Social Security Disability Benefits for Thyroid Disorders

Your thyroid is an important gland, located in your neck, that produces hormones that help regulate your body's metabolism (how your body uses energy.) When your thyroid is malfunctioning, it can have an impact on many different body systems. You might have difficulty with breathing, digestion, and heart function.

While thyroid disorders are often successfully treated with hormone supplements, if you have complications from a thyroid disease that keeps you from working full-time, you might qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Symptoms of Thyroid Diseases

Thyroid diseases occur when your thyroid gland is either too active, a condition called hyperthyroidism (the prefix hyper means "above normal") or not active enough, a condition called hypothyroidism (the prefix hypo means "below normal").

Hyperthyroidism

Also known as thyrotoxicosis—because the thyroid produces an excessive amount of a hormone called thyroxine—hyperthyroidism can result in changes in your physical appearance such as having an enlarged, bulbous thyroid gland (goiter) and protruding eyes.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

• rapid or irregular heart rate
• high blood pressure
• feeling uncomfortably hot for no reason
• unexplained weight loss or gain
• difficulty sleeping
• fatigue
• shaking or trembling hands, and
• increased irritability.

More severe instances of hyperthyroidism can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and muscle weakness. Hyperthyroidism is commonly caused by an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease.

Hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones are necessary to control metabolism, so when the thyroid gland isn't producing enough thyroid hormones, the results are far-reaching. Hypothyroidism can also result in changes to your physical appearance, such as coarse hair and skin. Severely advanced hypothyroidism is called myxedema and, without medical attention, can result in coma.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• fatigue
• joint and muscle pain
• feeling uncomfortably cold for no reason
• slowed heart rate
• weight gain, and
• mental sluggishness.

Hypothyroidism can be caused by an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto's disease, which causes the body's immune system to attack the thyroid gland. Other causes include pituitary gland failure, congenital defects, irradiation, inflammatory conditions, or thyroid removal.

Can I Get SSDI or SSI Disability Benefits for Thyroid Disease?

Many people are able to successfully control their thyroid disease with medication with little, if any, impact on their activities of daily living. But if you struggle to control your thyroid disease (or related complications) to the extent that you're unable to work full-time for at least twelve months, you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Meeting or Equaling a Blue Book Listing for Thyroid Disease

The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a classification of disorders—the Listing of Impairments, or "Blue Book"—that the agency considers especially serious. Disability applicants whose medical records contain specific evidence of one of these listed impairments can get benefits automatically, without having to show that no jobs exist that they can do.

The SSA has a section for endocrine (hormonal) disorders, including thyroid disease. But unlike other listings, Social Security doesn't evaluate thyroid diseases solely according to the hormonal imbalances they cause. Instead, the SSA will evaluate complications from thyroid disease under the category of listings related to the body system most affected by the hormonal imbalance.

• Thyroid-related heart conditions are assessed under section 4.00 for disorders of the cardiovascular system.
• Thyroid-related weight loss is assessed under section 5.00 for disorders of the digestive system.
• Hypertensive cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) are assessed under section 11.00 for disorders of the neurological system.
• Cognitive limitations, mood disorders, and anxiety cognitive problems are assessed under section 12.00 for mental disorders.

Thyroid cancer does have its own listing (13.09). To meet this listing, you'll likely need to show that your thyroid cancer has spread to other parts of your body. But if you have a rare, aggressive type of thyroid cancer known as anaplastic carcinoma, you can meet this listing (and be awarded benefits quickly) under Social Security's Compassionate Allowances program.

Getting a Medical-Vocational Allowance for Thyroid Disease

If your thyroid disorder doesn't cause complications severe enough to meet a related listing, you can still qualify for disability benefits if you don't have the residual functional capacity (RFC) to work a full-time job. Your RFC is a set of restrictions that reflect the most you're capable of doing, physically and mentally, in a work setting.

The SSA reviews your medical records and your functional limitations to determine what you can do at work and what you should avoid. For people with thyroid disease, restrictions in your RFC might include:

• how much you can lift or carry due to muscle pain
• how long you can walk or stand for due to fatigue
• how often you can use your hands to type or press buttons due to tremors
• what types of environments you can work in due to temperature sensitivity
• whether you can work with coworkers or the public due to irritability, and
• whether you need extra time to do your work due to sluggishness.

All restrictions need to be based on evidence in your medical records, so make sure that you let your doctor know when you're experiencing symptoms related to your thyroid disease. Anything that you leave out in your medical visits won't make it into your RFC, and Social Security uses your RFC to decide whether any jobs exist that you can do.

The agency also must consider the effect of all your impairments combined when determining whether you're disabled, so let the SSA know the names, locations, and dates for treatment for all your medical providers.

How to Apply for Disability Benefits for Thyroid Disease

Social Security provides several methods for you to start your application for benefits.

• File online at ssa.gov. Note that people filing for SSDI can complete their entire application online, but if you're filing for SSI, you'll need to speak with a representative from Social Security before you finish your application.
• File over the phone by calling 800-722-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• File in person at your local Social Security field office.

Even if you're just starting your initial application for disability benefits, consider getting help from an experienced disability attorney or advocate. Your lawyer can help gather and submit your medical documents, handle communications with the SSA, and represent you at a disability hearing.