Is arthritis a disability?

Is osteoporosis and Rhomitory Arthritis considered a Disability ?

• Is it a big enough disability to get on state disability ?

• Answer:

  Do you mean rheumatoid arthritis? If so, yes both are considered disabilities if you meet certain criteria. The SSA uses the following test to determine if a person with rheumatoid arthritis meets the criteria for awarding Disability Insurance Benefits. The person must have each of the following: A history of persistent joint pain, swelling and tenderness involving multiple major joints which are defined as hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, or wrist and hand. The person must also have signs of joint inflammation such as swelling and tenderness on a current medical exam despite at least three months of prescribed therapy. The person must have significant restriction of the functioning of the affected joints and it must be expected that this condition will last at least twelve months. The diagnosis must also be corroborated by either a blood test that is positive for rheumatoid factor, or positive for antinuclear antibodies, or higher than usual sedimentation rate or characteristic changes in the tissue in a biopsy of the synovial membrane. People with a degenerative arthritis such as osteoarthritis qualify if they have significant limitations while using hands or arms, or while standing or walking. People with back (spine osteoarthritis) or neck osteoarthritis must have persistent sensory, reflex, and motor loss as well. As with any condition where you are trying to qualify for disability, your medical record can make or break your claim. You must have documented medical records outlining treatment, your response, and how the condition has affected your ability to perform normal activities of daily living.