Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Considered a Disability?
People often ask whether hypertension or some other condition is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration (SSA), but that’s not exactly how Social Security disability (SSDI) works. Any medical condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months can qualify you for SSDI benefits–including high blood pressure. How the SSA assesses your claim differs depending on whether the medical condition is listed in the Social Security Blue Book.
Of course, you will also have to meet basic eligibility requirements such as having accumulated sufficient Social Security work credits before becoming disabled. The number of overall work credits required and recent work credits required depends on your age when you became disabled.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a very common condition. There is no universal agreement on what constitutes high blood pressure. In the U.S., a person is generally diagnosed with hypertension if their blood pressure is above 130/80. The top number, known as systolic blood pressure, represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart is contracting. The lower number, diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, well over 100 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure. But that doesn’t mean the condition should be taken lightly. Hypertension causes or contributes to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year.
Symptoms of Hypertension
One of the reasons hypertension can be so dangerous is that people with high blood pressure often don’t have any symptoms. That means unless you’re getting regular check-ups or monitoring your blood pressure, the condition can go undiagnosed for a long time.
At very high blood pressures, the condition may cause symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Nosebleeds
- Nausea or vomiting
- Anxiety
Complications of Hypertension
Hypertension can cause or contribute to a wide range of more serious medical conditions, some of which can be life threatening. Some of the most common include:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Aneurysm
- Kidney failure
- Vision problems
Hypertension is Addressed in the Social Security Blue Book
High blood pressure doesn’t have a numbered listing like many conditions, and there are no specific criteria applied to assess a hypertension claim. However, the Blue Book does describe how hypertension is assessed.
First, the SSA will assess the condition based on its impacts on other body systems. For example, if an SSDI applicant suffers from chronic kidney disease due to hypertension, the SSA will evaluate using the appropriate Blue Book listing for the kidney disorder–6.03, 6.04 or 6.05.
If there is no applicable listed condition or if the SSDI applicant doesn’t meet the listing criteria, the SSA goes on to evaluate the claim more holistically. This method may also be used if the applicant suffers from other conditions in addition to hypertension.
Residual Functional Capacity and Social Security Grid Rules
The first step of an assessment outside listing criteria is to determine the applicant’s residual functional capacity. Residual functional capacity is the most you can do in spite of your medical condition. If you have more than one documented medical problem, the SSA will consider the combined impact of all of the conditions they have information about.
You’ll be assigned one of five “exertional levels”:
- Sedentary work
- Light work
- Medium work
- Heavy work
- Very heavy work
The level assigned will determine which grid the SSA uses to determine whether or not you are disabled. Generally, those who are deemed capable of heavy or very heavy work won’t be found to be disabled. For those limited to medium work or below, the determination depends on a combination of other factors including age, past work experience, educational level and transferable skills.
When Should You Apply for SSDI for Hypertension?
Obviously, most of the more than 100 million American adults with hypertension are not disabled by the condition. Hypertension can often be controlled with medication, or even changes like improved diet and more frequent exercise.
However, you may qualify for SSDI benefits if:
- Your high blood pressure can’t be controlled with medication and is extreme enough to cause debilitating symptoms, or
- You suffer from a combination of high blood pressure and one or more other medical conditions that, in combination, prevent you from earning a living, or
- Your high blood pressure has caused another condition or medical event that is in itself disabling
If you’re able to earn more than the SSA threshold for “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), you won’t qualify. In 2025, that amount is $1,620/month unless you are blind. Then the limit is $2,700/month.
As you can see, there are a lot of variables in play. Understanding exactly what the SSA is looking for and ensuring that you have the right medical documentation can make the difference between approval and denial. In some cases, it may be beneficial to undergo additional medical testing before you submit an application for SSDI benefits. You will also want to make sure you have included all medical conditions that may impact your ability to work, not just the primary condition that prompted you to apply.
If you leave out information, it could delay your claim, or even result in a denial. You can appeal a denial and supplement your documentation, but that process can add several months to two years or more to the process.
Get Help with Your SSDI Claim for High Blood Pressure
An experienced SSDI benefits advocate can be your best resource as you decide whether and when to submit an application for Social Security disability benefits. Your advocate can also use their knowledge of the SSA’s standards and procedures to help ensure that you submit the strongest application possible and include the right documentation.
To learn more about how Disability Help Group can assist you with your SSDI claim or in appealing a denial of Social Security disability benefits, call us today at 800-800-3332 or fill out our contact form here.