Even the best workplace accommodations sometimes aren’t enough to help you keep your job when you have multiple sclerosis (MS). Symptoms such as vision problems, difficulty walking, and fatigue can make it hard or impossible to work.

When people in the U.S. living with MS can no longer work, many seek Social Security disability benefits. Disability benefits help replace lost income when people with MS leave their jobs.

Applying for disability benefits can be emotionally difficult. “Starting the Social Security process. ... Ugh! Sounds daunting!” wrote one MyMSTeam member.

Still, understanding the process ahead of time can make applying feel easier.

Is MS Considered a Disability by the SSA?

If you’ve been wondering, “Is MS a disability?” for federal benefits, the answer is yes. The Social Security Administration (SSA) includes MS on its Listing of Impairments under Neurological Disorders.

MS can qualify for disability benefits if you also meet the SSA’s other rules, including being unable to work enough to earn a certain amount.

In rare cases, malignant MS may qualify for the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program, which can speed the review process.

Disability Benefit Programs in the U.S.

There are two different federal disability programs in the United States, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To qualify for either program, you must have a disability that interferes with your ability to work.

Social Security Disability Insurance

SSDI provides benefits to people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes. There’s a five-month waiting period after your established disability onset date.

Your first benefit is generally paid in the sixth full month after the date the SSA finds your disability began. If you have been disabled for at least a year, you may be able to get back payments of disability benefits for one year.

In most cases, Medicare starts after you’ve been entitled to SSDI for 24 months. This timing is based on months of eligibility, not just when you notice your payments start.

Supplemental Security Income

SSI provides benefits to people with low income who haven’t worked long enough to qualify for SSDI. If you’re approved for SSI, payments generally begin the month after you applied or the month after you became eligible, whichever is later.

You may receive payments for eligible months after you applied but before your application was approved.

In most states, qualifying for SSI also helps you qualify for Medicaid, but some states require a separate Medicaid application. Check with your state Medicaid office for details.

Many states provide an SSI supplement, but rules and amounts vary by state.

SSI also has strict financial rules. If an individual has more than $2,000 in countable resources, or a couple has more than $3,000, they may lose eligibility. The SSA has a list of which resources count toward the limit.

It’s possible to get both SSDI and SSI if you have very limited funds and have a work history.

Definition of Disability

To determine whether someone is disabled enough to be eligible for benefits, the SSA will evaluate several factors:

• You cannot engage in “substantial gainful activity.” In 2026, you’re considered capable of substantial gainful activity if you earn more than $1,690 a month (or more than $2,830 a month if you are blind). If you earn more than these amounts, the SSA usually won’t consider you disabled at the first step of the review process, although some exceptions may apply.
• Your condition significantly limits your ability to do basic work tasks for at least 12 months.
• You must have a recognized disability. The SSA provides a Listing of Impairments, including MS, listed under Neurological Disorders.
• You cannot do your past work or adjust to other substantial work.

You can apply for SSDI online if you aren’t currently receiving benefits and if you haven’t been denied in the past 60 days. Adults with a disability can apply for SSI online. If you need help applying or don’t meet the online criteria, you can still apply at a local Social Security office or over the phone.

Appealing a Disability Application Rejection

It takes an average of three to five months to process an initial application for disability benefits. Some MyMSTeam members got approved sooner. “I got disability within a couple of months,” wrote one member.

For others, the process can take years. “It took me two years with secondary progressive [MS]. I was denied the first time and got approved on appeal with a lawyer,” another member shared.

Reconsideration

Based on SSA data from 2014 to 2023, about 18 percent to 21 percent of disabled-worker applicants were approved at the initial claims level. These numbers may change for more recent years, with claims still pending.

The first step is reconsideration, when your case will be evaluated by someone who did not take part in the first evaluation. A small percentage of applications are approved during reconsideration, but many people need to continue the appeals process.

Reconsideration can take time. One MyMSTeam member was still waiting on this process months after an initial rejection. “My claim was denied. Now I’m waiting on the appeal process. I’m trying not to get discouraged,” they shared.

Hearing and Further Appeals

If necessary, you have the option to file a second appeal. The second appeal includes a hearing by an administrative law judge. An administrative law judge will review the evidence in your case.

You may have a disability attorney represent you at this hearing. “My case worker referred me to an attorney who specializes in SS claims,” one MyMSTeam member shared.

Another member credited their private disability lawyer with their successful appeal: “It took me three years with the lawyer. But it was worry-free and easy not to have to do all of the appeals myself. So I recommend a lawyer.”

A disability attorney or advocate may be helpful, especially if your first application is denied.

If you are denied at this level, you can ask the Appeals Council to review your case. Based on SSA data from 2014 to 2023, about 7 percent of disabled-worker applications were approved at the hearing level or above.

This percentage may change for more recent years because some claims are still pending. If the Appeals Council denies your claim, your last remaining option is to file a case in federal court.

Join the Conversation

On MyMSTeam, people share their experiences with multiple sclerosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you applied for Social Security disability benefits for MS? What advice would you give others going through the process? Let others know in the comments below.