What You Need to Know Before You Start

Social Security does not have a separate process for Crohn's disease. Instead, you explore for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — the same programs anyone uses — and you explain how Crohn's affects your ability to work. Social Security will look at your medical records, your symptoms, and what you can actually do in a job setting. Having Crohn's disease does not automatically mean you will be approved; the decision depends on whether your condition is severe enough that you cannot work for at least 12 months.

The process itself takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete online or on paper. The waiting period — from submission to a decision — typically runs 3 to 6 months for an initial decision, though many people are denied the first time and must request reconsideration or a hearing, which adds months. You can explore while you are still working, and you can explore even if you have already been turned down by another program.

Key Takeaways

  • You explore through Social Security's standard SSDI or SSI process, not a disease-specific form, and you describe how Crohn's prevents you from working.
  • Social Security will request your medical records directly from your doctors and hospitals, so make sure your treatment history is documented and current.
  • You do not need a lawyer to explore, but many people hire one after a denial because the reconsideration and hearing process is where most approvals happen.
  • The initial decision usually takes 3 to 6 months; if you are denied, you have 60 days to request reconsideration or appeal to a hearing.
  • Your work history and age matter: if you are under 50 and have worked recently, Social Security will expect stronger medical evidence that you cannot do any job.

Gathering Your Medical Records Before You explore

Social Security will ask you for the names and addresses of every doctor, hospital, and clinic that has treated your Crohn's disease. You do not have to collect these records yourself — Social Security can request them — but the process moves faster if you have already gathered them. Start by calling your gastroenterologist's office and your primary care doctor's office and asking for a complete medical record, including all test results, imaging reports (CT scans, colonoscopies), and visit notes from the past two to three years.

What matters most to Social Security is not your diagnosis alone, but evidence of how severe your symptoms are and how often they occur. Bring records that show hospitalizations, emergency room visits, surgeries, medication changes, and any time you have been unable to work or attend appointments because of your condition. If you have had a colonoscopy or other procedure, the report matters. If your doctor has written notes about your fatigue, pain, bathroom frequency, or inability to concentrate, those notes carry real weight.

If you have been seeing a therapist or counselor because of depression or anxiety related to your Crohn's disease, include those records too. Social Security considers the whole picture of how your condition affects you, not just the digestive symptoms.

Deciding Between SSDI and SSI

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on your own work history. You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of quarters (usually 20 quarters in the past 10 years if you are under 31, or more if you are older). If you are approved, your monthly payment is based on your earnings record. You can have savings and own a home without losing benefits.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based program for people with very low income and resources. You can have no more than $2,000 in savings (or $3,000 if you are married), and your monthly income from other sources must be below a certain limit, which varies by state. SSI payments are smaller than SSDI, but you may also receive Medicaid automatically. If you have never worked much or have been out of work for a long time, SSI may be your only option.

You can explore for both at the same time. Social Security will determine which one you are may have access to to based on your work history and income. If you are unsure which applies to you, the Social Security representative can explain it during your process.

The process Process: Online, Phone, or In Person

You can start your SSDI or SSI process in three ways: online at ssa.gov, by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or by visiting your local Social Security office in person. The online process is usually fastest because you can save your progress and come back to it, and you will get a confirmation number when ready.

The process asks for your personal information, work history, medical conditions, and the names of your doctors. You will be asked when your condition began to prevent you from working — this date matters because benefits can only start after you have been unable to work for five full months. You will also answer questions about whether you are still working, how much you earn, and whether you have applied for workers' compensation or other benefits.

After you submit, Social Security will send you a letter asking you to provide or authorize release of your medical records. You can do this by signing a form they send you, or you can bring signed authorization forms to your doctors yourself. Social Security typically contacts your doctors within two weeks of receiving your process.

What Social Security Looks For in Crohn's Disease Cases

Social Security uses a medical guide called the Blue Book that lists conditions that can lead to approval. Crohn's disease appears under digestive system disorders. To meet the listing, you must show that your condition causes one of the following: repeated hospitalizations, severe malnutrition, severe anemia, or inability to absorb nutrients that requires parenteral nutrition (nutrition delivered through an IV).

