Is GERD a Disability? How to Qualify for SSDI Benefits
Yes, GERD can be a disability if it’s severe enough that you can’t work full-time. But having a GERD diagnosis isn’t enough to receive benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) looks for proof that your symptoms keep you from working consistently, even with treatment.
If you’re dealing with constant heartburn, flare-ups that wreck your sleep, or difficulty swallowing, you already know how much GERD can control your day. What makes this even harder is that disability claims can take months or even years to process. Many people also get denied at first, even when they’re genuinely struggling.
Below, you’ll learn what counts as GERD, what symptoms impact your claim most, and what Social Security typically wants to see before they approve benefits.
What Is GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)?
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a long-term form of acid reflux. This digestive disorder occurs when stomach acid and food move back up into your esophagus. That irritation can cause burning pain, a sour taste, recurring inflammation, and other physical conditions throughout your digestive system.
Many people get occasional heartburn. GERD is different because it is frequent, persistent, or severe enough that it affects daily living. It can interfere with eating, sleeping, and staying comfortable through a normal day. If GERD is not controlled, it can also lead to more serious problems, such as Barrett’s esophagus, which raises the risk of esophageal cancer.
GERD often develops as a secondary condition. This means it is linked to other health issues or physical factors. Common risk factors include:
Obesity
Pregnancy
Sleep apnea
Hiatal hernia
Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) weakness
Smoking
Certain medications
Some people also notice that mental health conditions like stress, specific foods, or physical strain make symptoms worse.
Because GERD is tied to these factors, it can be hard to control. Symptoms may continue even with treatment. That ongoing pattern is what can make GERD interfere with daily life and, in severe cases, with the ability to work.
GERD Symptoms That Can Interfere with Work
GERD is a chronic condition that's not always predictable. Some days you may feel normal, then a flare hits and you cannot focus, eat, or even sleep. When symptoms keep showing up despite treatment, that pattern can support a disability claim.
Common symptoms include:
Heartburn that is frequent, severe, or lasts for hours
Chest pain, shoulder pain, or burning pressure that disrupts your day and can lead to urgent visits
Regurgitation, including acid coming up into your throat or mouth
Nausea or vomiting, especially during flare-ups, which may cause substantial weight loss
Sore throat, hoarseness, or chronic cough
Symptoms that worsen at night and interrupt sleep
Difficulty swallowing, including pain with swallowing or the feeling that food gets stuck
While these symptoms can disrupt your quality of life, they alone don’t mean you can’t work. It is how often they happen and what they stop you from doing that determines whether you have a valid disability claim.
For example, if you cannot complete a shift without unscheduled breaks, cannot stay on task due to pain and fatigue, or miss work because of GERD complications, the medical condition begins to affect your ability to maintain substantial gainful employment.
Treatment Options for GERD
Treatment for GERD often starts simple, but it can take time to find what truly helps. Some people improve with a few changes. Others keep having flare-ups even when they do everything “right.”
Common treatment approaches include:
Lifestyle changes, like avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals, and not lying down soon after eating
Daily medication, including over-the-counter options and prescription medications, to treat symptom combinations
Specialist care, such as seeing a gastroenterologist for ongoing symptoms
Testing, if your healthcare provider recommends it, to look for inflammation, narrowing, or related issues like a hiatal hernia
Procedures or surgical intervention, especially if symptoms of pain are severe or health complications develop
For disability purposes, treatment history matters because it shows the extent of the impairment. Social Security wants to see that you pursued care and that your symptoms continued anyway.
If your medication only helps slightly, side effects make it hard to get through your daily activities, or symptoms disrupt sleep and eating, those details should be documented in your medical visits.
Can You Get SSDI or SSI for GERD?
Yes, you can qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if GERD is severe enough that you cannot work full-time.
SSDI is based on your work history, while SSI is needs-based and depends on your income and resources. GERD can qualify under either program if your digestive condition meets Social Security’s disability rules.
To be approved for disability payments, Social Security generally needs to see that:
Your GERD has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
Your symptoms continue despite medical treatment.
Your condition limits your ability to perform full-time work consistently.
Social Security does not approve benefits just because you have a diagnosis of GERD. They approve benefits when it causes severe impairment that makes it hard to keep a steady job. This is why many people with serious symptoms are denied at first. The decision often comes down to whether the file clearly shows how severe and persistent the condition really is.
What Social Security Looks For in GERD Claims
Social Security reviews your records to understand how often symptoms occur, the severity of your condition, and whether treatment helps enough for you to work full-time. If the documentation does not clearly show ongoing symptoms and limitations, Social Security may conclude that GERD is manageable.
Even when GERD symptoms are documented, Social Security still looks at how those symptoms affect your ability to function at work. For example, frequent flare-ups may lead to missed days, poor sleep may affect focus and pace, and difficulty swallowing may interfere with eating during the workday.
The key is whether your medical records clearly connect these problems to your day-to-day functioning. That is why the type and consistency of documentation in your file matters so much.
Helpful records often include:
Regular visit notes that include a current diagnosis and describe symptom frequency and severity
Medication history, including changes and side effects
Digestive system specialist visits when symptoms persist
Testing history, including imaging and endoscopy results
Urgent care or emergency room visits for severe flare-ups or chest pain
You do not need every test to qualify. What matters most is that your records consistently reflect what you report in your disability application and clearly show how GERD continues to affect your daily functioning.
How to Apply for Disability Benefits for GERD
You can apply for disability benefits on the SSA's website, via their phone number (800-772-1213), or in person. But how you explain your symptoms and work limits matters much more than how you file.
Step 1: Get Your Basics Together
Before you apply, gather:
Your work history and basic job duties
A list of every clinic, doctor, and hospital you have seen for GERD
The medications you have tried and whether they helped
Test results from procedures like endoscopy or a barium swallow test
If you have been to urgent care or the ER for severe symptoms or chest pain, include those visits too.
Step 2: Be Specific About How GERD Affects Work
Do not stop at “I have GERD.” Explain what it does to your work life. For example:
How often you miss work
How often you need breaks
Whether symptoms disrupt sleep and leave you exhausted
Whether you have trouble eating or swallowing during the day
Details matter because Social Security uses them to decide if you can sustain full-time work.
Step 3: Keep Up with Requests and Appointments
Social Security may ask for more information or schedule an exam. In some cases, they may send you to one of their own doctors, even if you already receive treatment elsewhere. Respond quickly and keep your contact information up to date. Missing a deadline or an appointment can delay your claim or result in a denial.
Step 4: If You Are Denied, Appeal
A denial is common, and it is not the end. The appeals process gives you a chance to add missing records, clarify your symptoms, and explain your work limits more clearly.
How a Disability Lawyer Supports Your GERD Claim
GERD claims can be harder than they look. Symptoms often come and go, and Social Security may treat reflux as manageable unless your limitations are clearly documented and explained.
A disability lawyer can help by:
Pulling together medical records from different providers into a clear, consistent case
Focusing the evidence on work limitations, not just a GERD diagnosis
Identifying missing records or gaps that could weaken a claim
Handling appeals, deadlines, and hearing preparation if you are denied
The goal is not to exaggerate symptoms. It’s to make sure Social Security understands how GERD actually affects your ability to work on a consistent basis.
Let Us Help With Your GERD Disability Application
Disability claims often move slowly, and many people are denied at least once before being approved. That makes how your claim is prepared and presented especially important.
At Impact Disability Law, we help people apply for Social Security disability benefits and appeal denials every day. Whether you are filing your first application or moving forward after a denial, our law firm's free case evaluation can help you understand what Social Security is looking for and organize your claim accordingly.
Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your disability case.