Did You Know that if You Suffer From Arthritis, You May Be Eligible to Receive Social Security Disability Benefits?
According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 27 million people are affected by osteoarthritis and another 1.3 million people live with rheumatoid arthritis. Shockingly, more than two-thirds of people suffering from the condition are under 65 years old. People who suffer from this disabling condition may be eligible to receive benefits.
What is Covered?
Dysfunction of a joint caused by osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis are both disabilities that are covered under Social Security benefits. However, it is difficult to meet the Social Security Administration's criteria to be eligible (particularly with a person under the age of 65).
Patients with Osteoarthritis
As usual, the only way to be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits for your arthritis, you must prove that you have the condition and that it puts physical limitations on you, i.e. difficulty sitting or standing for a long period of time, lifting, pushing, pulling, and walking. If it limits your ability to perform work-related activities, document it and tell your doctor to put it in your medical records.
Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis
To be found to "meet or equal a listing," a claimant must provide a medically documented history of:
- Joint pain,
- Joint swelling,
- Joint tenderness,
- Current joint inflammation,
- Occurrence in two peripheral joints or one major weight bearing joint,
- Inability to move about or perform fine movements, and
- Condition ongoing for 12 months or end in death.
Patients with arthritis need to provide information about his or her ability to function in the workplace, work-related limitations, adjustments that had to be made in the workplace, and if co-workers needed to assist the person.
A Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with arthritis and is no longer able to perform work-related duties, contact the experienced Social Security disability attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group to find out what you need to know about filing a claim. Call our San Diego law office at 1-888-233-5020.
The Jurewitz Law Group is located in San Diego, has offices in Carlsbad, California, and serves all of San Diego County including the following cities and towns:
San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, El Cajon, Carlsbad, Poway, Encinitas, La Mesa, Santee, National City, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Coronado.
