Is Degenerative Disc Disease a Disability? How to Qualify
Yes, degenerative disc disease (DDD) can qualify as a disability. But approval is not automatic. The Social Security Administration only awards benefits when DDD prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity.
Back and spine conditions are some of the most common reasons people apply for disability benefits. Degenerative disc disease is frequently part of those claims. However, Social Security often denies these cases when the medical evidence does not show severe or lasting work-related limitations.
To qualify, your records must show more than degeneration on imaging. Social Security requires clear medical documentation showing that treatment hasn't improved your symptoms enough to allow you to work full-time. They also expect proof that your limitations affect basic job requirements, such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, or attendance.
Keep reading to learn more about degenerative disc disease and how the Social Security Administration evaluates the condition when processing disability claims.
Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs between the bones of your spine begin to wear down over time. These discs act as shock absorbers, helping your spine move and bear weight. As they lose height and hydration, the spine can become less stable, and nearby nerves may become irritated or compressed.
For some people, this causes stiffness or mild discomfort. For others, it leads to ongoing chronic back pain and functional problems that interfere with work and daily activities.
What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?
DDD usually develops gradually as part of the natural aging process, but injuries, repetitive motion, or genetics can make it worse. When the spinal discs wear down, the space between your vertebrae narrows. That can lead to inflammation, nerve compression, and other spinal problems.
It’s also common for DDD to overlap with conditions that can increase pain and limit mobility, including:
Herniated discs: The soft inner part of a disc bulges out and presses on a nerve
Spinal stenosis: The spinal canal narrows and causes leg pain or numbness
Bone spurs or arthritis changes: The body forms extra bone that irritates nearby nerves
Spinal arachnoiditis: Chronic inflammation of spinal nerves that can cause severe, persistent pain, numbness, or difficulty moving
These conditions can turn routine movements, such as sitting at a desk or climbing stairs, into constant pain.
Common Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease symptoms vary based on which part of the spine is affected and how severe the degeneration is. Some people experience symptoms primarily in the neck and shoulders. Others experience lower back pain that radiates into the hips or legs.
Typical symptoms include:
Persistent back or neck pain
Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, or lifting
Tingling, muscle weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs
Pain flare-ups that last for weeks or months
If your DDD also causes spinal stenosis, you might notice that standing or walking makes symptoms worse. Meanwhile, sitting or leaning forward helps relieve pain. These patterns can become key evidence in your disability claim.
Qualifying Degenerative Disc Disease as a Disability
Social Security doesn’t award benefits for medical conditions alone. It looks at how your symptoms limit your ability to work. The agency wants to know whether your back or neck problems prevent you from performing “substantial gainful activity,” or SGA.
If you can’t maintain consistent attendance, stay on task, or perform basic physical activities without breaks, you may qualify for disability benefits. There are two types: SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income).
Eligibility for SSDI and SSI
Both SSDI and SSI use the definition of disability:
You can’t perform substantial gainful activity because of your medical condition.
Your impairment has lasted or is expected to last at least one year (or result in death).
Whether and how you qualify depends on the program and your individual circumstances. The Social Security Administration applies the same medical standard to both programs. It's your work history and income that qualify you for one or both.
SSDI is based on your work history. To qualify, you must have earned enough work credits and fit the definition of disabled to receive benefits. Even then, you still need to prove your case.
SSI is a needs-based program for people with limited income and assets under a certain amount. Work history is not required, but the same medical standard applies. Supplemental Security Income benefits also include Medicaid to help pay for medical expenses.
Some applicants are evaluated for both SSDI and SSI simultaneously, depending on their work experience and financial situation. However, most only receive one form of assistance.
How Social Security Evaluates DDD Under the Blue Book Listings
Social Security evaluates degenerative disc disease under its musculoskeletal listing in the Blue Book. The listings most often used in DDD cases are:
Listing 1.15: disorders of the skeletal spine resulting in compromise of a nerve root(s)
Listing 1.16: lumbar spinal stenosis resulting in compromise of the cauda equina
To meet one of these medical listings, Social Security requires detailed evidence of your condition. That typically includes imaging confirming nerve compression (e.g., CT scans), clinical findings such as weakness or sensory loss, and documented limitations affecting mobility or fine motor function.
