Once arthritis has become a disabling condition, it can become so severe that continuing to work may be impossible. How can you survive and pay the bills when you can no longer work? You may be able to get disability benefit payments from the federal government’s Social Security Administration if your arthritis is severe enough to prevent you from returning to work for at least the next 12 months. If you have already worked long enough, you can obtain disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) route.
In order to obtain disability benefits through the SSDI program you must be able to prove that:
- cannot work for a minimum of 12 months from the onset of disability;
- your arthritis symptoms meet the criteria described in section 14.09 of the SSA Blue Book;
- your medical history and treatment are sufficiently documented to support your claim for benefits;
- You have accumulated sufficient work credits by paying social security taxes while employed.
You can still apply for disability benefits if you are unable to work but do not have enough work credits. The SSA can offer you benefit payments through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. This is available if you meet the criteria for medical benefits but have minimal income and assets. SSI is available if your household income and assets are less than the threshold amounts set by the SSA. Household income includes any income earned or assets held by your spouse or partner.
If you are unable to work and have dependent children and are waiting for a decision from the SSA on disability benefits, you may be able to get help from the state government through the TANF program. TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is a federal program that provides funding to states to help them support temporary assistance to needy families within their state. TANF was actually designed to help state governments help families with children return to financial self-sufficiency, which means going back to work, so this might not be possible if your arthritis is so severe and you are unlikely to treatment options allow you to return to work. soon.
Your health insurance policy, if you have one that is separate from your employer, may provide temporary payments. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurers cannot deny payments to arthritis sufferers. Payments can be up to 80% of the coverage of arthritis treatment costs, including medications.
If all else fails, or you have to wait months for disability benefit payments to begin or you have to appeal a decision, you may be able to find organizations in your state or locality that can provide you with financial assistance. Some examples include:
- Meals on Wheels – can help provide meals to those who are not mobile and need financial assistance for food;
- Needy Meds which can help you obtain medical or financial assistance from other organizations;
- Good Days, a national nonprofit healthcare organization, can help with some medical costs;
- Healthwell Foundation;
- Recipe Disclosure;
- Caring Voices Coalition;
- Squeaky joints;
- Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN).
Applications to the SSA for arthritis disability benefits can be difficult. In many cases, the SSA initially denies a claim for benefits and an appeal is required. You may find that a disability attorney can help you at any stage of a benefits application and may be necessary, especially if you are appealing a denied SSDI benefits decision.
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