Disability Benefits for Inflammatory Arthritis

Arthritis can make it extremely difficult to use your fine motor skills, much less stand up and walk around. This can make daily life extremely painful and difficult. The limitations and the pain this condition causes may make it very difficult for you to continue working. If the condition is severe enough, you might qualify for Social Security Disability compensation.

The experienced Phoenix Social Security Disability attorneys at Dayes Law Firm PC can examine your claim for inflammatory arthritis during a free initial consultation. We can review your existing medical records and determine if you may be entitled to compensation. We can guide you through every step of the process, including any appeals.

What Is Inflammatory Arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Inflammatory arthritis typically begins in a person’s smaller joints such as in the hands and feet, but it can then spread to other parts of the body, including the knees, hips, elbows and shoulders.

Common symptoms associated with inflammatory arthritis include:

These symptoms can make it difficult for a person to walk, sit or lift as part of his or her job duties. It can also make it difficult to complete normal daily living activities.

Inflammatory arthritis may be connected to other conditions including:

Social Security Definition of Inflammatory Arthritis

One way to qualify for Social Security Disability is to prove your condition fits the criteria in the Blue Book Listing of Impairments. To qualify under the listing for inflammatory arthritis, you must be able to show you have inflammatory arthritis that affects you that results in one of the following:

• Persistent inflammation or deformity – The inflammation or deformity must be in one or more peripheral weight-bearing joints that leaves you unable to ambulate effectively; or in one or more major peripheral joints in your arms that leaves you unable to perform fine or gross movements effectively.
• Inflammation or deformity in peripheral joints with the involvement of two or more organs or body systems, with one system affected to a moderate level of severity; or at least two symptoms like severe fatigue, fever, malaise or involuntary weight loss.
• Ankylosing spondylitis or spondyloarthropathies – This means you need medical imaging tests or physical exam results showing 45 degrees or more of flexion in the cervical spine from the vertical position; or 30 degrees of flexion with the involvement of two or more organs or body systems with a moderate level of severity.

Evidence You Need

Your eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits is primarily based on the evidence that you present as part of your claim. An experienced Social Security disability lawyer can help you identify and gather evidence to support your claim. Some forms of evidence that may help you include:

• Medical information about your diagnosis – Doctors’ notes, imaging test results, blood tests and other diagnostic tests that led to your diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis are important to support your claim.
• Medical information about your treatment plan – You should also provide thorough information about your treatment plan. It is important that you establish that you have followed your doctors’ orders. Be sure that your allergies to treatment and side effects are included in your medical records.
• Information about your limitations – If your doctor has indicated what type of limitations your inflammatory arthritis has on your life, this can help to further support your claim. Also, you can ask former coworkers, friends, family or neighbors to write a note about how your medical condition has affected your ability to perform activities of daily living.

Contact an Experienced Social Security Disability Lawyer

If you have inflammatory arthritis and would like to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, it is important that you have the help of an attorney who can help you demonstrate how your inflammatory arthritis impacts your ability to complete daily activities and to work.

The attorneys at Dayes Law Firm PC are well-versed in all aspects of disability law. We have helped countless individuals apply for benefits for various conditions including inflammatory arthritis. We help with every stage of the appeals process.

We understand that your ability to work is limited and that you might not have excess funds to be able to afford an attorney. At Dayes Law Firm PC, we charge no upfront fees. We also work on a contingency, so you do not owe us anything for our legal services unless you are approved for benefits.

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