Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can make tasks like getting dressed, typing, or gripping certain objects hard to manage. When joint pain, stiffness, and swelling get in the way of your ability to do your job, it can be tough to keep up.
For some people, the symptoms become so challenging to manage that continuing to work just isn’t possible. In those cases, rheumatoid arthritis can be considered a disability, which can open the door to benefits and support that can help make life a little easier.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses certain criteria to determine if rheumatoid arthritis can be considered a disability. To qualify as a disability, a health condition must be serious enough to keep you from working and earning a living. It also has to be expected to last at least 12 months or be life-threatening.
There are two types of disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is for those who have worked and paid into Social Security through their jobs. SSI is for people with little or no income or work history. You might be eligible for one or both programs, and both use the same medical criteria to determine if you qualify.
When Would RA Be Considered a Disability?
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, here are four possible ways your condition might meet the SSA’s definition of a disability:
1. You Need Help Moving Around or Using Your Hands
This includes situations where:
- You need an assistive device like a walker, two canes, crutches, or a wheelchair that requires both hands to operate.
- You’re unable to use one arm for work tasks and need the other arm to operate a device, such as a cane or wheelchair.
- You have difficulty using both arms well enough to do tasks like typing, lifting, or reaching.
2. RA Affects Multiple Body Systems
This generally applies when:
- You have inflammation or damage in a major joint, like your knee or shoulder.
- RA impacts at least two other body systems, such as your lungs, heart, or eyes.
- You experience two or more severe symptoms like fatigue, fever, feeling generally unwell, or losing weight without trying.
3. Your Spine Is Severely Affected
You might qualify if you have one of the following:
- You have a related type of arthritis, like ankylosing spondylitis, that has caused your spine to fuse or stiffen in a way that limits how you move your neck or back.
- Your spine is fused or fixed at 45 degrees or more from standing straight up
- Your spine is fused at 30-45 degrees, and the condition affects two or more body systems.
4. You Have Repeated Flare-Ups That Severely Affect Your Life
This includes cases where you have at least two symptoms, like severe fatigue, fever, feeling unwell, or unexplained weight loss, as well as repeated RA flare-ups that cause problems with one of the following areas:
- Doing daily tasks like bathing, cooking, or cleaning
- Keeping up with social interactions
- Finishing tasks on time due to trouble concentrating
You can apply for disability online, by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visiting a local SSA office in person. You’ll need to show proof that you’re eligible for disability and provide medical evidence to support how RA limits your ability to work. Here’s what the SSA generally looks for:
- Medical records from your doctors confirming your RA diagnosis, treatment history, and how your condition affects your ability to function
- Laboratory results, X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other tests that document your condition and its severity
- Reports from your doctors explaining what tasks you can and can’t perform, including sitting, standing, walking, lifting, or limitations with using your hands
- Documentation of how RA affects your daily life, including problems with cooking, getting dressed, or keeping up with the demands of your job
- Records showing how often your symptoms flare up, how severe they are, medications you take, and any side effects you experience
- A history of how your condition has changed or worsened over time
The SSA generally requests your medical records directly from your doctors, but it helps to submit any records you already have. Having complete and detailed medical records can greatly improve your chances of approval.
Denials: Getting approved for disability benefits for RA can take months, and dealing with paperwork while you’re managing RA symptoms can feel frustrating and overwhelming. Most people who apply for disability are denied on their first try. Denials generally occur because the SSA needs more information or stronger proof of the health condition’s impact on someone’s ability to work.
Appeal Process: If your application is denied, you have the right to appeal. You might find it helpful to work with a disability attorney who understands the system and can help gather supportive medical evidence and speak on your behalf. The appeals process has several levels, and while it takes time and patience, many people who were initially denied are later approved. So, it’s worth maintaining detailed documentation, appealing if denied, and getting assistance when needed.
Everyone’s experience with RA is different. Some people are able to manage their symptoms and continue working with few changes. But for others, the pain, stiffness, and fatigue can make it hard to continue working, especially if symptoms flare often or worsen over time.
Here are some common ways RA can make working difficult:
- Joint pain and stiffness: Jobs that involve typing, writing, or using tools can become painful when your fingers are swollen or stiff. Holding a pen or using a mouse may be more than you can manage on some days.
- Fatigue: Fatigue is one of the biggest challenges that people with RA face when trying to stay employed. More than 70% of people with RA experience fatigue, which can significantly impact their well-being and ability to function.
- Unpredictable flare-ups: RA symptoms can come and go, making it hard to predict how you’ll feel each day. You might miss work due to flare-ups, medical appointments, or needing extra recovery time.
- Physical limitations: You may find it uncomfortable to sit or stand for extended periods. Jobs that require physical activity, like reaching, lifting, or pulling objects, can become challenging.
- Medication side effects: RA medications like pain relievers, corticosteroids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can have side effects, which can further impact your ability to work.
- Schedule disruption: Getting your body moving in the morning often takes longer when your joints are rigid and painful. This can create challenges with getting to work on time consistently.
- Decreased productivity: Some people experience trouble with memory, attention, decision-making, and brain fog. Even when you’re at work, RA symptoms can significantly impact your productivity.
Missing work, cutting back hours, or stepping away from your job entirely can not only lead to financial stress, but it can also affect your mental health and ability to stay connected with others.
Even if you don’t qualify for disability benefits, you still have rights at work that can help you stay employed and productive. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities, as long as those changes aren’t too difficult or costly for the employer.
If you have limited mobility, significant pain, or moderate to severe RA, you may qualify for work accommodations, such as:
- Ergonomic workstations and equipment like special keyboards, mice, or chairs
- Reserved parking spaces close to the building entrance
- Standing desk options so you can change positions when needed
- Modified work schedules, such as starting earlier or later, or working from home options
- Flexible hours to accommodate your energy levels throughout the day
- Extra time for medical appointments
- Additional break time
- Speech recognition software, if typing becomes too painful
- Reassignment to tasks that are less physically demanding
- Modified duties during flare-ups
If you need workplace accommodations, let your employer know as soon as possible. While not required, it can be helpful to put your request in writing and mention the ADA.
RA symptoms like pain, fatigue, and joint stiffness can affect your ability to work in many ways. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has specific criteria you must meet to qualify for disability benefits with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
If you don’t qualify for disability or while you wait for an answer from the SSA, you may be able to stay employed with accommodations, like flexible schedules, ergonomic tools, or adjusted tasks. Getting approved for disability takes time and isn’t easy, but many people succeed after filing an appeal.
