Arthritis and Depression and Your Rights to Social Security Disability Benefits

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that there are 15 million adults who have arthritis or other related conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, or gout.

A new national study shows that 1/3rd of people with arthritis also experience anxiety or depression. You may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits if you suffer from arthritis with anxiety or depression. The combination of physical or mental impairments are just one example of complex medical conditions that may entitle you to Social Security Disability benefits.

The Social Security Disability benefits are a federally mandated disability insurance programs that operates separately from the retirement and supplemental security income. SSDI will provide monthly benefits to individuals who are under full retirement age and can no longer work because of a disability. If you have worked 20 out of the last 40 quarters, you may be insured as a result of the FICA taxes which are withheld from your paycheck.

Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration doesn’t always make it easy for those with arthritis to get Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration requires that the condition be severe enough to prevent working and, as a result, it is important that you explain to your doctor at every appointment the limitations that you have as a result of your arthritis. Those can include pain, stiffness, swelling, fatigue and emotional issues such as anxiety or depression. You may even have problems sleeping.

The Social Security Administration will evaluate your claim under both the muscular skeletal and immune system using its medical listings. The Social Security Administration will review your doctors’ opinions to see if it should give your doctors’ opinions controlling weight in determining whether or not you are entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. That’s why it’s so important that you give up to date information to your doctor at every visit.

If the Social Security Administration denies your claim for arthritis, you should appeal that claim within 60 days and contact Palm Harbor Social Security Disability arthritis attorney Nancy Cavey who can help you with your Social Security Disability claim no matter where you live in the Tampa Bay area.