Unfortunately, disability and addiction tend to go hand in hand. This can wreak havoc on an individual and/or an entire family and leave them wondering where they can turn for help. In 1996, the Social Security Act was amended so that those suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism were no longer eligible for disability benefits if their condition prevented them from working.
Today, if your drug addiction or alcoholism is a material factor in your disability, you are not eligible to receive benefits. However, if you have conditions that are not caused – or made worse – by drug or alcohol use, and those conditions are severe enough to meet Social Security’s requirements for disability, you may still qualify.
It is also important to note, however, that if you have a drug addiction or alcoholism condition, Social Security is going to look to see if there are reversible effects of the drug or alcohol use – these effects and impairments will be eliminated from consideration of disability. If there are irreversible impairments or damages from drug or alcohol use, Social Security will look at those to determine the severity of one’s impairment.
If you have drug or alcohol use that is secondary to other disabling conditions, then any substance use or abuse is not material to the claim and should not prevent you from being able to receive disability benefits.
If you’re concerned about how any prior or current drug or alcohol use will impact your claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, contact a lawyer today.