It can be difficult, if not impossible, to do many of the things you used to do when the pain, swelling and fatigue of severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flare up.
You might not be able to manage stairs, hold something in your hand, or even stand. One thing is certain: You can’t do the work you’ve been doing, or realistically switch to some other kind of work.
If the symptoms of severe RA are preventing you from working, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits could help you pay bills, buy groceries, and keep a roof over your head.
Not only that, but benefits also qualify you for Medicare health coverage so you can get the care and treatment you need.
But SSDI is a lengthy, complicated process, and most first-time applications are denied. The average person isn’t familiar with Social Security’s vast network of rules and regulations or how to compile the evidence needed to support a successful application.
Rheumatoid arthritis is tricky in a disability benefits application because every person’s case is different and the severity level of this condition can vary widely.
At Lachman & Gorton Law Office, we take pride in helping our neighbors in Elmira, Binghamton, Rochester, and all over Upstate New York get the disability benefits they deserve.
Our New York disability lawyers can guide you through the maze of rules and steps that make up the Social Security process.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing painful swelling in the affected parts of the body.
The good news is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes RA as an impairment that qualifies for disability benefits.
The condition is covered in their listing of impairments under the section on Autoimmune Disorders, which are “caused by dysfunctional immune responses directed against the body’s own tissues, resulting in chronic, multisystem impairments that differ in clinical manifestations, course, and outcome.”
The SSA will look for the following symptoms when evaluating your case for SSDI:
Even if you don’t have these exact symptoms, you can still win benefits. The important thing is proving that your symptoms make it impossible for you to work.
We know you probably have questions about Social Security Disability. We can answer any queries you have, and we can even evaluate your case at no charge to you.
To win SSDI benefits, you’ll first need to meet the basic criteria for disability benefits by proving that your rheumatoid arthritis will last at least a year and that it prevents you from
doing the work you were doing or switching to another type of work.
Then you’ll need to provide documented evidence of the nature and severity of your RA symptoms, including:
Your disability benefits claim requires you to cross reference your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, their severity, and the limitations they create with the demands of any jobs you would otherwise be able to do.
You also need to factor in any other impairments you have that may combine with RA to make working even harder.
Let Lachman & Gorton ease your burden. We know the system. We know the people in it. We know what information you need and how to present it. Most importantly we can help give you the best chance to win.
That means we help you avoid common mistakes in the application process. Tiny errors, even clerical, can bring back a denial.
Let us handle the legal legwork of applying for Social Security Disability for rheumatoid arthritis. And if you’ve been denied, we can help you file an appeal.
Call us today to start taking back control of your life.