4.2 Google RatedAt Pekas Smith: Arizona Disability Attorneys, we help individuals with diabetes secure the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits they deserve. If your condition prevents you from working, a SSDI lawyer specializing in representing individuals with diabetes can guide you through every step of the process—from the initial application to appeals.
Call us now at 602.737.1022 or message us for a free consultation to find out if you qualify and what’s involved in bringing a case.
Social Security Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program that provides monthly income to individuals who can no longer work due to a disabling medical condition that’s expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book is the official guide for evaluating disability claims for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Typically, to qualify for SSDI, you must:
- Have a medically determinable disability that prevents you from engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
- Have earned enough work credits through previous employment covered by Social Security taxes
Once approved, you’ll receive monthly payments and may also qualify for Medicare after a waiting period. Our Arizona disability lawyers are experts in handling these claims and can help with your case.
SSDI for People With Diabetes
If your diabetes prevents you from substantial, gainful employment, you may qualify to get Social Security Disability Insurance. However, qualification is not automatic. Your medical condition or a combination of health conditions must prevent you from working.
You may be eligible if diabetes has caused complications such as:
- Amputation
- Retinopathy, vision loss
- Heart failure and other cardiovascular complications
- Digestive complications, intestinal necrosis
- Diabetic nephropathy, kidney damage
- Infection
- Nerve damage, neuropathy
- Cognitive impairment
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders
- Other medical complications
These are just some of the medical complications that may qualify you for Social Security Disability based on diabetes. If your current condition and related complications prevent you from working, you may qualify for SSDI.
Statistics show that 20-30% of people with diabetes report work disabilities, and about 4% of working-age adults receive SSDI benefits. This makes individuals with diabetes more likely to be on work disability than the general population.
A diabetes SSDI lawyer from our law firm can help you build a strong case that meets the SSA’s criteria.
SSDI Benefits for Diabetes
Diabetes falls under Section 9.00 of the Social Security Disability Adult Listings. The Listings are used to evaluate disabilities for determining SSDI eligibility—section 9.00 covers endocrine disorders, including diabetes mellitus (DM).
Someone may receive disability for:
- Type I
- Type II
- Gestational diabetes
- Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
- Steroid-induced diabetes
The different conditions are evaluated in terms of how they impact a person’s health and ability to work, not simply by the type of diabetes itself.
Section 9.00(B)(5) explains that diabetes interrupts the production of insulin and other regulating hormones. It acknowledges type 1 and type 2 diabetes as chronic disorders with the potential for disabling complications.
The guidelines say that while diabetes can be controlled, it often is not. When diabetes leads to impairments that impact the ability to work, evaluating the impairments under the bodily system affected is appropriate.
How Diabetes is Evaluated for SSDI Benefits
The Social Security Administration uses a five-step process to evaluate SSDI applications for diabetes:
1. Are You Working?
If you’re earning above the Substantial Gainful Activity limit, you might not be considered disabled and, therefore, not eligible for benefits.
2. Is Your Diabetes a Severe, Medically Determinable Impairment?
Medical findings may show a severe, medically determinable impairment, but symptoms alone are insufficient. You must show that diabetes or a combination of impairments significantly limits basic work activities. Without a severe impairment, there is no disability.
3. Do Your Complications Meet or Equal a Listing?
Diabetes is not a listed impairment in the SSD Blue Book, but a person’s impairments may equal a listing for an affected body system. The support of an expert diabetes SSDI lawyer can be key.
4. What Is Your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)?
If your medical condition doesn’t equal a listing, you could still qualify based on residual functional capacity. Most diabetes-based applications reach this criterion.
RFC assesses the combined effects of diabetes and other medical conditions. In step four, examiners consider whether you can perform any work you have done in the past.
5. Can You Do Any Other Work?
If you can’t do past work because of your residual functional capacity limitations, examiners look at whether you can perform any type of work. The work must exist in significant numbers in the economy.
A successful claim for SSDI benefits for diabetes must present medical evidence to satisfy the criteria. Medical records, laboratory and test results, and factual information about the ability to work may be critical to a claim. Your residual functioning capacity should be fully explained and verified with medical evidence.
As your lawyers, we build the evidence, understanding the legal criteria and the necessary medical evidence to make a claim successful.
How to Get SSDI for Diabetes
To get SSDI for diabetes, you complete an application to apply for disability. The application explains your work history, your medical impairment, and how it prevents you from working.
You will need to have a qualifying work history or qualification based on a spouse or parent’s working history. Because SSDI for diabetes is not a partial or short-term disability, you must show that you can’t perform an SGA and that your condition is expected to last at least a year or cause death.
