Rheumatoid Arthritis And Long Term Disability Insurance Claims
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be unable to work because of their disease and its related complications. Patients who find themselves unable to work because of their rheumatoid arthritis may qualify for long term disability benefits. The insurance company will review their claim to see if they qualify under the conditions of that plan.
Do You Still Have A Knee Cap After Knee Replacement
The back of the knee cap may also be replaced, depending on the reasons for replacement. The wound is closed with either stitches or clips and a dressing is applied to the wound. In rare cases a splint is used to keep your leg immobile, but youre usually encouraged to move your knee as early as possible.
Is Rheumatoid Arthritis A Long
Any illness or injury which prevents you from working in your organization for almost 12 months is considered a long-term disability in rheumatoid arthritis. So, if rheumatoid arthritis is severe in your case and prevents you from working or hinders performing your daily tasks, you can apply for long-term disability benefits.
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The Family And Medical Leave Act
If you cannot get approved for disability benefits in the United States, you may qualify for short-term benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act . This act is best known for providing up to 12 weeks of leave to care for an ailing family member or to bond with a newborn or newly adopted child. However, people with serious medical conditions can also get benefits through this program.
If you qualify for this benefit, you can get up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a given year. While you will not get paid, your job will be protected so you have the option to go back to work if your health improves. In addition, you will retain your medical insurance coverage as if you had not taken leave.
Some states may have additional laws that offer paid leave, partially paid leave, or other options under this broader act. These laws often change or get updated, so its up to you to make sure youre applying for a program that will work for you.
Qualifying For Benefits Under The Medical Listing For Ra
Social Security sets forth specific criteria for disability applicants with rheumatoid arthritis in its Listing of Impairments. Social Security’s medical listing for “inflammatory arthritis” is long and relatively complicated, but it offers multiple ways a disability applicant with RA can qualify under the listing. Overall, you must experience significant limitations in your abilities due to your RA to qualify for benefits under this medical listing.
Specifically, to qualify for benefits under Listing 14.09, you must meet one of the following sets of requirements:
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Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can impact many joints and cause severe pain, swelling, inflammation and loss of function. Advanced rheumatoid arthritis can impact one or more body systems because it is an autoimmune condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the hand, wrist and finger joints, but it can also affect the joints in the knees and feet. Individuals with this condition may not be able to perform basic work tasks, such as pulling, carrying, lifting, handing or reaching for items. It can also impact your ability to sit, stand, bend or squat.
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis generally includes taking medications and undergoing occupational or physical therapy to help reduce pain and inflammation. If left untreated, this condition can cause joint deformities and make it even more difficult to use your hands.
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Restoring Dignity And Respect To Your Life
Youre physically unable to perform the tasks you used to do in your job because your rheumatoid arthritis has gotten worse. Youre out of work, out of a regular incomeand scared.
Dont lose hope.
Social Security Disability benefits can provide monthly income and Medicare health coverage to get you through this difficult time. With its terrible pain, rheumatoid arthritis is the kind of debilitating condition that can qualify you for benefits.
Winning benefits, however, isnt easy. Its a complicated process of dealing with the government, gathering evidence and keeping up with deadlines.
With rheumatoid arthritis, you have to show specific symptoms to prove your claim.
If you dont know how to do that, dont worry. If you live in Gretna, New Orleans, Metairie, Marrero, Houma, or anywhere in the New Orleans area, disability advocate Gary Sells can do it for you.
Gary and his team are committed to bringing you the dignity, respect and financial relief you deserve. Social Security Disability is all we do.
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Other Ways Your Arthritis Can Qualify As A Disability
If you do not qualify for benefits from the impairment listings for back problems, you may be eligible under a broader classification of a major dysfunction of a joint. To succeed with this category, you must have an obvious joint distortion. Such a distortion would be visible by using medical imaging techniques, such as an MRI. Examples of such impairments are the joint being fused or a compression of the space in a joint has occurred. Coupled with this would be a history of the loss of a range of motion, along with stiffness and pain in the joint.
A further requirement is the dysfunction must be occurring on both arms. It must exist in at least one hand, a wrist, an elbow, or a shoulder in each arm. Because of this stringent requirement, you must have a great difficulty in performing daily tasks such as preparing meals, performing daily hygiene, or completing simple house cleaning jobs without another persons assistance.
