What Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune condition that attacks your connective tissues.
It brings pain most often in your joints, making them tender, swollen. During a flare-up, it can be a challenge just to move.
The National Institutes of Health estimate 1.3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Common symptoms, which you can present to Social Security in your disability application, include:
- Pain, tenderness, or swelling in your joints that lasts for six weeks or longer
- Pain in the same joints on both sides of your body
- Morning stiffness that can last for a half hour or longer
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation in two or more organs
You can still qualify for benefits even if you don’t exactly match all the symptoms. But you have to prove your condition is severe enough to keep you from working by providing measures of your physical abilities and limitations.
The Social Security Disability lawyers at Wells, Manning, Eitenmiller & Taylor help you do this.
We know Social Security, and we work hard for people who need support getting through this process because of their health. We can evaluate your case at no cost—and there is no fee until you win your case.
How Do I Prove my Rheumatoid Arthritis Qualifies me for Social Security Disability?
Social Security recognizes rheumatoid arthritis as a qualified disability, but proving your condition prevents you from working is still a steep hill to climb.
Careful and thorough documentation of your disease is crucial. Social Security will want proof that rheumatoid arthritis will keep you from working more than a minimal amount for a year or more, in your past job or any job.
You’ll need to work with your doctors and other health care providers to get medical records, such as:
- Documents showing your diagnosis
- Records of your symptoms and treatment plans
- Your doctor’s reports from exams and treatment results
- Records of blood tests and any other medical tests related to your rheumatoid arthritis
Social Security will want to evaluate all your symptoms and any other impairments you have to determine the severity of your rheumatoid arthritis and its impact on your ability to hold down a job.
Applying for benefits is complex, and even small mistakes on an application can lead to a denial.
You don’t have to do this alone. Work with an Oregon disability attorney who knows the Social Security system and can guide you through it. Let us help you reclaim your life.
We’re with You Every Step of the Way
Whether you’re trying to determine if you’re qualified for disability benefits, you need help filing your application, or you received a denial notice and want another chance, our law firm helps from the beginning and stays by your side.
Have a Question about Disability Benefits?
Your health is bad. You can’t work. Your financial stability is threatened. So your head is swimming with questions. How will you get by? How does Social Security Disability work? We’ve gathered answers. See them here:
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