The quest for perfect health can sometimes lead to an unhealthy obsession with clean eating. This condition, orthorexia nervosa, can severely impact daily life and work abilities. As more people learn about this disorder, many ask: can orthorexia nervosa qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits?
What is orthorexia nervosa?
Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by an extreme fixation on healthy eating. Unlike other eating disorders that focus on food quantity, orthorexia centers on the perceived quality and purity of food. People with orthorexia often:
Feel intense worry about food choices
Spend too much time planning, buying and preparing meals
Cut out entire food groups they think are “unhealthy”
Experience guilt when they break their dietary rules
Avoid social situations due to their strict eating habits
Medical experts don’t currently list orthorexia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, doctors increasingly recognize its harmful effects on a person’s life.
Exploring the possibilities
The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t specifically name orthorexia as a qualifying condition for SSDI benefits, but this doesn’t mean people with orthorexia can’t qualify. The SSA looks at how a condition affects a person’s ability to work when it reviews disability claims.
To potentially qualify for SSDI with orthorexia, applicants must show that their condition:
Greatly limits their ability to do work-related tasks
Has lasted or will likely last for at least 12 months
Stops them from adapting to other types of work
Getting SSDI benefits for orthorexia may prove difficult, but it’s within reach. As doctors learn more about this condition, they may start to see how it can severely disable a person. If orthorexia affects your ability to work, consider talking to a disability attorney. They can guide you through the SSDI application process and help present your case effectively.The post Can orthorexia nervosa be grounds for SSDI benefits? first appeared on Disability Rights Law Center.
