Qualifying for Disability Benefits (SSDI) with Arthritis in New Jersey

The Social Security Administration provides programs that offer benefits to people who suffer from disabilities. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), specifically, provides benefits to people who are unable to earn a living. One of the conditions that qualifies for SSDI benefits is arthritis. However, potential applicants should know that the SSA has strict requirements for qualifying for SSDI benefits. To learn more about how you can use the help of the New Jersey Social Security disability lawyers at Young Marr & Associates to file an application for disability benefits for your arthritis that has a high chance of being accepted, call (215) 701-6519 today. We offer free consultations to New Jersey residents seeking benefits for arthritis symptoms preventing them from working or affecting quality of life.

Arthritis as Defined by the Social Security Administration

There are many conditions that qualify for disability that New Jersey residents can use to receive Social Security disability benefits. To be able to receive Social Security Disability Insurance for arthritis, the condition must affect the lives of applicants in specific ways. To determine whether a condition is severe enough to require Social Security Disability Insurance payments, the Social Security Administration uses the guidelines included in the Listing of Impairments (also known colloquially as the “Blue Book”).
Inflammatory arthritis is a listing in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments, as well as the following arthritis-related disorders: gout, pseudogout, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lyme disease, Behçet’s disease, Ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, and Whipple’s disease. The three main categories of arthritis recognized by the SSA, however, are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory arthritis.
According to the Listing of Impairments, arthritis is severe enough to qualify an applicant for Social Security Disability Insurance payments if there is persistent inflammation or deformity of the joints, spine, and/or organ systems, or if there are repeated manifestations of inflammatory arthritis that limit your movement, social functioning, and daily life. Arthritis has a severe impact on motor skills, which means that it frequently interferes with the ability to perform simple tasks.

How to Qualify for Social Security Benefits in New Jersey

Qualifying for SSDI benefits in New Jersey means meeting certain requirements set by the Social Security Administration. An applicant for SSDI benefits in New Jersey must have a condition that is considered to be a severe disability, which means that the applicant is unable to work and earn an income. The disability must have already affected the applicant for 12 consecutive months, be expected to last for at least 12 months into the future, or be expected to result in death.
If an applicant has what the Social Security Administration determines to be “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), they will not be eligible to receive SSDI benefits. “Substantial gainful activity” is any level of income that exceeds a certain limit. In 2019, this limit is $1,220 per month. (The limit is slightly higher for blind applicants at $2,040 per month.) Also, applicants should note that this income limit is slightly different for owners of small businesses.

The Process of Applying for SSDI Benefits

There are three ways to apply for SSDI benefits in New Jersey: visiting the Social Security Administration’s website, calling their office by phone, or visiting their office in person. When you apply, you will need to bring your Social Security Number, birth certificate, and all medical records that are relevant to your condition.
Applicants for SSDI benefits should know that the denial of benefits happens far more frequently than acceptance. In fact, 70% of applications for benefits are denied. Applicants who have been denied are able to file appeals for Social Security benefit denials, however.
The most common reason that SSDI benefit applicants are denied is that their conditions are not considered severe enough to prevent them from working and earning a living, or else the condition fails to meet another requirement, such as those involving the length of the illness. In other cases, they earn too much income to qualify for SSDI benefits, or their application has major technical errors.
Furthermore, applicants should know that the waiting period between applying and receiving a determination about acceptance or denial is long, lasting between 3 and 5 months. To alert applicants about whether or not they have been chosen to receive benefits, the Social Security Administration will send a letter to applicants that either tells them that they were accepted and the amount that they can expect to receive or that they were denied and the reason why.

How a Disability Attorney Can Help You

A lawyer who has specialized knowledge in the field of Social Security Disability Insurance can significantly help applicants’ chances of having their application approved by the SSA. Lawyers experienced in this field know the specific information that the Social Security Administration is looking for. SSDI lawyers can help applicants who are applying for the first time as well as applicants who are filing appeals that have been denied in the past.
The Social Security disability lawyers at Young Marr & Associates are able to assist SSDI applicants who have arthritis or other ailments in filing an application that has a high chance of being approved. Young Marr & Associates have an 80% success rate, which is substantially higher than the industry-wide success rate of 62%.

Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney Today

If you would like to learn more about how you can successfully file an application for disability benefits for arthritis, get in touch with Young Marr & Associates today. With over 25 years of experience dealing with thousands of cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, they are equipped to help you file an effective application for SSDI benefits for your arthritis. You can set up a free and confidential consultation to talk about your application. Call (215) 701-6519 today.