Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that results in severe drowsiness and fatigue during the day and being prone to fall asleep at any time. This disorder is extremely unpredictable and can be dangerous. There is no cure, but treatments such as medication and scheduled naps can reduce some of its effects If narcolepsy effects your ability to work full time, you may be able to get Social Security disability benefits.
Is Narcolepsy a Disability?
Yes, narcolepsy can qualify as a disability under the Social Security Administration (SSA) if your symptoms are severe enough to keep you from maintaining full-time work.
While narcolepsy isn’t listed as a standalone condition in the SSA’s Blue Book, you can still get SSDI or SSI benefits by showing medical evidence and proof that your sleep attacks, fatigue, and cataplexy make it unsafe or impossible to perform your job duties.
How Narcolepsy Qualifies for SSDI or SSI
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with narcolepsy, you need to show that your symptoms are severe enough to prevent you from working a full-time job.
Since narcolepsy is not listed as a separate condition in the SSA’s Blue Book, approval depends on how your symptoms, such as excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and sudden sleep attacks affect your ability to focus, stay awake, and work full time.
If your medical evidence shows that your condition limits your productivity, concentration, or ability to maintain regular attendance, the SSA can approve your claim under its rules for neurological disorders or through an assessment of your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC).
Medical Evidence You'll Need
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not recognize narcolepsy as a medical condition in the Blue Book that automatically qualifies you for disability benefits. Therefore, you must provide a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment that provides evidence of your disorder and how it affects your ability to work.
Including certain medical evidence on your RFC may be helpful in proving that you qualify as disabled due to your narcolepsy. This evidence should include results from any sleep studies or tests on your brain, as well as tests based on your family’s medical history of sleep disorders. It is also helpful to keep a sleep journal that details your sleep pattern due to narcolepsy.
Providing the SSA with medical evidence of any doctor’s appointments, treatments, and diagnosis of your narcolepsy will also be helpful in proving your case for disability benefits.
Non-Medical Proof That Helps Your Claim
A complete and thorough RFC will help in proving to the SSA that your narcolepsy makes it unable for you to work.
Your RFC should also detail the ways in which your narcolepsy prevents you from reasonably performing certain job functions. For instance, one of the common treatments for narcolepsy is frequent and regularly scheduled naps, so for you to be able to work at a job, your employer would need to allow these breaks as well as provide a comfortable area for you to sleep.
The SSA also will usually approve disability benefits if your RFC proves that your disorder would result in a 20% decrease in your productivity level. Taking frequent naps, as is recommended, can qualify you under that exception.
Other helpful factors to include on your RFC include statements from the neurologist you see for your narcolepsy that detail how the disorder affects your ability to walk, sit, stand, lift, carry, and more. For example, cataplexy, a common side effect of narcolepsy that affects your muscles, could limit your ability to perform any physically demanding jobs.
Also, narcolepsy usually causes extreme drowsiness, which could make jobs that involve the use of heavy machinery or any safety equipment extremely dangerous for a narcoleptic person.
You should provide the SSA with evidence of any medication you take for your narcolepsy, and make sure that your doctor details the side effects of these treatments on your RFC. These medications may, for example, prevent you from being able to concentrate, complete a number of tasks, and follow directions, which are commonly required abilities at many jobs.
The SSA will review your RFC, as well as your age, education level, and previous work experience, and determine if there is any job that you can reasonably be expected to perform with your narcolepsy. If there is no job you can perform, you will most likely be approved for disability benefits.
Getting Legal Help With a Narcolepsy Disability Claim
Applying for Social Security Disability benefits for narcolepsy can be challenging, especially since the condition isn’t listed as an automatic qualification in the SSA Blue Book. Working with a disability lawyer or advocate can greatly improve your chances of approval. An attorney can help gather medical evidence, strengthen your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC), and communicate with the SSA on your behalf.
Most disability lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. If your narcolepsy causes excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, or frequent sleep attacks that prevent you from maintaining full time work, a lawyer can help you prove that your symptoms qualify you for SSDI or SSI benefits.
FAQs
Is narcolepsy considered a permanent disability?
Sometimes. If your symptoms are chronic and prevent you from maintaining regular employment, the SSA may consider it a long-term disability.
What type of disability is narcolepsy?
It’s usually classified as a neurological disorder that causes excessive sleepiness, cataplexy, and loss of muscle control.
Can I get SSI for narcolepsy if I’ve never worked?
Yes, SSI benefits are based on financial need, not work history.
How do I prove narcolepsy affects my ability to work?
Through sleep studies, doctor statements, and RFC assessments showing how fatigue and sleep attacks limit concentration and safety.
