Social Security Disability Benefits for Arthritis

Arthritis is an informal way of referring to more than 100 types of joint diseases according to the Arthritis Foundation. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some form of Arthritis or a related condition, making it the leading cause of disability in the United States. Arthritis tends to be more common in women, and it strikes more frequently as people grow older.

The different Arthritis-related diseases vary in their symptoms and the degree of disability they can cause. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, stiffness in the joints and diminished range of motion. The symptoms can be mild and come and go, or they can be severe and chronic. When the symptoms are severe, the individual suffering from it is in significant pain and can have difficulty walking and doing the basic tasks of everyday living.

Some of the different types of Arthritis include:

• Degenerative Arthritis
• Inflammatory Arthritis
• Infectious
• Metabolic Arthritis

Qualifying for Social Security Disability benefits when you suffer Arthritis

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has established minimal disability requirements that applicants must meet in order to qualify for SSD benefits. Your condition must be so severe that you are unable to perform any kind of work, and the condition must be expected to continue for at least one year. For those suffering with Arthritis, the Social Security Administration requires that you undergo medical treatment for at least three months before it can be determined whether or not your condition qualifies for disability benefits.

The SSA has a “Blue Book” of listings for all of the medical conditions and diseases that qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. If you are planning to apply for SSD benefits, your medical records must be able to show that your symptoms match up with the Blue Book listing for your disease or condition. Many of the various types of arthritis that qualify a person to receive disability benefits are included in this section of the Blue Book: Inflammatory arthritis (14.09)

If you are gainfully employed (earning $1,130 per month) you will be disqualified because you have demonstrated your ability to work.

Your residual functional capacity assessment (RFC) will specify whether you can do light, medium or heavy work tasks. Your doctor may include specific limitations for what you can and cannot do as a result of your medical condition. It will note whether you are unable to sit in the same position for more than 30 minutes at a time, or it may place a limit on how much weight you can lift, how long you can stand or how far you can walk.

Your Social Security Disability attorney will help you file your application for benefits. Your lawyer will help make sure that your medical paperwork is in order, and that you have received medical treatment for your arthritis for at least 90 days. Your attorney will advise you that most applications for Social Security Disability benefits are denied in the first round, but they will help you prepare for a reconsideration hearing.

Applying for Social Security Disability can be a challenging process, but you will not feel like you are doing it on your own when you work with an experienced West Tennessee Social Security Disability attorney at Bailey & Greer, PLLC. You are welcome to fill out our quick contact form to schedule a no obligation consultation in one of our offices in Memphis or Jackson today.