Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack your thyroid gland. This often results in hypothyroidism—a condition where your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones to meet your body’s needs. While many people successfully manage Hashimoto’s with medication, some experience debilitating symptoms that make maintaining employment impossible. When symptoms are severe enough to prevent working, Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits may provide crucial financial support.
Can You Qualify for Disability Benefits with Hashimoto’s Disease?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that Hashimoto’s disease can be disabling in certain cases. To qualify for benefits, your condition must:
- Be severe enough to prevent substantial gainful activity (earning more than $1,620 monthly in 2025)
- Have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 consecutive months
- Be unresponsive to appropriate medical treatment
Hashimoto’s disease doesn’t have its own listing in the SSA’s “Blue Book” of impairments. Instead, your application will be evaluated based on your symptoms, medical evidence, and how your condition limits your ability to function in a work environment.
The SSA may consider your claim under related listings if Hashimoto’s has caused complications affecting other body systems. For example, if your condition has led to heart problems, they might evaluate you under cardiovascular listings. Severe depression or cognitive issues resulting from Hashimoto’s could be considered under mental disorder listings.
Symptoms and Complications That Strengthen Your Disability Claim
Hashimoto’s disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, but certain manifestations are particularly relevant to disability claims. Your case will be stronger if you experience severe, persistent symptoms that significantly impact your ability to work.
The most relevant symptoms and complications include:
Physical Symptoms
Severe fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest can be the most disabling aspect of Hashimoto’s disease. When profound exhaustion prevents you from completing a full workday or requires excessive rest periods, it directly impacts your ability to maintain employment.
Joint and muscle pain may severely limit your mobility and ability to perform physical tasks. For jobs requiring physical labor, these symptoms can be particularly limiting.
Cold intolerance and temperature regulation problems can make working in certain environments extremely difficult or impossible, especially in air-conditioned offices or outdoor settings.
Cognitive Symptoms
Many people with Hashimoto’s experience “brain fog”—difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and slowed thinking. These cognitive issues can significantly impair your ability to:
- Complete tasks accurately and efficiently
- Learn new skills or information
- Make decisions and solve problems
- Follow complex instructions
For knowledge workers or those in positions requiring mental sharpness, these symptoms can be career-ending.
Cardiac Complications
Hashimoto’s can lead to serious heart problems, including:
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Enlarged heart (cardiomegaly)
- Heart failure in severe cases
These cardiovascular complications, if documented, can substantially strengthen your disability claim.
Mental Health Impact
Depression and anxiety frequently accompany Hashimoto’s disease. These conditions may be direct results of thyroid dysfunction or natural responses to chronic illness. Either way, they can severely limit your ability to:
- Interact appropriately with coworkers and supervisors
- Handle workplace stress
- Maintain regular attendance
- Complete tasks in a timely manner
Essential Medical Evidence for Your Hashimoto’s Disability Claim
Strong medical documentation is crucial when applying for disability benefits with Hashimoto’s disease. The SSA requires objective evidence of your condition and its impact on your ability to work.
Your application should include:
Diagnostic Testing
Provide comprehensive laboratory results confirming your diagnosis, including:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels
- Free T4 and T3 measurements
- Thyroid antibody tests (TPO and TG antibodies)
- Imaging studies showing thyroid changes (ultrasound or other scans)
Treatment History
Document all treatments you’ve tried and their effectiveness:
- Medication history, including thyroid hormone replacements
- Dosage adjustments and your response to different treatment approaches
- Side effects from medications that might further impact your ability to work
- Any alternative treatments attempted
Specialist Evaluations
Include assessments from various specialists who have treated aspects of your condition:
- Endocrinologist reports about your thyroid function and treatment
- Cardiologist evaluations for any heart-related complications
- Neuropsychological testing for cognitive impairments
- Mental health assessments for depression or anxiety
Functional Capacity Documentation
A Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment from your treating physician is particularly valuable. This document should detail specific limitations in:
- How long you can sit, stand, or walk
- Lifting and carrying capabilities
- Concentration and focus duration
- Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner
- Need for rest periods throughout the day
How the SSA Evaluates Your Hashimoto’s Disability Claim
The Social Security Administration follows a five-step sequential evaluation process to determine if you qualify for disability benefits:
- Current Work Activity: The SSA verifies you’re not engaging in substantial gainful activity (earning more than the monthly threshold).
- Severity Assessment: They determine if your Hashimoto’s symptoms significantly limit your ability to perform basic work activities.
- Medical Listings Evaluation: The SSA checks if your condition meets or equals the severity of a listed impairment. Since Hashimoto’s doesn’t have its own listing, they’ll consider complications under relevant listings.
- Past Work Capability: They assess whether you can perform any of your past jobs despite your limitations.
- Other Work Potential: Finally, they determine if you could adjust to other types of work, considering your age, education, work experience, and functional limitations.
Your age plays a significant role in this process. The SSA recognizes that older workers (50+) may have more difficulty adapting to new types of work with medical limitations. This means it can be somewhat easier to qualify for benefits if you’re older and have severe Hashimoto’s symptoms.
Common Challenges in Hashimoto’s Disability Claims
Securing disability benefits for Hashimoto’s disease presents several challenges:
Treatment Responsiveness
Most people with Hashimoto’s respond well to thyroid hormone replacement therapy. The SSA often denies claims if they believe proper medication can control your symptoms sufficiently for you to work. You’ll need to demonstrate that despite optimal treatment, your symptoms remain disabling.
Symptom Objectivity
Many Hashimoto’s symptoms are subjective and difficult to measure objectively. Fatigue, pain, and cognitive difficulties don’t show up on laboratory tests, making them challenging to prove to the SSA. Detailed documentation from your healthcare providers about how these symptoms impact your functioning is essential.
Inconsistent Symptoms
Hashimoto’s symptoms often fluctuate in severity. The SSA might question why you can perform certain activities on “good days” but claim you can’t work. Your medical records should document the unpredictable nature of your condition and how even occasional good days don’t translate to reliable work capacity.
How to Strengthen Your Hashimoto’s Disability Claim
To improve your chances of approval:
- Maintain consistent medical treatment and follow your doctor’s recommendations
- Keep a detailed symptom journal documenting how Hashimoto’s affects your daily activities
- Ask your treating physician to complete a detailed RFC form specifically addressing work-related limitations
- Consider getting functional capacity evaluations from occupational therapists or vocational specialists
- Be prepared for a potentially lengthy appeals process if initially denied
Get Professional Help with Your SSD Claim
Navigating the disability benefits process for Hashimoto’s disease can be challenging and frustrating. Many initial applications are denied, but appeals with proper representation often succeed. Working with an experienced disability attorney can significantly improve your chances of approval.
At Lemoine Law Firm, we understand the unique challenges of proving disability with conditions like Hashimoto’s disease. Our team can help you:
- Gather and organize compelling medical evidence
- Obtain supportive statements from your healthcare providers
- Prepare thoroughly for consultative examinations
- Navigate the complex appeals process if necessary
- Present your case effectively at disability hearings
Contact us today for a free consultation—let us help you build the strongest case for your SSD benefits.
Social Security Disability Representative
Annie began working at the firm in 2011 and received her Juris Doctor Degree from Southern University Law Center in 2016. She has been a member of the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR), and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSCR) since 2016; and in 2018 she became an Eligible for Direct Payment Non-Attorney (EDPNA) Representative.