A second option would be if your dysfunction existed in an ankle, a knee, or a hip causing much difficulty in walking. Illustrations would be if you were unable to climb a set of stairs at a reasonable speed even using a handrail if you were required to use a walker, two canes, or two crutches or needed another persons help in the workplace, around the home, , or in activities such as shopping for groceries.
Are Rheumatoid Arthritis And Osteoarthritis Disabilities Under Social Security Disability Rules
Rheumatoid arthritis is considered a qualifying disability under SSDI, but it must be advanced to meet the requirements. This means your rheumatoid arthritis must be severe enough to prevent you from working for at least 12 months. Osteoarthritis, unlike rheumatoid arthritis, is not actually listed in the SSA impairment listing guide but can be covered under Musculoskeletal, section 1.00. To qualify, you must have a significant history of joint pain and stiffness, together with loss of motion in the joint. Your osteoarthritis must make it extremely difficult to use both your hands effectively to work or complete everyday tasks.
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Joins Affected By Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is most commonly seen affecting the joints of the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. Rheumatoid arthritis in the wrists and hands can sometimes be mistaken for soreness due to over-usage but will persist much longer and degrade the joint over time. In most cases RA will affect the joints bilaterally, meaning if you have RA in your right hand, then you will most likely also have it in your left hand.
Listing 116 Lumbar Stenosis Resulting In Compromise Of The Cauda Equina
To qualify for disability because of lumbar spinal stenosis under Listing 1.16, you must demonstrate that you suffer from all of the following:
- non-radiating pain, non-radiating sensory loss, or pain or cramping in one or both legs
- neurological signs of muscle weakness and either sensory changes or decreased deep tendon reflexes in one of both legs
- X-rays or MRIs showing that the cauda equina is compressed, and
- an inability to use your hands for work because:
- you need an assistive device for walking that requires both hands
- you need a device that requires use of one hand, but youâre unable to use the other hand for work-related tasks, or
- you arenât able to use either hand for work-related tasks.
The last requirement rules out all those who are living with great pain but who are able to walk and get places without assistance.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Impact Many Joints Including The:
If multiple joints are involved, you may not be able to perform fingering tasks such as grasping, typing, or writing. You may also require a device to help you with your mobility, such as a walker or cane.
Because of mobility limitations, you cant operate heavy equipment or drive a tractor-trailer. Any pain medications can cause drowsiness and dizziness, which means you cant drive or operate machinery.
Because of finger and wrist involvement, you may not be able to perform sedentary work such as data entry or operate a hospital switchboard.
Symptoms Vary And May Come And Go
A person may experience a period of increased swelling and inflammation called flares or periods of remission where swelling is reduced or even disappears for a while. In most cases, symptoms occur in joints on both sides of the body and include:
- joints that are swollen, tender and warm to the touch
- joint stiffness that is worse in the morning or following a period of inactivity
- appearance of bumps of tissue called rheumatoid nodules
Contact a Social Security disability attorney at 512-454-4000 for a free consultation and see if you can get disability benefits while suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis. If you have been denied disability dont give up!
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How Ra Medication Side Effects Affect Disability Claims
When filing a long-term disability claim, something that many fail to consider are the potential side effects from RA medication. Although not a given, there is always a chance that medication may cause disabling effects. This is something your insurance company is required to consider during the claim process.
A medication that causes extreme fatigue, drowsiness, or other disabling conditions can lead to a higher likelihood of your disability benefits being approved. Insurance companies cannot fault you for actively taking your medication, even if the medication leads to further disability at work. Be sure to make note of what medication you are prescribed, as well as any side effects you experience while taking it.
Qualifying For Disability Under The Listings For Back Problems
Its fairly common for osteoarthritis to occur in the facet joints in between the vertebrae of the spine, but osteoarthritis in the spine qualifies for disability benefits only under certain conditions. To meet the requirements of the listing for spinal disorders, you must have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in your spine and one of the following:
- compression of a spinal nerve root that limits the motion of your spine and makes it extremely difficult to walk and/or use your hands, or
- narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower lumbar region that affects your nerve roots and makes it extremely difficult to walk and/or use your hands.
For the specific disability criteria for each of these back problems, see our individual articles on getting disability for them by visiting the links above.
