Is Celiac Disease a Disability? How to Qualify for SSD Benefits

If you live with celiac disease and are unable to work as a result, then you may qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). An estimated one in 100 people worldwide are affected by this autoimmune disease, and half of those diagnosed still experience symptoms even while maintaining a gluten-free diet.

To qualify for benefits, you must understand how the SSA defines celiac disease and what criteria you must meet. We'll discuss all of this and more as we guide you through the process of getting benefits for celiac disease.

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the presence of gluten in the digestive system triggers an immune system response. This can lead to damage of the small intestine and also prevent the body from absorbing vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, potentially resulting in malnutrition and other health issues.

Common types of celiac disease

There are two main types of celiac disease: classical and non-classical.

1. Classical celiac disease: In classical celiac disease, people experience signs and symptoms of the small intestine's impaired ability to absorb nutrients, known as malabsorption. These symptoms may include diarrhea; foul-smelling, fatty, and pale stools, and weight loss.

2. Non-classical celiac disease: In non-classical celiac disease, people experience mild GI upset but don't have clear signs of malabsorption. They may even have symptoms that seem unrelated to celiac disease. Symptoms can include abdominal pain and distension, chronic fatigue, deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals, and reduced bone mass or fractures, among others.

There is also another type of celiac disease known as silent celiac disease or asymptomatic celiac disease. People with this type do not notice any symptoms but still sustain damage to their small intestine and feel improved after switching to a gluten-free diet.

Is celiac disease a disability?

Yes, the SSA considers celiac disease a disability if it prevents you from being able to work. If this is the case, you may qualify for benefits because of your celiac disease.

The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) also considers celiac disease a disability so long as it is substantially limiting. This law, passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

How the SSA defines celiac disease

Celiac disease is not listed in the SSA Blue Book, a resource of qualifying conditions. Still, celiac disease can qualify for disability benefits if you are unable to work due to the severity of your symptoms. 

Symptoms of celiac disease

An autoimmune disorder, celiac disease symptoms can include:

• Abdominal pain

• Bloating and gas

• Chronic diarrhea

• Constipation

• Nausea or vomiting

• Unintended weight loss

It is also possible to have symptoms with celiac disease that are unrelated to the digestive system, such as anemia, osteoporosis, fatigue, joint pain, and nervous system injury.

Can you get disability for celiac disease?

Yes, you can get disability benefits for celiac so long as your condition prevents you from holding a job. To qualify, you must prove this to the SSA, which can be difficult.

It's often easier to qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you include other qualifying conditions you may have in your application. For instance, it's common for people with celiac disease also to have conditions such as:

• Addison's disease

• Autoimmune thyroid disease

• Microscopic colitis

• Sjögren's syndrome

• Type 1 diabetes

For more information on these conditions and others, see our main guide on conditions that qualify for disability.

Criteria for getting disability with celiac disease

To get disability with celiac disease, you must prove to the SSA that you have not been able to work for at least a year because of your condition despite following a treatment plan. You must provide relevant documentation and medical records as part of your case.

Here are two different scenarios in which you could qualify for disability with celiac disease:

Due to past work absences while awaiting a diagnosis Once you begin following a gluten-free diet, symptoms often improve within a year. That said, if it took an entire year or longer to receive a diagnosis, you may be able to receive benefits for that period if you could not work. In this situation, it is still necessary to provide documentation proving that you were following doctors' orders for treatment at that time.

Due to symptoms severe enough that they're functionally equivalent to another qualifying condition Though celiac disease does not have its own listing in the SSA Blue Book, it is also possible to qualify for benefits if your symptoms are severe enough to be functionally equivalent to a related condition that is listed, including:

• Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging from any cause (Section 5.02): You must have had three blood transfusions, at least two units per transfusion, that occurred within a 12-month period and were at least 30 days apart.

• Inflammatory bowel disease (Section 5.06): To qualify for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you must have experienced obstruction in the small intestine or colon, required hospitalization, had anemia, or needed supplemental nutrition.

• Weight loss due to a digestive disorder (Section 5.08): To qualify, you must have a body mass index (BMI) below 17.5 despite following treatment. This BMI must have been calculated twice within a 12-month period, on separate occasions, at least 60 days apart.

6 questions to ask yourself before applying

Before you apply, it can be helpful to gauge your chances of winning benefits. If you can answer “yes” to most of the following questions, then your celiac disease has a good chance of qualifying for disability benefits:

1. Have you undergone testing to confirm your diagnosis?

2. Are your symptoms so severe that you have been unable to work for a year or longer?

3. Do you have proof that you are following doctors' orders for treatment?

4. Do you experience symptoms like fatigue or involuntary weight loss?

5. Is more than one of your organs affected by your celiac disease?

6. Has surgery been necessary to address or prevent complications related to your celiac disease?

My celiac disease meets the criteria. Now what?

If your celiac disease meets the criteria, the next step is to apply for disability benefits. Here's some guidance that can help you decide what to do next if you are less certain:

• Apply now if:

  • If you have a celiac disease diagnosis and your symptoms are not improving even with treatment, to the extent you cannot work because of their severity.

  • You have another health condition that qualifies for disability.

• Consider waiting and applying later if:

  • You haven't stopped working yet, even if you think you may need to eventually.

  • Your celiac disease symptoms are moderate or seem like they are improving as you continue to seek treatment.

• Probably don’t apply if:

  • You earn more than $1,500 a month (the maximum income for 2024).

  • You are still able to work while managing your celiac disease.

What type of benefits should I apply for?

There are two Social Security disability benefits programs you can apply for:

1. Social Security Disability Insurance: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program for people who have worked and paid taxes, including for at least five of the last 10 years.

2. Supplemental Security Income: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is intended for people with limited work history, low income (about $900 per month or less), and few assets (like savings and other valuable property).

Both programs include health insurance, with Medicare offered for SSDI and Medicaid for SSI. To learn more about the different eligibility requirements for these programs, refer to our article on the differences between SSDI and SSI.

What if my celiac disease doesn’t meet the criteria?

Even if your celiac disease doesn't align with the SSA criteria, you can still apply for disability benefits. Just keep in mind as you proceed that you will need to prove through medical records that you cannot work because of your celiac disease.

How much is a disability check for celiac disease?

The average monthly check for celiac disease is $667.40. You could receive more than that monthly amount, as the maximum you can receive in 2024 is $3,822 for SSDI and $943 for SSI.

These upper limits will apply regardless of whether you apply with celiac disease or another condition or how many qualifying conditions you have. Your monthly payment depends on your work history for SSDI and your sources of income for SSI. To get a better sense of your potential monthly benefit earnings with celiac, here's a more in-depth breakdown of how much people make on SSDI and SSI.

Get help applying for disability benefits

A disability lawyer can help you determine the best medical records to prove your disability to the Social Security Administration. A good disability lawyer can also help you submit yoru application and represent you in a hearing. Take our 2-minute quiz to see if you qualify. If you'd like, Atticus can introduce you to a disability lawyer to help you navigate the application process. Applicants with lawyers are three times more likely to secure disability benefits.

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