Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Is arthritis a disability?

Is arthritis a disability? Can you get disability for arthritis? And how severe does my arthritis have to be to get disability benefits?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) currently benefits millions of Americans and their families. However, many people who could benefit from the program are either unsure that they qualify or are intimidated by the process.   


To see if your arthritis could qualify for disability, we must first understand how disabilities are evaluated.


What is Arthritis?

There are many types of arthritis that affect people all over the world. The two main forms of joint pain are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder that affects the lining of your joints. After some time, it can harm your joint ligament and bones resulting in stiffness and pain.



Osteoarthritis happens when ligaments in your joints wear out over time. Many people may wonder is arthritis a disability. Yes. Arthritis can prompt incapacity, as can numerous other mental and physical conditions that qualify for disability.

If your arthritis confines your daily movements, or activities you may qualify for disability benefits.

Your level of disability depends on the daily activities you find troublesome. For illustration, you'll have trouble:


  1. walking up stairs
  2. walking for an extended period of time
  3. standing or sitting
  4. grasping small objects
  5. lifting 10 pounds or more
  6. holding your arms up
  7. Is Arthritis A Disability?
  8. Yes, arthritis is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration. If you are unable to work because of your arthritis, you may qualify for disability benefits.

Since arthritis is seen as a disability, can you get a disability for arthritis?


The answer to this revolves around your working ability following your arthritis diagnosis. More specifically, if your arthritis keeps you from working for at least 12 months, then you may be able to qualify for disability benefits with arthritis. However, you will need to provide evidence that your arthritis meets the SSA's definition of a disability as well as a Blue Book listing.

How Arthritis Can Cause Joint Dysfunction


If you are out of work for at least 12 months, you get get disability with arthritis.jpegArthritis can cause your joints to encounter major dysfunction due to distortions such as misalignments, shortening of the joint or persistent pain and firmness.


In case your condition has expanded to a dysfunction in any of your joints, you should qualify for benefits.


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Thursday, April 4, 2024

Can I Qualify for Disability For Mental Illness?

Can I Qualify for Disability For Mental Illness?

What Mental Illnesses Qualify for Disability?

Any mental illness that makes it impossible for you to be able to work full time you from can qualify for disability. The most common mental illnesses that can qualify for disability are anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst many others.

The Blue Book is used by the Social Security Administration to establish guidelines for which conditions qualify a claimant for Social Security disability benefits.

 Section 12 of the Blue Book deals with mental disorders, detailing which types of mental disorders can qualify you for benefits, and under what circumstances. There are many mental health conditions that qualify for disability. There are nine categories of mental disorders covered in the Blue Book.


These include:

  • Affective disorders
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Autism and related disorders
  • Intellectual disabilities
  • Organic Mental Disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Schizophrenia, paranoia, and psychotic disorders
  • Somatoform disorders
  • Substance addiction


Each type of disorder is evaluated according to its own set of criteria. To qualify for benefits with that condition, you must be able to show that you meet the criteria or that the sum total of all of your disabling conditions is equivalent to the listed criteria or otherwise completely hinders you from engaging in any gainful activity.

Regardless of which type of mental health disability you are dealing with, you will need to be able to show that you are receiving and complying with treatment.

It is important that you continue to undergo treatment while you are in the process of claiming Social Security disability benefits. If you have a mental health condition and you think it will make it unable for you to work full time, then you may want to speak with a disability lawyer or disability advocate.



If you suffer from any of these medical conditions you should first of all seek medical attention as a doctor’s report is important for proving that your mental condition is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits.

 

As well as your doctor’s report you will need to gather further evidence proving that your mental health is likely to stop you from working for at least 12 months as well as looking in the SSA’s Blue Book that lists of conditions that qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

 

 There are several mental health conditions that can be found in the Blue Book’s list that include bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia.

 

If you can meet the medical requirements the SSA will consider that your mental health is a disability and may approve your claim for disability benefits.

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