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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for Arthritis

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Arthritis is a common medical condition that can significantly impact a person’s daily activities. National Health Interview Survey data spanning 2019-2021 estimated that approximately 53.2 million U.S. adults aged 18 and older reported having diagnosed arthritis.

Arthritis is a leading cause of disability. It can limit a person’s ability to perform work-related tasks and interfere with daily life. For this reason, many people wonder if they can get SSDI for arthritis.

Determining eligibility for disability benefits is not always simple, as it hinges on multiple factors. However, if arthritis hinders your ability to work, you may meet the criteria to receive benefits.

What Are SSDI Benefits?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for disabled workers who have paid into the Social Security System over time. SSDI provides financial support to individuals who can no longer work because of serious medical conditions.

How Does Arthritis Qualify for SSDI?

If you’re unable to work due to severe arthritis, SSDI may be available if you meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) qualifying criteria.

How To Get SSDI

Eligibility for SSDI is based on your work history and the severity of your medical condition. Additionally, you must have a sufficient work history. If you haven’t worked or haven’t worked long enough to earn substantial work credits, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead.

You must also demonstrate that you can’t engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) as a result of your disability.

Applying for SSDI

To receive SSDI benefits for arthritis, you must provide the SSA with both medical and non-medical evidence. This evidence should support your claim that your condition prevents you from working and earning a living wage.

To be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits for arthritis, you must also meet the SSA’s general qualifying criteria. This includes:

  • Your condition is expected to last at least 1 year or result in death.
  • Your condition prevents you from performing SGA (this includes your current job as well as any new type of work you might be able to adjust to).
  • Your condition is a qualifying condition according to the SSA.

In some cases, claimants may not have a qualifying condition but their disability still leaves them unable to work. These claimants may still qualify for benefits if their condition is equal in severity to a listing in the Blue Book (Listing of Impairments). The Blue Book contains various medical conditions that are considered severe enough to qualify for Social Security Disability.

If a claimant’s disability doesn’t equal a listing, they may have to apply for a Medical-Vocational Allowance to obtain benefits.

Proving You Qualify for SSDI With Arthritis

The SSA requires supportive medical and non-medical evidence in order to approve disability claims. Some examples of such evidence include:

  • Medical Test Results (such as imaging, bloodwork, etc.)
  • Records of Current and Past Treatments (and responses to treatment)
  • Physicians’ Notes
  • Examination Reports and Other Medical Records
  • Proof of Constitutional Signs or Symptoms (such as fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss)
  • Statements From Family, Neighbors, Coworkers, or Friends

The SSA will also consider the type of arthritis you have and how it affects your body. For example, do you require an assistive device to move around? Is your condition chronic or do you experience flare-ups?

Types of Arthritis

More than 100 forms of arthritis exist. Arthritis can have a variety of causes, such as autoimmune disease or physical wear and tear. It can affect any part of the body and trigger joint inflammation, stiffness, aching, bone spurs, and other symptoms.

The SSA will evaluate your condition against the criteria outlined in the Blue Book. Some types of arthritis for which you can receive benefits include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Gout

Arthritis in the Blue Book

Various forms of arthritis are in the SSA’s Blue Book. For instance, inflammatory arthritis is listed under section 14.09 under Immune System Disorders. The SSA also evaluates spinal osteoarthritis under section 1.00, Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Even if your condition isn’t in the Blue Book, you may still qualify for disability by showing that your condition is as severe as another listed impairment. Another way to qualify is by seeking benefits based on a different affected body system.

Severe Symptoms of Arthritis

Numerous arthritis sufferers experience debilitating symptoms that impact their ability to complete even sedentary work. Some examples include:

  • Severe Back Pain
  • Trouble Balancing
  • Poor Flexibility/Stiffness
  • Difficulty Walking or Standing for a Long Time
  • Reduced Range of Motion
  • Difficulty Driving
  • Heat Near Joints
  • Pain and Swelling in the Joints

If your arthritis symptoms hinder your ability to carry out SGA, seek advice from a certified disability attorney. The Social Security Administration rejects the majority of initial disability claims. Unfortunately, this is due to the strict review process which helps prevent fraudulent claims.

Collaborating with a seasoned Houston SSDI lawyer can increase your chances of obtaining necessary benefits.

Contact the Law Office of Gerard Lynch

If you’re wondering, “Does arthritis qualify for SSDI?” then contact our law firm. At the Law Office of Gerard Lynch, our experienced legal team is here to fight for the benefits you deserve. With over 30 years of experience, you can depend on us!

Request a free case evaluation today!

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This case was my first time hiring a lawyer but I am glad that the attorney I chose worked diligently with me to help me get the results I was looking for. I am confident in letting the law offices of Gerard Lynch handle my business when needed, and I will be contacting this office when or is there is another matter that I need handled. I, Alexander Foster, am very satisfied with the outcome of my case. The Law Office of Gerard Lynch and I worked together and we achieved the goal that we were striving for. I am so thankful.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be disabled permanently to receive Social Security Disability (SSD)?

A claimant needs to be disabled for at least 12 months or have a medical condition that is terminal or expected to lead to death. Sometimes a claimant is not disabled permanently. In a certain time frame, when they are disabled from working, they could qualify for disability benefits.

It is possible, but rare to receive benefits without any medical evidence to back up your claim. If you do not have recent medical records, it is much harder to win a case. There is a possibility, though not common, that your case might be approved simply by going to a consultative exam by the SSA, where a doctor gives you a physical or mental examination.

One benefit of working with our office is that we will look carefully at your case. If you do not have enough current medical evidence for your claim, we can often give you information about low-income or indigent health services that can help establish a medical record for a low cost or free.

No fees, unless we win your claim! Our law firm, the Law Office of Gerard Lynch, only charges our clients if we win their SSD or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. We charge on a contingency basis, 25% of the back pay awarded to a claimant when we win the case. As of Summer 2024, our fee is capped at $7,200. The fee cap is set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for all representatives, and is periodically adjusted for inflation just like monthly SSD and SSI benefits. Social Security pays us directly so our claimants don’t have to write a check. If we do not win a case, we do not charge anything no matter how much work we have done. Once a client wins and their monthly checks begin, they will keep 100% of their checks.

Social Security Disability (SSD) comes from FICA taxes that are deducted from paychecks during the work history of a person. Every month that a person works and reports income to the government, taxes are deducted which are paid into social security. When FICA taxes are taken out of paychecks, most of it goes into the general Social Security retirement fund. However, a smaller portion goes into the general Social Security disability fund.

Contrary to popular belief, no one has an account set up with the SSA by default, even though all Americans are required to pay taxes into social security. People who become disabled over their lifetime and are not yet eligible to get their full-age retirement benefits can get benefits from the disability fund. They’ll need to apply for these benefits and get approved to receive them.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a different program for disabled people and it is like a form of welfare. More specifically, it is for people who are either too young to have paid enough into the system or have not worked recently enough to receive Social Security Disability (SSD). To receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a claimant has to be equally disabled as a person who receives Social Security Disability (SSD) – the standard for determining disability is the same. One of the main differences in deciding which claimant receives Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) comes from the amount of money paid into the Social Security system over one’s lifetime.

It should also be noted that SSI carries much stricter income and resource qualifications for someone to get approved and maintain these benefits.

If you have any additional questions that we did not answer above, please get in touch with our team at The Law Office of Gerard Lynch. Unlike the larger Social Security disability lawyers of Houston, our office will make sure you’re treated as more than just a claim. Let our attorney review your disability claim and help you seek the peace you deserve.

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