Important: We completely updated this article in October 2024 based on a fact check with the Social Security Administration. Sciatic nerve pain affects up to 2 in every 5 of us at some point in our lives. But is sciatica a disability that can help you qualify for Social Security before you’re 67? It just depends on whether yours is mild, persistent, or severe. If you’re interested in getting disability for sciatica because you cannot continue working with chronic pain, then keep reading.
Does Sciatica Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Musculoskeletal disorders (which is the category sciatica falls under) frequently qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Because most cases are mild or have several effective treatments, many people can keep performing substantial gainful activity. (SGA is a term the Social Security Administration uses to define supporting yourself financially through full-time work.)
If sciatica is severe enough and untreatable, however, then yes, you may qualify for disability benefits. To qualify for disability, you must prove your inability to work for more than 12 months, specifically for health reasons.
Sciatica is a symptom of spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis happens when your spinal canal narrows and exerts pressure on your spinal cord and the surrounding nerves. The SSA specifically lists that condition as a qualifying disability.
Your odds of qualifying for disability for sciatica might also increase if you have a herniated disc.
Of course, severe or chronic pain can often cause its own complications, including:
- An inability to sleep or rest
- Fibromyalgia
- Muscle weakness
- Depression or anxiety
How Much Money Can You Get in Monthly Disability?
Approved claims can receive no more than $3,822 in monthly benefits for 2024. However, the average amount for people currently getting SSD payments is closer to $1,537.
Learn about all possible disability benefits that may be available to you, depending on your situation.
Medical Documentation You’ll Need to Support Your Disability for Sciatica Claim
To prove that sciatica stops you from working for at least 12 months, you will need:
- An evaluation by a doctor
- Official medical diagnosis
- Test results that prove that your symptoms specifically make you unable to work despite regular medical treatments
A doctor might perform a variety of mobility tests to provide medical records supporting your claim, such as:
- Straight leg raise
- Crossed straight leg raise
- Femoral stretch
- Imaging tests (i.e., MRI, CT scan, X-ray)
- Electromyography and nerve conduction studies may also prove helpful to your case
Other Things to Consider Before You File for Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) only pays benefits to people who:
- Cannot work for at least 12 months in a row, specifically due to a medical condition.
- Have enough recent work history to be technically eligible. This means you have 40 Social Security work credits, which you must have to qualify. You can earn no more than 4 of these credits every year by working and paying Social Security payroll taxes.
- Haven’t yet started drawing any Social Security. Since SSDI is strictly for disabled workers who are too young to draw regular retirement, you cannot receive both payments. Federal law says the SSA can only make one payment based on the work record associated with an individual’s SSN.
If you can’t meet those requirements, you may still potentially file for Supplemental Security Income disability payments. Learn more about the SSI eligibility rules here.
How to Apply for Benefits
You can file your claim online, in person at a local Social Security office, by phone, or through a disability lawyer. That last option is the only one that speeds up your claim review timeline and boosts your odds of success.
Important: If you choose to apply for SSI instead of SSDI, you cannot file your claim online. You should instead visit a local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213 to speak to a Social Security agent directly.
Get Free Expert Help Filing Your Disability Sciatica Application
Most people are denied disability benefits the first time they apply. However, claimants working with an attorney are 3x more likely to receive approval and their first payment within 6 months.
Since it’s not easy to qualify for Social Security disability for sciatica, you should consult a lawyer before you file. A Social Security attorney can review your paperwork and tell you whether you’re eligible before you start the application process. This consultation is always free and starts with just one private phone call.
Not sure you can afford an attorney to help with your claim? Every disability lawyer in our network provides help on contingency. That means you owe $0 if the SSA doesn’t award you benefits. But if your claim’s successful, you’ll only owe one small fee taken out of your backpay award.
We can connect you with a local disability advocate for a free consultation at no cost to you. When you’re ready to get started, simply click the button below to see if you may qualify:
Get Your Free Benefits Evaluation
Lisa Allen is a writer and editor who lives in suburban Kansas City. She holds MFAs in Creative Nonfiction and Poetry, both from the Solstice Low-Residency Program in Creative Writing at Pine Manor College. Prior to becoming a writer, Lisa worked as a paralegal, where she specialized in real estate in and around Chicago.
