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Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a condition that can be particularly debilitating and painful, causing intense flare-ups that cause joints to be become inflamed.

This can make mobility difficult sometimes impossible. Not surprisingly, that can affect the ability to work, no matter your profession.

Although people with PsA can have long periods of remission, with few symptoms or even none, the unpredictability of the condition could require extended periods away from a job, or hinder your ability to look for employment.

According to a 2016 study, one-third of people with PsA reported missing work because of their disease, and the condition impacted their ability to work full-time.

Disability insurance may be able to replace some of that income.

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) is a federal disability insurance benefit for those who have paid into Social Security while working.

If youre in a low-income bracket and havent paid enough into Social Security during your working years to qualify for SSDI, youre not out of luck. In that case, you may be a candidate for a different program called supplemental security income (SSI).

For both SSDI and SSI, benefits are limited to people who fall under the definition of being unable to perform substantial, gainful activity, says Liz Supinski, director of data science at the Society for Human Resource Management.

There are limits on how much a person can earn and still collect, she adds about $1,200 for most people, or around $2,000 per month for blind people.

Some people are covered by private disability insurance, typically acquired through their work, Supinski says.

Having this type of insurance doesnt disqualify you from receiving SSDI, because its usually a short-term benefit with more limited amounts. Because of that, she notes that many people use this insurance to replace income as theyre navigating through the SSDI process.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) categorizes PsA under the classification of immune system impairments, and specifically under sections 14.00D6 and 14.09 as Inflammatory Arthritis.

This encompasses a spectrum of inflammatory arthritis conditions, but all with the main challenge of limiting your movements, mainly through joint pain, swelling, and tenderness.

In addition to PsA, this description could include other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ankylosing spondylitis, and reactive arthritis, also known as Reiters syndrome.

The SSA evaluates the severity of the condition in order to approve disability benefits and acknowledges that your PsA may involve other systems as well, such as:

Because your disability claim is likely to include these types of concerns as well as complications of joint inflammation, its essential to have your medical paperwork together, including insights from your primary care doctor and specialists.

You can apply for disability benefits while youre still employed if your symptoms are significantly impacting your work, although most people tend to apply once theyve left a position, possibly because of their condition, says Supinski.

Whether you have PsA, a different condition, or a combination of conditions, the process for establishing a disability claim will be much more streamlined if you have a breadth of information already in place, says Michelle Ogunwole, MD, a specialist in internal medicine and research fellow at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

If youre managing multiple health issues or a chronic condition like psoriatic arthritis, its already a good idea to compile your medical info in one place, so you have it available for appointments, she says.

That will also give you insight into trends you may not have been seeing before, like possible triggers for a flare-up, she adds.

If possible, have the following information on hand:

Also, let your doctors, colleagues, and family know youll be going through the application process. The SSA gathers input from healthcare providers as well as the applicant and sometimes asks for additional information from family members and co-workers to determine if you qualify as disabled based on SSA criteria.

Claiming disability benefits can be a complex and lengthy process, but taking the time to understand the criteria used by the SSA can help you get closer to getting a claim approved.

Consider reaching out to representatives at your local SSA field office, since they can help you apply for SSDI and SSI benefits.

Make an appointment by calling 800-772-1213, or you can also complete an application online at the SSA website.

Elizabeth Millard lives in Minnesota with her partner, Karla, and their menagerie of farm animals. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including SELF, Everyday Health, HealthCentral, Runners World, Prevention, Livestrong, Medscape, and many others. You can find her and way too many cat photos on her Instagram.

Read the rest here:
A Guide to Disability Benefits and Psoriatic Arthritis - Healthline

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