Living with an eating disorder can affect far more than a person’s relationship with food. Severe weight loss, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and co-occurring mental health conditions can make it difficult, or even impossible, to maintain regular employment. As a result, many people wonder: Is my eating disorder a disability?
In some cases, the answer is yes. If an eating disorder prevents you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security benefits. Below, we’ll discuss anorexia nervosa, how the Social Security Administration evaluates it and other eating disorders, and how you can build a strong case for the benefits you deserve.
Claim what you worked for.
Is an eating disorder a disability? In this article, we discuss:
Key Takeaways
- Eating disorders can qualify for SSDI benefits when they cause severe physical or psychological limitations that prevent a person from working.
- Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders may be considered disabling if they meet Social Security’s medical and functional criteria.
- Strong medical evidence is essential and should document both your eating disorder diagnosis and how the condition affects your ability to function in daily life and at work.
What is an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts or emotions. These disorders often involve a distorted relationship with food, body weight, or body image.
Eating disorders affect up to 9% of the U.S. population. While they can develop at any stage of life, they are most commonly diagnosed in adolescent girls and young women. Some of the most common eating disorders include:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge-eating disorder
- Avoidant/restrictive food disorder
Severe eating disorders can cause significant physical and psychological complications that interfere with a person’s ability to work, attend school, maintain relationships, or perform daily activities.
Among the various eating disorders recognized by medical professionals and the Social Security Administration (SSA), anorexia nervosa is one of the conditions most commonly associated with severe, and often fatal, health complications and functional limitations.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by severe food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body weight or shape. People with anorexia often closely tie their appearance to their self-worth.
Long-term health complications associated with anorexia may include:
- Malnutrition, which can weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to infections
- Cardiovascular complications
- Liver damage
- Osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures
- Hormonal and reproductive health complications
Anorexia can also have severe psychological effects — individuals suffering from anorexia are 18 times more likely to die by suicide.
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Because the disorder can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s physical and mental health, severe cases may make it nearly impossible to maintain regular employment, leading many people to ask if anorexia is a disability eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Is an eating disorder a disability?
The SSA recognizes eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, as serious medical conditions that can qualify you for SSDI benefits. However, this fact does not guarantee you will receive disability benefits for the condition.
The SSA considers specific criteria when evaluating eating disorder SSDI claims, which can make approval challenging for many applicants.
To be eligible for SSDI for an eating disorder, your symptoms must make it impossible to continue working gainfully and interfere with your ability to support yourself.
Your condition must also meet other medical requirements listed in the SSA’s Blue Book. We explain these requirements in more detail below.
How to qualify for SSDI with an eating disorder
Eating disorders are classified as a mental health disorder in the SSA’s list of qualifying impairments, also called the Blue Book, and are listed under Section 12.13.
The SSA applies strict standards to all mental health conditions, including eating disorders.
To qualify for disability benefits, you must show your condition is severe, long-lasting, and prevents you from doing any substantially gainful work. Additionally, you must meet all of the criteria in Section 12.13.
Section 12.13A
To qualify for Social Security benefits with Section 12.13, your medical records must show your eating disorder causes ongoing problems with eating, nutrition, or how your body processes food. These problems must be severe enough to have a significant impact on your physical health, mental health, and ability to function.
Section 12.13B
You must have one “extreme” or two or more “marked” limitations in:
- Understanding, remembering, or using information, such as following instructions, learning new tasks, or making decisions
- Interacting with others, including communicating appropriately with coworkers, supervisors, family members, or the public
- Concentrating and staying on task, such as maintaining focus, completing work, or working at a consistent pace
- Managing yourself, including regulating emotions, adapting to changes, maintaining personal hygiene, and handling everyday responsibilities
The SSA defines an extreme limitation as the inability to function independently, effectively, and consistently. A marked limitation means you can function, but your ability is significantly limited or inconsistent.
Your chances of approval may improve if you have additional qualifying conditions related to anorexia or other eating disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or cardiovascular conditions.
Submitting a complete and detailed application with all the necessary records can help prevent delays, as the approval process can take several months or longer.
What evidence can help your claim?
To build a strong case to support your eating disorder disability application, you can start by reviewing the SSA’s specific criteria and directly linking your symptoms to the requirements listed in the Blue Book. Then you’ll want to gather extensive medical evidence showing your symptoms meet the SSA’s criteria.
Medical evidence can include:
- Medical history reports
- Clinical findings (such as the results of physical or mental status exams)
- Lab results or test results
- Imaging (such as CT scans, x-rays, and MRIs)
- Emergency room visit summaries
- Diagnosis
- Treatment prescribed based on response and prognosis
- A statement from a medical professional on what work activities they believe you are capable of doing despite your condition
- Any treatment information
- Info about your daily activities and capabilities
Submitting thorough medical evidence to support your diagnosis and keeping a personal log detailing how your symptoms impact your daily life and ability to work can also help support your claim. These details add valuable context and make your claim more compelling.
How long does it take to get a disability decision?
When considering how long a disability claim can take, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
The time it takes to get a disability decision depends on several factors, like whether the SSA needs more information to process your claim. On average, the wait for an initial SSDI decision is about 6.3 months, or roughly 193 days.
According to the SSA’s 2024 Annual Report, about 18% of applications were approved at this stage, meaning nearly four out of five claims were denied.
Don’t get discouraged if you’re denied. You can appeal, but be aware that the appeals process can add another six months or more to your wait.
How do I appeal a decision if I was denied?
If your SSDI application is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. According to the SSA, approximately 80% of SSDI claims are rejected at the initial level, often due to insufficient medical evidence, limited work history, or other technical issues. Because the appeals process can take time, it’s important to act quickly – you only have 60 days to file your appeal.
While appealing a denial is always worthwhile, it doesn’t guarantee approval, as many applicants are denied even after multiple appeals. However, working with an experienced disability lawyer can help strengthen your case and improve your chances of success.
How Woods & Woods can help
Having a disability shouldn’t mean losing your peace of mind. At Woods & Woods, we help individuals with disabilities connect with legal help. If you’re seeking SSDI benefits, call us today for a free case evaluation.
Don’t face Social Security alone.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, an eating disorder may qualify as a disability if it causes severe limitations that prevent you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months.
Yes, anorexia can qualify as a disability under Social Security’s rules. If anorexia causes serious health complications or mental health limitations that prevent you from maintaining substantial employment, you may be eligible for SSDI benefits.
Lori Underwood
Lori Underwood received her law degree from Northern Kentucky University. She previously practiced Social Security disability and personal injury law and was a juvenile court attorney.
She has been an attorney at
Woods & Woods since 2014.
