Getting Disability for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease that causes abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, gas, constipation, and diarrhea. In patients with IBS, the intestinal tract squeezes more strongly and for longer as it moves food through the digestive tract. Often, people with irritable bowel syndrome experience alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation.

Doctors don't yet know the exact cause of IBS, but some research suggests the disorder may be related to abnormal levels of serotonin, a chemical that affects digestion. Many people successfully manage IBS with dietary changes, but others can require more intensive treatment that may not fully alleviate the painful symptoms of IBS. If your IBS symptoms haven't responded to treatment and you can't continue working, you might be eligible for disability benefits.

Is IBS a Disability?

Ongoing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome that limit your ability to work can qualify as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You're entitled to job accommodations that could allow you to keep working—if your IBS is an ADA-protected disability.

When symptoms from irritable bowel syndrome significantly interfere with your daily activities so much that you can't work, you may be able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. While IBS isn't included in the list of impairments that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to automatically qualify you for disability benefits, many applicants qualify for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits for medical conditions that aren't listed impairments (more on this below). What's important is that your IBS must be severe enough to keep you from working full-time at any job for at least a year.

Can I Get Disability Benefits for IBS?

Social Security awards disability benefits to people whose medical condition either meets the requirements of a listed impairment or results in functional limitations that rule out the possibility of doing any work. Listed impairments are conditions that the agency considers severe enough to qualify for disability benefits automatically, provided certain evidence is present in the medical records.

Irritable bowel syndrome isn't a listed impairment, although other gastrointestinal disorders are. That means that, unless you have other digestive dysfunctions that are included as listed impairments, you'll need to show that you have a residual functional capacity (RFC) that keeps you from working at any job.

What's Your RFC?

Your RFC is a set of restrictions that reflect what you can and can't do in a work setting. For example, if your irritable bowel syndrome causes you to have uncontrollable bowel movement urges, you would need a job where you're allowed frequent and unscheduled bathroom breaks. Common IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramps, and incontinence can also affect your ability to perform physical movements such as walking, bending, and lifting heavy objects.

The more severe your IBS symptoms are, the more limitations you'll have in your RFC. One disability claimant (applicant) with mild stomach cramps might only have a restriction against jobs involving crouching or crawling, while another with chronic, severe abdominal pain might be limited to sit-down work. If you have other medical conditions in addition to IBS, Social Security must consider the combined effect of all of your medical conditions when assessing your RFC. For instance, people with IBS sometimes suffer from depression or anxiety. It's important to let the SSA know about all the illnesses you receive treatment for.

Your RFC should also address your productivity level. Social Security will consider whether cramps, pain, or frequent bathroom trips would keep you from focusing on your work and working at an acceptable pace. If your condition reduces your productivity by more than 20% because of abdominal pain or the need for frequent bathroom breaks, you're likely to win disability benefits, because an employer wouldn't want to hire someone who was productive only 80% of the time. (Read more about qualifying for disability due to reduced productivity.)

A claimant with the above RFC would have a good chance of getting disability benefits (more on this below), but Social Security might assign other claimants with IBS a light or medium RFC without the need for so many bathroom breaks.

How Does Social Security Use Your RFC?

Social Security compares your current RFC with the demands of your past jobs to see whether you could do those jobs today. For example, if your past work as a plumber required you to bend and crawl frequently but your current RFC says you should avoid those activities, the agency will find that you can't go back to that line of work.

If you can't do your past work, Social Security will need to see whether any other jobs exist that you can do despite the limitations in your RFC. For applicants younger than 50 years old, this generally means you'll need to show that you can't do simple, sedentary work. Needing to take too much time off to deal with IBS symptoms or having to lie down during the day are examples of limitations in your RFC that can rule out even the least demanding jobs.

Applicants 50 years of age and older may have an easier time qualifying for disability benefits thanks to a special set of rules known as the medical-vocational grid. That's because the SSA will take into consideration additional factors, such as your highest level of education and whether you've acquired any transferable skills, in determining whether you can smoothly transition into another occupation. So if you've only ever worked as an electrician and your RFC limits you to sedentary work, it's unlikely that Social Security will find that you can use your electrical skills at a desk job—even if you're physically capable of performing that type of work.

How Much Are Disability Benefits for IBS?

The SSA doesn't base the amount of your disability benefits on your medical condition. Instead, your benefit amount depends partly on which disability program you're eligible for—SSDI or SSI. (SSDI eligibility is based on how many work credits you've earned from past employment, and SSI eligibility is based on your income and assets.)

For 2025, the average monthly amount for SSDI is $1,580, but the amount you'll receive is based on your prior earnings. SSI monthly benefit amounts in 2025 are $967 for an individual ($1,450 for a couple), minus any countable income for that month.

