Is Insomnia a Disability?

Almost every one of us has suffered from insomnia at some point in our lives. In fact, according to statistics, about 1 in 3 adults are currently dealing with it.

But is insomnia a disability? Can you claim benefits if you’re having a hard time sleeping?

No, insomnia in itself isn’t considered a disability by the SSA. But you may be able to claim benefits if your insomnia is accompanied by other disabling medical conditions.

If you’re suffering from insomnia and are curious about your chances of getting benefits, here’s a quick guide for you.

Understanding Insomnia

As mentioned, insomnia is a common sleep disorder. People who suffer from it usually have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep despite having the time and the right environment for sleeping.

The severity of insomnia can vary from one person to another. Some may only experience it for a few days or weeks. But for others, it can be chronic, lasting for months or years.

Because of this, the effects of insomnia can vary widely too. For some, the lack of sleep can cause mild symptoms like:

• tiredness or drowsiness during the day
• irritability
• difficulty staying focused
• clumsiness or delayed responses

If insomnia is severe, it can also lead to severe symptoms like depression and memory problems. Some cases of chronic insomnia can even impact your ability to work and do other activities. Very severe cases can also lead to coma and eventual death.

Insomnia can also be primary or secondary. Primary insomnia means it happens on its own. While secondary insomnia is when it’s caused by another condition or situation.

Why It’s Hard to Get Disability for Insomnia

As I said, getting disability benefits for insomnia is not impossible, but it won’t be easy either.

For one, insomnia symptoms can vary widely. For some, it might just cause tiredness or irritability. But for others, it can impair their ability to do things and even lead to death.

Obviously, mere tiredness and irritability cannot be considered a disability. But if it’s already affecting your capacity to work and do things or if the symptoms are already fatal, it could be disabling enough for the SSA to grant you benefits.

The challenge, however, is proving that your condition is severely impacting your way of life. I mean, it’s easy to claim that your insomnia is disabling. But the SSA will need medical evidence to back up your claim.

This is why I said that insomnia alone isn’t a disability. It must come with other disabling medical conditions.

Another reason why it’s hard to get disability benefits for insomnia is the diagnosis process itself. Since insomnia isn’t a disease, there’s no standard test to determine it. Besides, each of us has different sleep patterns. So “normal sleep” can differ for everyone.

Because of this, insomnia is often diagnosed as a symptom of an underlying medical condition rather than a single disorder.