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What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a type of joint disorder characterized by pain, stiffness and inflammation in the affected parts of the body. There are many different forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and various other forms of autoimmune disease based arthritis.

How does Arthritis relate to Social Security Disability?

Arthritis can cause serious, chronic pain in the joints that is exasperated by some types of physical activity. An individual who suffers from severe arthritis may be unable to work due to pain associated with completing work tasks.

Determining Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that arthritis can be a disabling condition. However, the SSA will not automatically find you disabled simply because you suffer from this condition or you can show that you have been diagnosed with arthritis. Instead, under SSA's rules there are basically two ways to show that your arthritis is disabling.