How Do I File for IBS Disability Benefits?

Getting started with your Social Security disability application is easier than you might think, and you have a few ways to do it—pick what works best for you.

For most applicants, the quickest and most convenient way is to apply online. You can fill out the application from the comfort of your home, and you don't have to finish it all at once. If you need to take a break, just save your progress and come back whenever you're ready. (But keep the application number somewhere safe; you'll need it to get back into your application.)

If you'd rather talk to someone, you can apply by phone. Call the SSA's national number at 800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you use TTY, the number is 800-325-0778. The representatives at Social Security are there to answer your questions and help you through the process, but be prepared for long wait times.

You can also apply in person at your local Social Security office. This is always an option if you'd like some extra help or just prefer talking face-to-face. Be sure to call ahead and make an appointment so someone will be ready to assist you when you arrive.

No matter which way you choose, remember—you don't have to do this alone. If you want, you can ask a family member or a lawyer to help you with your application.

What Is the VA Rating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Veterans who have service-connected IBS can have their condition evaluated under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. (38 C.F.R. §4). In 2024, the VA changed how it assigns percentage ratings for IBS and other digestive disorders. Prior to that date, the VA could assign ratings of 0%, 10%, or 30% for IBS, so veterans with a 0% ("non-compensable disability") rating weren't eligible for monetary benefits. Currently, the VA will assign ratings of 10%, 20%, or 30%, so IBS is always compensable (meaning the veteran will receive a monthly benefit).

The diagnostic code for IBS in the Schedule for Rating Disabilities is 7319. To qualify for VA benefits under this diagnosis, you'll need medical records documenting "abdominal pain related to defecation" and two of the following symptoms:

• change in stool frequency
• change in stool form
• altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency)
• excessive discharge of mucus in stool
• abdominal bloating, and
• subjective distension (feeling bloated).

How often you have exacerbations ("flare-ups" or "attacks") of the above IBS symptoms will determine how high your VA disability rating will be. If you have IBS flare-ups at least once every week for the past three months, you'll get a 30% VA rating. If you have three during that same period, you'll get a 20% VA rating, and if you only have one IBS attack during the entire three months, you'll get a 10% VA rating. (Read about the monthly payment for each rating percentage.)

Can I Get Long-Term Disability Benefits for IBS?

When you need to stop working because of your IBS symptoms, you might be able to get wage replacement benefits through your company's short-term disability program, if your company provides it as an employee benefit. But most short-term benefits only last six months. If your medical condition becomes a chronic illness, you can apply for long-term disability (LTD) insurance benefits through your company. Many people find it easier to qualify for long-term disability benefits than for Social Security disability. Just keep in mind that LTD benefits might not last forever. Before you stop working, talk with your HR department to see if short- and long-term benefits are available to you.

What Medical Evidence Do I Need to Get Disability for IBS?

Your medical records are the foundation of your disability claim, whether you're applying for long-term disability insurance, SSDI, SSI, or VA benefits. The agencies and insurance companies want to see that you've received ongoing treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Ideally, your medical records should contain the following medical documentation:

• clinical progress notes from your physician or gastroenterologist
• results of physical examinations showing signs of pain or distress
• objective medical imaging, such as an X-ray or MRI
• lab results or blood tests
• prescribed medication, including a list of any side effects you experience, and
• your doctor's opinion about your physical and mental limitations.

Will I Have to Attend a Medical Exam?

Even if you submit your medical records from your own doctors, you'll likely get a letter asking you to attend an exam with another doctor. Depending on the type of benefits you're applying for, you could have to attend a:

• consultative examination (for SSDI or SSI)
• compensation and pension exam (for the VA), or
• independent medical evaluation (for a long-term disability company).

It's important that you attend this exam if you're scheduled for one. Failure to do so can result in a denial of your claim for disability benefits.

How Hard Is It to Get Disability for IBS?

It's difficult to win a disability claim based solely on irritable bowel syndrome, and most applicants won't receive an award letter on their first try. If your Social Security disability application is denied, you can appeal the denial by requesting reconsideration of your claim.

Less than 40% of initial claims are approved—and even fewer, around 15%, are approved at the reconsideration stage—so it's likely that you'll need to have a hearing with an administrative law judge before you can receive disability benefits. You can increase your odds of winning on appeal by hiring a Social Security disability lawyer to gather necessary medical records and represent you at a hearing.

Many Social Security disability lawyers also know their way around long-term disability claims and VA claims, but veterans might wish to consult a VA attorney for issues specific to service-connected disability benefits.

Most disability lawyers work on contingency, meaning they don't get paid unless you win, and will offer free consultations, so there's little risk in getting legal advice for your disability claim.