Intellectual Disability, Low IQ, and Social Security Benefits

Intellectual disabilities are often diagnosed following an intelligence quotient (IQ) test. IQ tests are designed to measure your cognitive abilities by asking you a series of multiple-choice questions involving memory, language, and reasoning skills. The results are then compared with those of other test takers, and your performance is scored based on how well you performed relative to other people your age.

Having a low IQ score doesn't necessarily mean that you're disabled. Many people with mild intellectual disabilities are able to independently complete their activities of daily living, maintain social relationships, and work full-time. People with more severe intellectual disabilities, however, may consistently struggle to hold down regular jobs. In these instances, they may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits.

When Is a Low Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Score Considered a Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes "intellectual disorder" as a listed impairment that can automatically qualify somebody for disability, provided they have specific documentation in their medical records. You can satisfy the criteria of listing 12.05 for intellectual disorder, due to "significantly subaverage intellectual functioning" with evidence of the following:

• a full scale IQ score of 70 or below, or a full scale IQ score of 71-75 in addition to a verbal or performance IQ score of 70 or below
• an extreme limitation in one, or marked limitations in two, of the four major areas of mental functioning (using information, interacting with others, concentrating, and managing oneself), and
• a history of deficits in functioning that demonstrate your intellectual disorder began before the age of 22.

Under the listing criteria, applicants who have a full scale, performance, or verbal IQ score of 76 or above won't qualify for benefits automatically, although they still have the opportunity to be found disabled according to the SSA's sequential evaluation process (see below). (Note that listing 12.05 used to be for "mental retardation," but that term is now perceived negatively and no longer used.)

How Is Low IQ Measured?

The SSA won't accept just any test results for the purpose of determining low IQ. Taking an online, self-guided assessment, for example, won't cut it. The agency will need to see that you've taken a standardized test, with normal distribution (bell curve) of results, that was administered by a qualified licensed specialist who has the experience and education to interpret the test results.

For adults and older adolescents, this generally means having the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale test, fourth or fifth editions (WAIS-IV or WAIS-V), administered by a psychologist or psychiatrist. Other examples of tests that may be accepted to establish low IQ include the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales and the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities.

Applicants who are unable to follow directions to the extent that they can't undergo formal IQ testing can still qualify for benefits using listing 12.05 if their cognitive deficits began before age 22 and they depend on others to take care of their personal needs, like dressing, bathing, or eating.

Applicants whose cognitive deficits began after age 22—for example, as a result of a traumatic brain injury or degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's—may be evaluated under listing 12.02 for neurocognitive disorders.

Can I Get Benefits for Intellectual Disability If My Symptoms Don't Meet the Low IQ Listing?

If your IQ score doesn't meet the criteria for automatic approval under a listing, you might still qualify for disability benefits if your IQ is "borderline." If you have an IQ that's below 84, you could be diagnosed with borderline intellectual functioning, even though your IQ isn't low enough to be classified as an intellectual disorder according to Social Security. People with borderline intellectual functioning who aren't able to keep up with the mental demands of any full-time job can be found disabled.

To determine whether you're able to work, Social Security will first assess how your mental symptoms affect your residual functional capacity (RFC). Your RFC describes what types of tasks you can do at work. Limitations in your RFC affect the kinds of jobs, if any, that you can perform. Examples of mental restrictions in your RFC include:

• how often you should work with the general public, coworkers, or supervisors
• whether you can perform skilled, semiskilled, or unskilled jobs
• how many absences you'll have over the course of a month, and
• what percentage of the day you'll be "off-task" due to difficulty concentrating.

Most disability applicants under the age of 50 will need to show that their intellectual impairment keeps them from performing even the most basic work duties.

The SSA often finds that most people can perform simple, repetitive tasks (such as small parts assembly) even with a low IQ, so you'll likely need to show that you have other impairments that, combined with your IQ, prevent you from working.

Older applicants with additional physical conditions may be able to get disability under the "grid rules" if their mental limitations rule out using any transferable skills they may have learned.

What Medical Evidence Do You Need to Get Disability for Low IQ?

The most important piece of evidence you'll need to provide Social Security is, unsurprisingly, the results of your IQ test or tests. This should include your full scale, verbal, and performance scores, as well as the methodology used to conduct the test and the qualifications of the test administrator. If you apply for disability benefits for low IQ and you haven't taken an IQ test yet, the agency may ask you to attend a consultative examination where you'll be given a test.

You'll also need to provide evidence showing that your intellectual disability began before you turned 22 years old (to meet listing 12.05). This may include documentation showing that you were enrolled in an individual educational program (IEP) or special education classes. You should submit these and any other relevant records from elementary, middle, or high school with your application. School records can be requested by filling out a simple form provided to you by the school district.

Because the SSA is required to consider all of your impairments when making a disability determination, don't forget to inform the agency of any other medical conditions you're receiving treatment for. For physical disorders, include treatment notes from your physician along with objective evidence like lab results or MRIs. For mental health, make sure to submit any clinical therapy notes from your psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor. You can also help strengthen your case with medical opinion letters from your regular doctors.

For people who aren't able to take a formal IQ test, the SSA will need detailed records from caregivers that show the level of assistance the applicant needs. This can include prescriptions for specialized medical equipment, clinical notes from therapy sessions, and a description of the caregiver's role in the applicant's daily life.

Getting Legal Help for a Disability Claim Based on Low IQ

You aren't required to get an attorney at any point in the disability determination process, but it's usually a smart idea. An experienced disability attorney can handle correspondence with the SSA, gather and submit the proper medical records to establish your disability, and (perhaps most importantly) represent you at a hearing with an administrative law judge. Most disability lawyers offer free consultations, so you can ask around and find one who's a good fit for your needs. Disability attorneys also work on contingency—meaning they don't get paid unless you win your case—so you're unlikely to have any up-front costs.