Arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, is a common condition among Americans. According to a recent Huffington Post article written by Dr. Kevin Stone, roughly 27 million Americans at or above the age of 25 have osteoarthritis. The need for treatments that effectively address osteoarthritis is therefore great.
Unfortunately, the standard treatments available for osteoarthritis—surgery, drugs, and lifestyle changes—may be workable, but are not as effective as other potential treatments. One treatment avenue which holds promise is cartilage replacement and repair, but this needs more study before it will be widely accepted in the medical community.
For those who live with arthritis of any kind, impairment can make it difficult to keep up with daily tasks and to continue earning money and supporting one’s family. In such cases, those with serious arthritis impairment may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
One can qualify for SSDI benefits for arthritis by meeting the requirements listed in the Social Security Administration’s so-called “blue book,” which is its official listing of impairments and the requirements for qualification. Alternatively, one can qualify by showing that the impairment prevents one from engaging in work activity that goes beyond a minimum established amount—this is know by the term substantial gainful employment.
Adults who suffer with serious arthritis and who are unable to work need to do themselves a favor and look into whether they would qualify for disability benefits based on their condition. While the benefits do not allow anyone to live extravagantly, they can serve as an important lifeline.
Source: Huffington Post, “How Current Arthritis Treatment Fails Patients,” Kevin R. Stone, March 28, 2014.