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The Criteria Under This Listing Is Lengthy And Complex You Must Satisfy One Of The Following Conditions:
- Rheumatoid arthritis must affect both arms preventing any tasks involving the arms or
- Rheumatoid arthritis must be present in a leg joint causing difficulty walking. You must need to use a cane, walker, or wheelchair or
- You have inflammation or a deformity in one or more major joint with involvement of two or more organs or body systems resulting in at least two of the following symptoms: fever, malaise, severe fatigue, or involuntary weight loss or
- You have ankylosing spondylitis or another spondyloarthropathy with fixation of the spine of at least 45 degrees. or
- You have ankylosing spondylitis with 30 degrees fixation of the spine and involvement with two or more body systems or
- You have repeated flare-ups of RA with 2 of the following symptoms: fever, malaise, extreme fatigue, or weight loss.
Limitations For Specific Jobs
Your ability to work can suffer significant impact from your rheumatoid arthritis. As an example, if your joints have been attacked by RA, you may not be able to stand long periods or sit long periods because of the severe pain.
You will have to reposition yourself frequently, which can impact your ability to perform many jobs.
If different body systems have been impacted, such as your kidneys, and dialysis is necessary, you will require frequent medical visits that leave you exhausted and unable to function properly, so you cant work in a factory or a warehouse where standing for long periods is required.
Because RA can impact any joints, you may find your fingers and wrists are significantly impacted and cannot move well.
Due to limited mobility of the hands and fingers as well as the pain suffered, you may find you cannot perform fingering tasks or grasp small items, so you wont be able to perform data entry, secretarial, or product inspection duties.
Finally, if your condition has left you unable to lift, carry, or reach, you cant work retail, in shipping and receiving, in a distribution center, or as a first responder or in emergency services.
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Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Qualify For Disability
Rheumatoid arthritis is considered a disability by the SSA and you are able to get disability benefits with rheumatoid arthritis.
In order to qualify for disability benefits with rheumatoid arthritis, you need to meet the medical requirements listed in the SSAs Blue Book.
The Blue Book is the list of conditions that can qualify someone for disability benefits. When you send in your SSDI application, the SSA will look at your application and see if it matches with the Blue book listing for inflammatory arthritis.
While there is not exact listing for rheumatoid arthritis, you can still get disability rheumatoid arthritis if you meet the Blue Book listing for inflammatory arthritis.
The most important thing that you need to know in order to qualify for disability benefits with is to make sure that you have detailed medical records and medical history to back up your claim that you can no longer work because of your rheumatoid arthritis.
Helping You Apply For A Disability Tax Credit For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Disability Credit Canada exists to help those overwhelmed by the cost of biologics and other drug treatments obtain the benefits they so desperately need under the Disability Tax Credit program. Weve seen the difference this program can make in the lives of our clients and make it our mission to ensure they receive the maximum benefits theyre entitled to by law.
If you or someone you know is disabled by RA or any other disease or condition and find out more about what we can do for you. You can have no more effective advocate in your corner as your application winds its way through the Disability Tax Credit approval process. Even if you have previously been denied benefits under the Disability Tax Credit there is a good chance we can get your rejection overturned on appeal. So dont wait another day. Call us. The financial assistance you need is out there. We can help you get it.
Use Our Simple Calculator to Estimate Your Disability Tax Credits & Benefits
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Paying For Your Medicines
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, youâre likely to need repeat prescriptions of medicine to keep your condition under control.
Rheumatoid arthritis is not listed as a medical condition that entitles a person to free prescriptions in England.
But you may be able to get your medicine for free if your condition falls under the category of âa continuing physical disability which means the person cannot go out without the help of another personâ.
Youâre also entitled to free prescriptions if youâre 60 or over, or if you receive either:
- income-based Jobseekerâs Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
If you are not entitled to free prescriptions, you may find it cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate .
This is effectively a prescription âseason ticketâ that covers all your prescriptions over a 3- or 12-month period.
Read more about help with prescription costs to see if youâre entitled to free prescriptions.
Further information
Does Having Rheumatoid Arthritis Qualify You For Disability
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis is a leading cause of work disability among US adults. Amid the different types of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, a painful autoimmune disorder, in which the bodys immune system attacks the joints. There is no cure for this disease, and while there are treatments available, they do not work for every patient.
Because rheumatoid arthritis can affect any joint in the body, and often progresses to affect several minor and major joints, many workers with this medical condition find it difficult or impossible to continue working. If you suffer from this disease, you might be wondering what your options are regarding disability. Lets take a look at whether or not having rheumatoid arthritis qualifies you for disability.
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