If you suffer from arthritis you already know how stiff joints and inflammation can cause suffering. But, worse than arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is classified as an autoimmune condition and is one of more than one hundred types of arthritis. It usually worsens progressively over time, causing damage to the joints. This autoimmune condition caused your own immune system to launch a severe attack against the lining of your joints.

Can Rheumatoid Arthritis be a Disability?

This is a question that is often asked by clients. It is important to be aware of the fact that a person who is diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis will not be immediately qualified for disability benefits when dealing with the Social Security Administration. This, however, does not mean that a person with Rheumatoid Arthritis will never qualified for disability benefits. What is needed is details on how the Rheumatoid Arthritis actually takes away the diagnosed person’s ability to work and complete simple everyday tasks.

Once these sufficient supporting details have been provided, then the Rheumatoid Arthritis could be considered for disability benefits. This can be a complicated process, as one simple error in filling out the forms can cost you your benefits. Therefore, you will need some legal advice from people that understand the exact information you need to provide, like these experienced attorneys.

The fact is that arthritis, in all its forms, can dramatically decrease the quality of life. Beyond pain, it is one of the world’s leading cause of disability.

Qualifying for Disability Benefits

If you have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, then you may be wondering how to qualify for disability benefits. There are two major points to address:
1. You need to make sure that you meet the Social Security’s medical listing requirements.
2. You should qualify for disability benefits if your Rheumatoid Arthritis disables you from performing regular everyday tasks that you would’ve been able to perform if you did not have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Furthermore, should you wish to qualify for disability benefits for Rheumatoid Arthritis, you should meet a minimum of one of the following requirements detailed here.

The Social Security Administration is the responsible party for determining if you will be qualified for disability benefits or not. It is important to be aware that your benefits will be further determined by how medical treatment affects your arthritis. Simple continued positive testing or diagnoses for Rheumatoid Arthritis will not guarantee a continuation of your disability benefits. The most important factor that the Social Security Administration will monitor is whether or not the Rheumatoid Arthritis renders you unable to work.

Another important factor to consider is that even if you do not meet the technical requirements, you could still be considered for disability benefits. This is because the SSA can assign an RFC, Residual Functional Capacity, for you. What this effectively does is to assist them in deciding whether or not your Rheumatoid Arthritis cuts off your ability to work and therefore helps to decide whether or not you are eligible for benefits.