If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. You may appeal for medical or non-medical reasons. You may also reapply.
Many individuals face denials because the process is complex, and the SSA requires extensive medical documentation. This can be frustrating and overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
At Pekas Smith: Arizona Disability Attorneys, we specialize in helping clients overcome denials and secure the benefits they deserve. We’ve successfully guided countless people through appeals, turning denied claims into approved benefits. With our experience, we know what it takes to win even the most challenging cases.
Struggling to Get Disability for Diabetes? We Can Help
Our team helps people with all aspects of a diabetes disability benefits claim. A diabetes SSDI lawyer for Pekas Smith can:
- Determine if you qualify for benefits
- Gather and present the medical evidence needed for an application
- File an application
- Represent you at a hearing
- Identify and avoid mistakes in the application process
- Appeal if your claim has been denied
- Represent you in a benefits review
We can intervene at any stage of your case, whether you’re applying for the first time or appealing a denial.
The process for applying for disability is complicated. Many people get denied because they don’t know what to do or what information to provide. Our lawyers for diabetes disability benefits can begin at any stage in your case and take care of everything.
Start Your Free SSDI Consultation
Pekas Smith: Arizona Disability Attorneys work to achieve outcomes for our clients. Our legal skills and knowledge can give you an advantage as you seek the SSDI benefits you need and deserve.
Our Arizona Disability Attorneys can improve your chances by helping you:
- Build a compelling case backed by strong medical evidence
- Prepare Residual Functional Capacity forms with your doctors
- Navigate complex appeals if you’ve been denied
Contact our SSDI team to learn about our legal services and how a diabetes SSDI lawyer can assist you with an application.
We are taking new cases now, and we can represent you starting at any stage in your case. Call 602.737.1022 or message us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are so many diabetes SSDI claims denied?
Filing for SSDI benefits due to diabetes isn’t as simple as submitting a diagnosis. The Social Security Administration has strict criteria, and many applications are denied due to avoidable mistakes.
Common reasons for denial include:
- Lack of detailed medical evidence: Simply stating you have diabetes isn’t enough; you need thorough documentation showing how it limits your ability to work.
- Complications not properly documented: Issues like neuropathy, vision loss, or kidney damage must be clearly linked to your diabetes and supported by medical records.
- Misunderstanding SSA’s strict criteria: The SSA focuses on how your condition affects your ability to perform daily work tasks, not just your diagnosis. Without the right narrative and evidence, strong cases often get overlooked.
Working with an experienced diabetes disability lawyer can significantly improve your chances of approval.
What medical evidence is required for a diabetes SSDI claim?
To file a successful SSDI claim for diabetes, you’ll need to provide comprehensive medical documentation. This includes records showing your diabetes diagnosis, lab results (such as blood sugar levels and kidney function tests), proof of complications like neuropathy or retinopathy, and your treatment history.
RFC forms from your doctor and detailed medical records are essential to demonstrate the limitations caused by your condition. While self-reported symptoms like fatigue and pain can be part of your case, they must be supported by objective medical evidence.
Can mental health issues related to diabetes help my claim?
Yes, mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or cognitive impairments caused by diabetes can be included in your claim. These conditions can further limit your ability to work, making your claim stronger, especially if you’re assisted by a diabetes SSDI lawyer.
Can I work part-time and still qualify for SSDI?
Yes, as long as your earnings do not exceed the Substantial Gainful Activity limit. In 2025, the SGA limit is $1,620 for non-blind individuals. If your income is above this threshold, it may affect your eligibility.
How long does it take to get approved for diabetes SSDI benefits?
The approval process for SSDI can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for an initial application. If your claim is denied, the appeals process may extend the timeline significantly—sometimes over a year. Having an experienced diabetes SSDI lawyer can help speed up the process and improve your chances of approval.
Additionally, if your claim is denied, you must file your appeal within 60 days from the date of the denial notice. If you miss this deadline, you may be forced to restart the application process from the beginning.
How much does it cost to hire a diabetes SSDI lawyer?
At Pekas Smith, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and our fee is only a percentage of your back pay if we win your case. You won’t have to worry about paying unless we secure your benefits.
What happens if I don’t have enough work history to qualify for SSDI due to diabetes?
If you don’t have enough work history to qualify for SSDI on your own, you may be able to qualify based on your spouse’s or parent’s work history, depending on your circumstances. This is called derivative SSDI, and Arizona disability lawyers can help you explore this option.
