Two leading causes of disability

Two of the leading causes of disability in Philadelphia and the country are joint problems and arthritis.  

If you suffer joint pain or damage for any reason, including arthritis, you may be eligible for Philadelphia Social Security disability benefits.  

How joint damage and arthritis cases are evaluated by the Social Security Administration (SSA)

In order to judge whether or not you have been disabled as a result of your joint or arthritis problems, the Social Security Administration first looks at the severity of your joint dysfunction.  They will compare your problems to the listing pertaining to joint dysfunction.  This comparison comes as part of Step three of the Social Security Administration’s Sequential Evaluation Process.

For many of the most common impairments, including joint damage and arthritis, the Social Security Administration has established a set of rules known as the Listing of Impairments.  The listing for any single impairment gives a description of a certain level of severity that the SSA assumes might prevent one from performing significant work.  In the event that your immobility or joint pain is severe enough to meet or exceed what is described in the listing, the SSA will consider you to be disabled.  

The joint dysfunction listing for Social Security is 1.02.  This listing contains two parts: part A and part B.  If you meet either of the two parts, you will satisfy the requirements of the listing and be eligible for Philadelphia Social Security Disability benefits.  

Parts A and B of listing 1.02 both require that you have the following:

• Significant dysfunction of a joint for any reason
• Gross anatomical deformity (e.g., instability, subluxation, contracture); and
• Chronic stiffness and joint pain; with
• Visible indications of limited motion or other impaired motion of the affected joints; and
• Appropriate medical imaging findings of bony destruction or ankyloses of the injured joints.

In addition to the requirements listed above, you also must meet either Part A or part B’s additional requirements, listed below.

Part A.  Part A requires at least one major peripheral weight-bearing joint such as a hip, ankle, or knee joint be impaired to the point of an “inability to ambulate effectively”.  An inability to ambulate effectively is defined by listing 1.00B as an extreme limitation in one’s ability to walk that will interfere with one’s ability to begin, maintain, or complete activities.

Part B.  Part B requires at least one major peripheral joint in the upper extremities such as the wrist-hand, elbow, or shoulder, resulting in a lack of ability to perform gross and fine motor movements effectively. The inability to perform fine and gross movements constitutes an extreme loss of function of both upper extremities, which interferes with one’s ability to begin, maintain, or complete activities.  

The above is only a partial list of the requirements set forth in sections 1.00 and 1.02.  

If you’re suffering from an inability to work or complete daily tasks of living due to extreme arthritis or joint pain, contact our office today.  Our experienced Philadelphia disability insurance lawyers will fight to get your claim accepted.

 

Sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/1.00-Musculoskeletal-Adult.htm#1_02

http://www.philadelphiadisabilityinsurancelawyer.com/orthopedic-injuries/

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