Can you get Social Security disability for Kidney Failure?

If you suffer from kidney failure, also known as renal failure, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Kidney failure is evaluated by the Social Security Administration under section 6.00, Genitourinary Disorders, of its Listing of Impairments.

What kidney failure is

Kidney failure is a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to filter the waste products from the blood. There are two main types of kidney failure: acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. In acute kidney injury, the condition develops over a short period of time, in some cases as little as a few days. Chronic kidney disease may take much longer to show signs and symptoms, as it takes much more time to develop.

In order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must have a condition that is expected to last at least twelve months or to end in death.

Signs and symptoms of kidney disease

Signs and symptoms of kidney disease may include the following:

• High levels of urea in the blood, which may result in:
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Blood in urine, nocturnal urination, or unusual amounts of urine
• Buildup of phosphates in the blood, which may cause:
  • Itching
  • Bone damage
  • Muscle cramps
• Buildup of potassium, which may result in:
  • Muscle paralysis
  • Abnormal heart rhythms
• Fluid-filled cysts on the kidneys, causing pain in the patient’s back or side
• Low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood, which may result in:
  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Memory problems or difficulty concentrating

How the SSA evaluates kidney failure

The SSA evaluates genitourinary disorders resulting in chronic kidney disease under section 6.00 of the Listing of Impairments. Five listings apply. They are summarized below; visit Social Security’s website for the full text of these listings.

• Section 6.03 covers chronic kidney disease treated with chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The dialysis must have lasted, or be expected to last, for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
• Section 6.04 covers chronic kidney disease with a kidney transplant. The SSA considers you disabled for one year from the date of the transplant, and then evaluates your remaining impairment.
• Section 6.05 covers chronic kidney disease with impairment of kidney function. It requires laboratory evidence of reduced glomerular filtration, together with renal osteodystrophy and severe bone pain, peripheral neuropathy, fluid overload syndrome, or anorexia with weight loss.
• Section 6.06 covers nephrotic syndrome. It requires specific laboratory findings, together with anasarca that persists for at least 90 days despite prescribed treatment.
• Section 6.09 covers complications of chronic kidney disease that require at least three hospitalizations within a 12-month period, occurring at least 30 days apart, each lasting at least 48 hours.

If you do not meet a listing

Many people with kidney disease do not meet one of these listings, and that does not end the claim. Where no listing is met, Social Security assesses your residual functional capacity, meaning what you can still do despite your condition.

Several features of kidney disease matter here and are often left out of files.

Fatigue and anemia. Reduced kidney function lowers the production of the hormone that drives red blood cell production, and the resulting anemia causes fatigue that is disproportionate to activity. It produces no finding on examination, so it has to be described.

The time dialysis takes. In-center hemodialysis typically runs three sessions a week, several hours each, plus travel and recovery time. Many people are unwell for the rest of the day afterward. That schedule alone is difficult to reconcile with full-time work, and it is worth documenting the days and the after-effects rather than only the fact of treatment.

Nausea, appetite loss, and weight change. These are common, affect stamina, and are frequently recorded as a passing note rather than as a limitation.

Cognitive effects. Difficulty concentrating and memory problems are recognized effects of impaired kidney function and are assessed separately from physical limitations.

After a transplant. Immunosuppressive medication carries its own side effects and raises infection risk, which can make some workplaces unsuitable regardless of physical capacity.

Your age, education, and work history matter at this stage too. A claimant of 50 or older with no transferable skills is in a considerably stronger position than a younger claimant with identical limitations, and at 55 the vocational rules shift again in the claimant’s favor. Since June 22, 2024, Social Security also looks only at work performed in the previous five years rather than fifteen.

Medical evidence and specialist treatment

To meet a listing for a kidney disorder, the SSA requires laboratory results and clinical findings in the medical record that support the diagnosis. In my experience, clinical findings from doctors who specialize in treating kidney disorders are the most persuasive, because those doctors are familiar with kidney-related symptoms and their effects on a patient’s functioning. The SSA also considers whether a claimant has followed the treatment prescribed by their doctors.

Getting help with your claim

The claims process for disability benefits can be challenging and confusing. My Indianapolis office offers a free consultation to review your case, and many claimants find it helpful to have an attorney handle the questions that arise throughout the Social Security disability claims process.

If you are denied, appeal rather than starting a new application. Appealing protects your original filing date and the back pay attached to it, and you generally have sixty days from the date on the notice.

Call (866) 950-5116 to talk through where your claim stands and what your records still need.