Most people with Crohn's do not meet this strict listing, which is why Social Security also looks at your residual functional capacity (RFC) — what you can still do despite your condition. For Crohn's, this means: How often do you need to use the bathroom? Can you sit for eight hours? Can you concentrate on a task? Do you have pain that makes it hard to focus? Can you follow instructions? Do you miss work frequently because of flare-ups?

If your medical records show that you have had multiple hospitalizations, surgeries, or that you require ongoing IV nutrition or have severe complications, your case is stronger. If your records show you work part-time or do light activity, Social Security may conclude you can do some form of work and deny your claim. This is why detailed, current medical records matter so much.

After You Submit: What Happens Next

Within one to two weeks, you will receive a notice from Social Security confirming they received your process and listing the information they need from you. They will ask you to sign authorization forms so they can get your medical records directly from your doctors. Sign these and return them as quickly as you can.

Social Security will then contact your doctors and request your records. This usually takes two to four weeks. Once they have your records, a disability examiner will review everything and make a decision. The examiner may also order a consultative examination — a one-time appointment with a doctor Social Security pays for — to get more information about your current condition.

You will receive a written decision in the mail. If you are approved, the letter will tell you when your benefits start and how much you will receive each month. If you are denied, the letter will explain why and tell you how to request reconsideration within 60 days.

What to Do If You Are Denied

Most initial applications for disability are denied. This does not mean your case is hopeless — it means you move to the next step. You have 60 days from the date on your denial letter to request reconsideration. At reconsideration, a different examiner reviews your case and any new medical evidence you have gathered since your first process.

Many people are denied again at reconsideration. If that happens, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) within 60 days. This is where most approvals happen, especially if you have a lawyer. At a hearing, you can present new medical evidence, answer questions about your condition and work history, and have your doctor testify if needed.

If you are denied at the hearing level, you can appeal to the Appeals Council, and then to federal court, though these steps are rare. The entire process from initial process to a hearing decision typically takes 12 to 24 months.

Working With a Lawyer or Representative

You do not need a lawyer to explore for disability. Many people submit their own applications and are approved. However, if you are denied and move to reconsideration or a hearing, a lawyer or accredited representative can significantly improve your chances. Lawyers who handle disability cases know what evidence Social Security looks for and how to present your case effectively at a hearing.

You only pay a lawyer if you win. Social Security limits what they can charge: either 25% of your back pay (the money owed from when your disability began) or $7,200, whichever is less. You can find lawyers through the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) or by searching "disability lawyer near me" online. Many offer free initial consultations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while my process is being reviewed?

Yes. You can work and earn money while Social Security reviews your process. However, if you earn more than $1,550 per month (in 2024), Social Security may assume you can work and deny your claim. If you are working part-time or have reduced your hours because of Crohn's, tell Social Security about this in your process.

What if my Crohn's disease is in remission?

Remission does not automatically disqualify you. Social Security looks at whether you can work consistently, not whether you have symptoms right now. If your remission is fragile, you have frequent flare-ups, or you need ongoing medication and monitoring, you can still be approved. Your medical records should show the pattern of your condition over time.

Do I need to be hospitalized to be approved?

No. You do not need hospitalizations to be approved, though they do strengthen your case. Social Security approves people based on the overall impact of their condition on their ability to work — including pain, fatigue, bathroom frequency, medication side effects, and the need for frequent medical appointments.

How much will I receive each month if I am approved?

SSDI payments vary based on your work history and earnings. The average SSDI payment in 2024 is around $1,550 per month, but yours could be higher or lower. SSI payments are smaller and vary by state; the federal base amount is $943 per month in 2024, but many states add extra money. Social Security will tell you the exact amount in your approval letter.

Can I get disability for Crohn's if I have never worked?

You cannot get SSDI if you have never worked because SSDI is based on your work history. You may be able to get SSI if you have low income and resources. If you are under 22 and your parents worked, you might be able to get benefits based on their work record instead. Call Social Security to discuss your specific situation.