What Is Considered Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is typically defined as pain that:

• Lasts longer than 3 to 6 months
• Persists beyond the expected healing time
• Interferes with your ability to work or perform daily activities

Common chronic pain conditions that may be the basis for a disability claim include:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Chronic back pain or spinal disorders
• Neuropathic pain
• Migraines
• Autoimmune disorders that cause ongoing pain (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

Can You Qualify for Disability Based on Chronic Pain?

Yes, but the SSA will not approve your claim just because you say you’re in pain. To qualify, your chronic pain must:

• Be tied to a medically determinable impairment (MDI) such as arthritis, degenerative disc disease, or fibromyalgia
• Be severe enough to prevent you from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA)
• Be backed by strong medical documentation, including test results, diagnoses, and treatment history

In many cases, chronic pain is considered part of a larger medical condition or used to show the combined impact of multiple impairments.

How the SSA Evaluates Chronic Pain

Since chronic pain isn’t on the SSA’s official Listing of Impairments, the agency uses a five-step evaluation process:

1. Are you working and earning above the SGA limit?
   If so, you may not be considered disabled.
2. Is your condition “severe”?
   Your pain must significantly limit your ability to work.
3. Does your condition meet or equal a listed impairment?
   If not, the SSA evaluates how your pain affects your functional capacity.
4. Can you perform past work?
   If you can’t return to your old job, the SSA moves to the next step.
5. Can you do any other type of work?
   If your pain rules out all types of employment you’re reasonably suited for, you may be approved for benefits.

Proving Chronic Pain in a Disability Claim

To increase your chances of approval, make sure you have:

• Consistent medical treatment records
• Statements from treating physicians describing how pain limits your abilities
• Records of prescribed medications, therapies, and whether they help
• A clear description of how pain impacts daily life and work tasks
• Support from specialists such as pain management doctors, neurologists, or rheumatologists

Your credibility matters too. Gaps in treatment or vague symptom descriptions can hurt your case.