These listings are intentionally strict. Many people with degenerative disc disease do not meet them exactly. However, the condition's effects can still be significant.
If You Don’t Meet a Listing: Proving Disability With an RFC
If your degenerative disc disease does not meet a Blue Book listing, you have another option. The Social Security Administration can evaluate your claim using a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment. RFC assesses what you can still do on a regular, sustained basis despite your symptoms.
In DDD cases, this evaluation focuses on how your spinal condition affects your ability to perform basic work demands. Common areas Social Security reviews include:
How long you can sit, stand, or walk without an assistive device
Whether you need to change positions or take unscheduled breaks
Limits on lifting, bending, reaching, or twisting
How often pain flare-ups, treatment, or appointments disrupt attendance or productivity
After identifying these limits, Social Security reviews the medical record to determine whether they are supported. Symptoms alone are not enough. Your RFC must be supported by objective medical evidence demonstrating that these limitations are ongoing and have not improved sufficiently with treatment to allow full-time work.
That evidence commonly includes:
Medical imaging that shows disc degeneration, spinal cord stenosis, nerve root compression, herniation, or nerve involvement
Physical exam findings such as reduced strength, sensory changes, reflex loss, or limited range of motion
Treatment records that document what you have tried and how you responded
Statements from treating physicians and other healthcare providers that describe specific work-related restrictions
Consistency is critical. When your medical records repeatedly document the same limitations over time, your RFC becomes much harder to dismiss.
Steps to File a Social Security Disability Claim
Applying for Social Security disability benefits with degenerative disc disease can feel overwhelming, especially when chronic pain, treatment, and daily limitations already take a toll.
The process involves detailed paperwork, long wait times, and multiple decision points. Knowing what to expect can help you avoid unnecessary setbacks and understand where claims often break down.
Step 1: Filing the Initial Application
You can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
Online through the Social Security Administration website
By phone at 1-800-772-1213
In person at your local Social Security office (appointments recommended)
Before you apply, gather your documentation. This includes treatment provider information, imaging results, medications, and work history. Each piece is essential for making your case.
Step 2: Social Security Reviews Your Claim
After you apply, Social Security reviews your application. They check your medical history, work history, and application responses against their disability criteria. This review looks at whether your condition meets the agency’s medical standards and whether your physical limitations allow full-time work.
Initial decisions often take several months. During this time, you may receive requests for additional information or be scheduled for a consultative exam.
Step 3: Be Prepared for a Possible Denial or Appeal
Many initial disability claims are denied. A denial does not necessarily mean you are not disabled. It often means Social Security believes the evidence does not clearly support the level of limitation required under its rules. If your claim is denied, you generally have 60 days to request reconsideration.
How a Disability Lawyer Helps Strengthen Your Degenerative Disc Disease Claim
Degenerative disc disease claims often depend on how clearly your medical records and work limitations are documented. Spine cases receive especially close review. Many valid claims are denied when records are incomplete or when limitations are not clearly explained.
At Impact Disability Law, we focus exclusively on Social Security Disability cases. We understand how the SSA evaluates degenerative disc disease. We also know what decision-makers need to see to understand how your condition affects your ability to work.
Here’s how we help strengthen DDD disability claims:
Gather and organize medical records so your treatment history and functional limitations are clear.
Complete applications, forms, and responses accurately to avoid preventable delays
Present residual functional capacity evidence that shows how DDD affects sustained work.
Manage deadlines and represent you through appeals and hearings, if needed.
We know how draining this process can be when you are already managing pain, appointments, and financial stress. Our role is to handle the legal and procedural burden so you don't have to. We'll ensure your claim moves forward and your case is clear, accurate, and compliant.
If degenerative disc disease is keeping you from working, we can help you get the SSDI benefits you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.