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Arthritis Can Limit Your Income. You May Need Benefits.

Cutter Hall Karlock, LLC Oct. 7, 2021

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. As many individuals know, arthritis can be extremely painful and debilitating, especially when the hands are affected. Moreover, an inability to grasp, pull, write or type can severely limit a person’s job functions.

At Cutter Hall Karlock, LLC, we know that living with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis is difficult. If you cannot work because of arthritis, we can help you apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Drawing on our over 60 years of combined experience, we will ensure that you file the strongest possible claim.

Limited Mobility and (unlimited) Pain Could Prevent You from Working

Arthritis can become disabling because of the severe and pervasive nature of its symptoms. The most common effects include joint pain, tenderness and stiffness in the affected joint. Additionally, some people develop bone spurs and related complications, including:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease

  • Sjögren’s syndrome

  • Gout and pseudogout

  • Reiter’s syndrome

  • Ankylosing spondylitis

  • Behçet’s disease

  • Whipple’s disease

Such conditions can limit your ability to engage in basic tasks — you may be unable to sit, stand or walk for any length of time. The muscles and ligaments around the affected joint can weaken, further limiting mobility and strength. Depending on the type and severity of the arthritis, some people also suffer from fatigue, fever or involuntary weight loss.

As such, arthritis may make it impossible to do any type of work and thereby render you eligible for SSD benefits. Still, obtaining such benefits is no easy task.

You must prove your disability to the Social Security Administration (SSA), which requires you to gather and assemble a great deal of medical evidence to support your claim. With the knowledge they have learned over the years, our attorneys know exactly what information the SSA wants to see, including testing criteria for weight-bearing joints, upper extremities and lower extremities. We will review your claim to make sure you have had the relevant tests.

Learn If You Qualify At A Free Consultation

If you are uncertain whether you are eligible for SSD benefits, we can help assess your case — and will do so for free. Reach out to us by calling our Columbus office or contact us online. Our lawyers are wholly dedicated to Social Security matters, and serve throughout central and southern Ohio.