Rheumatoid Arthritis Disability Benefits & Legal Assistance
About 1.5 million people in the United States have rheumatoid arthritis, a painful and disabling autoimmune disease. If you are one of them, you are keenly aware of how joint inflammation, swelling, and stiffness make it difficult to perform even the simplest task, such as using your hands to open a door or get up from a chair.
Rheumatoid arthritis can eventually harm the lungs, heart, and other internal organs. If you have been diagnosed with the disease and cannot work, the rheumatoid arthritis disability attorneys at GCC Law Firm can help you navigate through the rheumatoid arthritis disability claim process.
Disability benefits available through the Social Security Administration (SSA) provide monthly cash payments when you can no longer work because of worsening symptoms. However, qualifying for them is not easy. The claims of only 38% of applicants for disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs are approved during the initial disability review process. Let GCC Law take on the fight for rheumatoid arthritis disability benefits and relieve you of the burden.
Symptoms and Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disability Benefits
Rheumatoid arthritis results from your body’s immune system attacking joint linings and eventually progressing to damaging bones and cartilage. It may also harm internal organs and the nervous system.
Symptoms may develop gradually and disappear for days or even months before returning. Symptoms usually occur first in the joints, particularly the hands, fingers, wrists, and feet, and may include the following:
- Stiffness
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Warmth in the joints
- Redness
- Joint deformity
You also may feel fatigued, have a fever, or notice a loss of appetite as the disease worsens. Just be aware that symptoms may not be the same for everyone, so discuss your symptoms with a healthcare professional and get a proper diagnosis.
A doctor may do X-rays, blood tests, and examine the affected joints to determine the range of motion, swelling and note any discomfort you experience. The examination and diagnosis are essential to document and prove the severity of your medical condition, how much it limits your ability to use the affected joints, and how it affects your ability to do work activities.
Once your doctor can develop a treatment plan after ruling out other medical conditions, such as lupus, as the cause of the symptoms you experience. Prescription medications, including corticosteroids, and physical therapy have proven to be effective in controlling the disabling effects of the disease. However, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that cannot be cured.
Qualifying for Rheumatoid Arthritis Disability Benefits
If your condition worsens and prevents you from working, qualifying for rheumatoid arthritis disability benefits can provide financial assistance through the SSDI and SSI programs. You must, however, have a disability that meets the standards used by the SSA.
Federal regulations define “disability” as a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or impairments preventing a person from doing substantial gainful activity. The impairment or impairments must be expected to last for a continuous 12-month period or result in death.
Rheumatoid arthritis qualifies as a disability for SSDI and SSI according to the federal standards, provided it is severe and prevents you from working. The SSA does not pay disability benefits for partial or temporary disability.
Qualifying for disability benefits is not easy. The rheumatoid arthritis disability attorneys at GCC Law present a strong claim documented by medical evidence to get a favorable outcome during the disability determination process.
The SSA uses the following five-step process to determine if you have a disability that qualifies for SSI or SSDI benefits:
- Are you capable of doing substantial gainful activity (SGA)? If you work and earn over $1,620 monthly in 2025, you are not disabled because you are doing SGA. The SGA earnings limit can change annually. If you’re not working or not earning more than the SGA limit, your claim goes to the next step.
- Do you have a severe impairment? The medical evidence must prove that a permanent, total, and severe impairment prevents you from doing work-related activities. If it does, then the process moves to the next step.
- Does your impairment meet or equal a listing? The SSA uses a listing of impairments considered severe enough to satisfy the requirements of the disability definition. Section 14.09 of the listings, “inflammatory arthritis,” includes rheumatoid arthritis. The listing contains the criteria required to meet the listing, such as persistent inflammation or deformity of one or more major weight-bearing joints that prevent you from walking effectively. If the medical evidence proves that your condition satisfies all the criteria, you are disabled. However, if you do not meet the listing requirements, the next two steps provide additional opportunities to qualify for benefits with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Can you do the work you did in the past? Residual functional capacity (RFC) is an assessment of the limitations of your medical condition on your ability to work. The SSA determines your RFC and uses it to evaluate your ability to do work you did in the past. If you cannot do past work, the process moves to the last step.
- Can you adjust to doing other kinds of work? A determination is made of your ability to do other work available in the national or regional economy based on your RFC, age, education, and work experience. If you cannot adjust, then you are disabled.
If your claim for Social Security disability for rheumatoid arthritis is denied, you have the right to challenge it. According to the SSA, the appeal process, which can include a hearing with an administrative law judge or a review by a federal court judge, turns many denied claims for SSI or SSD for rheumatoid arthritis into approvals.
GCC Law Gives You A Chance Win Disability Benefits For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Data released from the federal government shows that people seeking SSDI and SSI disability benefits with representation are three times more likely to succeed than those representing themselves. Learn how our compassionate and knowledgeable rheumatoid arthritis disability attorneys can make a difference by contacting GCC Law for a free consultation.
Call Our Illinois Rheumatoid Arthritis Disability Lawyers Today
At GCC Law Firm, our Illinois Rheumatoid Arthritis disability attorneys provide personalized, solutions-driven legal advocacy for clients. If your SSDI or SSI claim has been denied in Illinois, we can help. Contact us to schedule a free and completely confidential initial consultation, please contact our law firm today.
Call (479) 340-0002.