Can I get disability benefits for sleep apnea?

​​​​​​

​Yes, you can get disability benefits for sleep apnea, but it is difficult to qualify with sleep apnea as a single condition.

​

The Social Security Administration does not list sleep apnea as a separate, automatic disabling condition in its official guide book. To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must prove one of two things:

• Qualifying Complications: Your sleep apnea causes severe secondary conditions. This includes chronic heart failure, chronic pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), or severe mental and cognitive issues.

• Inability to Work (Residual Functional Capacity): Your daytime fatigue, lack of focus, or need to operate machinery makes full-time work impossible, even when you use treatments like a CPAP machine.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​