Social Security Disability Is an Option for Some Psoriatic Arthritis Sufferers

Approximately 30 percent of people who have psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. This form of inflammatory arthritis can result in permanent joint damage and persistent pain, swelling, and stiffness. It can leave you unable to work, despite the many treatments you’ve tried. It can leave you totally and permanently disabled.

And Social Security Disability Benefits May Be an Option for You

If you have worked long enough and you have earned enough work credits to qualify for Social Security disability, you may be able to receive benefits if you meet the other eligibility criteria. Currently, there is not a specific listing for psoriatic arthritis. However, people with psoriatic arthritis may qualify for benefits in one of the following ways:

• Meeting the listing for major dysfunction of a joint. Section 1.02 of the Listing of Impairments allows you to recover Social Security disability benefits if certain conditions of a joint impact your ability to move.
• Meeting the listing for disorders of the spine. If your psoriatic arthritis impacts your spine and meets the requirements of Section 1.04 of the Listing of Impairments, you may qualify for Social Security disability.
• Meeting the listing for inflammatory arthritis. Since psoriatic arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis, you may qualify pursuant to Section 14.09 of the Listing of Impairments if you meet the requirements of that section.
• Meeting any other entry in the Listing of Impairments. This could include any listing for which you meet the eligibility requirements. One example is Section 1.03 which allows people to recover benefits if they had reconstructive surgery of a major joint that results in movement complications.
• Establishing that your residual functional capacity prevents you from working. Even if you don’t meet the specific requirements of any section of the Listing of Impairments, you may be able to recover Social Security disability benefits if you can establish that you have serious limitations because of your condition that prevent you from working.

How you qualify will depend on the way your psoriatic arthritis impacts your health.

Don’t Apply for Benefits Alone

Instead, make sure you have the help you need by working with an experienced Social Security disability lawyer who can guide you through the complicated process of applying for Social Security disability benefits. To learn more, contact us today via this website or by phone to schedule an initial consultation.

by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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