Ohio Social Security Disability And SSI Legal Blog

When rheumatoid arthritis makes working difficult (or impossible)

Rheumatoid arthritis can have many impacts on those who suffer from it. Some of these effects can touch on one’s ability to work in one’s chosen profession, such as:

  • Pain
  • Joint immobility
  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Vocal cord issues
  • Side effects from arthritis medications

The severity of such impacts can vary greatly. Also, how deeply they could affect one’s ability to work is influenced by what field a person is in.

So, what developing rheumatoid arthritis will ultimately mean for one’s work future varies from person to person. Some people are able to continue working without much in the way of disruption or adjustments. Others are able to stay in their job if they get appropriate accommodations from their employer.

Others though face symptoms so great that they end up having to leave the workforce. Research points to this remaining very common. A couple of recent studies have indicated that around a third of people who get rheumatoid arthritis are out of the workforce within five years.

When a person is unable to work due to this condition, he or she may have a great many worries about meeting his or her expenses. One thing that could help on this front are Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

Now, the eligibility rules and application process for such benefits can get very complex. Also, it is not at all uncommon for an initial claim for SSDI to be denied. So, there are a range of barriers sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis could face to getting the benefits they need after being knocked out of the workforce by their condition. It is important to know that one doesn’t have to try to overcome these challenges alone. Skilled attorneys can help SSDI applicants with navigating the claims process and with appealing claim denials. They can guide applicants through the various steps that can be taken towards upping the chances of success.