Is Gout a Disability? How to Qualify for Benefits
Yes, gout can qualify as a disability if it prevents you from working consistently or carrying out basic daily tasks.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t list gout by name in its Blue Book of approved impairments. However, chronic gout that causes ongoing pain, joint damage, or mobility limitations may still qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
If your gout symptoms keep you from walking, standing, or using your hands without pain, or if you’re missing work due to frequent flare-ups, you may be eligible for benefits.
This guide explains what you need to qualify and how a disability lawyer can help improve your chances of success.
What Is Gout?
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. When your body has too much uric acid, sharp crystals may form in your joints. These crystals can trigger sudden and severe pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Gout most commonly affects the big toe, but it can also impact your ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers. Over time, repeated gout attacks can lead to chronic pain, permanent joint damage, and reduced mobility. These symptoms can make even basic tasks difficult, impacting your ability to work or even function daily.
In addition to being painful, gout is a condition that can be unpredictable. A person may feel fine one day and be immobilized the next. The severity and frequency of these episodes determine whether it qualifies as a disabling condition in the eyes of the SSA.
Who’s at Risk for Gout?
Anyone can develop gout for various reasons. However, you may be more likely to develop this type of arthritis if you:
Eat a high-purine diet
Have kidney disease or high blood pressure
Are overweight or diabetic
Take medications like diuretics
Have a family history of gout
Common Symptoms of Gout
Gout typically presents in sudden, painful flare-ups that often begin at night. A single joint may become swollen, red, and extremely tender to the touch. Multiple joints can also flare up simultaneously, mimicking other serious joint conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which feature more systemic symptoms.
Common gout symptoms include:
Intense joint pain, often in the big toe or other affected joint
Swelling, warmth, and redness around the joint
Lingering discomfort between attacks
Stiffness and limited range of motion
Fatigue or low energy, especially during active flare-ups
Some people’s symptoms are occasional and manageable. Others may develop chronic gout, which involves persistent pain, chronic inflammation, limited joint function, and frequent attacks that interfere with everyday life.
Treatment Options for Gout
Treatment for gout focuses on relieving pain, preventing future attacks, and lowering uric acid levels in the blood. It often begins with lifestyle change recommendations to help address some of the risk factors like obesity and high blood pressure.
In many cases, you’ll also receive medication to help lower your uric acid levels and decrease symptoms while you make these changes.
However, even with treatment, many people still experience regular flare-ups or long-term damage. If you still experience debilitating symptoms after receiving (and documenting) treatment from a medical professional, disability benefits are your next step.
Lifestyle Changes
You may be advised to:
Limit alcohol consumption and sugary drinks
Drink more water and stay hydrated
Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid crash diets or fasting, which can trigger attacks
Even with lifestyle changes, many people find they still experience debilitating symptoms. At this point, most people begin a treatment program for additional support.
Medications
Doctors commonly prescribe:
NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) to reduce inflammation
Colchicine to lessen the severity of acute gout attacks
Corticosteroids for rapid relief during severe flare-ups
Uric acid–lowering drugs like allopurinol to prevent recurrence
Unfortunately, side effects from these medications—such as drowsiness, nausea, or increased infection risk—can also affect your ability to work.
Monitoring & Ongoing Care
Chronic gout requires ongoing medical care to monitor uric acid levels and assess joint damage. Long-term untreated gout can lead to tophi, which are hard lumps of uric acid or urate crystals under the skin, kidney stones, or kidney complications.
Can You Get Disability Benefits for Gout?
Yes, if your condition is severe and persistent enough to prevent you from working full-time, you may qualify for disability benefits.
Although gout isn’t specifically listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, it may be evaluated under listings like:
Inflammatory arthritis (Listing 14.09)
Major joint dysfunction (Listing 1.18)
This means the SSA will look at your symptoms, how long they’ve lasted, how they limit your movement or ability to function, and whether they’re expected to continue.
To qualify, you need to show that your medical condition:
Has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months
Prevents you from performing any substantial gainful activity
Causes serious limitations in physical functioning, such as walking, lifting, or standing
Criteria for Getting Disability Benefits With Gout
When reviewing a disability claim for gout, the SSA will look for:
Frequent, documented gout attacks that interfere with daily activities
Imaging (X-rays or MRIs) showing joint damage or deformity
Medical notes from doctors and healthcare providers outlining functional limitations, such as difficulty standing or walking
A history of treatments and whether they’ve helped
Use of assistive devices (like a cane or walker)
Reports of fatigue or inability to maintain a full workday
You may also undergo a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment. This helps determine what types of activities you can still perform and whether your limitations rule out all forms of full-time work.
How to Apply for Disability Benefits
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits when you have gout involves more than just submitting a form. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires strong, detailed evidence that your condition is both severe and ongoing. Here’s how to build a compelling application.
Step 1: Gather Your Medical Records
Medical documentation is the foundation of your claim. You’ll need to show that your gout is a disabling condition that limits your ability to work consistently.
Be sure to collect:
A formal gout diagnosis from your doctor or rheumatologist
Notes about the frequency, duration, and severity of gout attacks
Imaging results (X-rays, MRIs) showing joint inflammation or damage
Blood tests showing high levels of uric acid levels
Records of medical treatment attempts, including medication names, dosages, and side effects
Doctor’s opinions describing how your symptoms affect your daily living and function
Keeping a log of flare-ups and how they affect your ability to move or perform tasks can further support your case.
Step 2: Choose How You Want to Apply
You can file your disability application in one of three ways:
Online: Visit the SSA’s website and complete your application digitally
By phone: Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213
In-person: Schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office
During the application process, be ready to provide detailed information about your work history, education, and the full scope of your medical conditions, not just gout. If you don’t have sufficient work history, you may instead qualify for Social Security Insurance (SSI).
Step 3: Expect a Wait and Be Ready to Appeal
It’s common for initial applications to be denied, even if you clearly meet the criteria. Two-thirds or more applications receive an initial rejection. It’s often due to incomplete medical records or a lack of clear evidence showing how your condition limits you.
If your application is denied:
Submit a Request for Reconsideration within 60 days
Provide any updated medical evidence or test results
Consider working with a disability attorney to guide you through the appeals process
Many people who are initially denied are eventually approved. But it’s not usually alone. Experienced legal support during appeals and hearings greatly improves your chances of approval.
Depending on how many steps into the appeals process you have to go, it can take years to receive Social Security benefits. Fortunately, the SSA may also award back pay for the time spent waiting once your claim is approved.
Get Help With Your Disability Claim
Gout may be an invisible illness to others, but the pain and disruption it causes are real. If you’re dealing with chronic symptoms, struggling to hold a job, or falling behind on bills, disability benefits could provide the support you need.
But the process is complex. You need medical proof, accurate paperwork, and sometimes months or even years of appeals. That’s where legal help can make a meaningful difference.
An experienced disability attorney can:
Help collect and organize your medical evidence
Prepare your forms and avoid common mistakes
Guide you through appeals and hearings
Improve your chances of a favorable outcome
At Impact Disability Law, we’ve helped countless people navigate the Social Security system and secure the benefits they deserve. If gout is keeping you from working, we’re ready to help.
Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward getting the financial support you need.