-5 months or longer to receive a decision, depending on how quickly you gather the necessary documents. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal with the help of a disability lawyer or advocate.
Additionally, there are government and state programs that can help people with substance use disorders access free or low-cost treatment, such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Alcohol Treatment Navigator and SAMHSA's Find Help resources.
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Frequently asked questions
Alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD) is not considered a disability by itself. However, if there are related illnesses that are disabling, an individual may qualify for SS disability benefits based on those illnesses.
Some examples of related illnesses caused by alcoholism that could qualify for SS disability include cirrhosis, liver disease, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, and cancer.
The SSA will evaluate whether the individual's disabling medical problems would exist even if they stopped drinking. This is known as a "drug or alcohol addiction (DAA) determination." If the DAA determination shows that the individual's current drinking is causing or worsening their impairment, they will not qualify for SS disability benefits.
The process for applying for SS disability benefits involves filling out an application online, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security office. The SSA will then evaluate your application and determine your eligibility for benefits. This process can take 3-5 months or longer.
If your SS disability claim related to alcoholism is denied, you have the right to appeal. It may be helpful to consult with a disability lawyer, especially if your denial was due to your alcoholism, and you no longer drink or your doctor believes your disability would persist even if you quit drinking.
