How Social Security Disability has Changed Regarding Arthritis

Let’s look at the evolution of the listing for inflammatory or rheumatoid arthritis. The first listing was basically a list of diagnosed condition with no description of severity.

1955: 6 categories of diseases

1. Infectious, rheumatoid or atrophic arthritis
2. Neurogenic arthritis
3. Gout
4. Hypertrophic arthritis
5. Spondylitits
6. Active tuberculous arthritis

When the listing was actually published it did include specific measures of limited range of motion.

1968: 3 Categories

1. Rheumatoid arthritis
2. Neurogenic arthritis
3. Hypertrophic, gouty infectious or traumatic arthritis

More complex descriptions, i.e.: "history of pain and stiffness in involved joints, x-ray evidence of joint space narrowing and osteophytosis or extosis, or bony destruction with erosions and cysts or sbluxation or ankylosis of involved joints"…. and one of seven additional specific criteria involving range of motion. (See also SSDI disability benefits for osteoarthritis).

1986: 1 Category

In 1986 the range of motion criteria changed to a significant restriction rather than specific measures.

One category: Active rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis.

With A & B criteria

A criteria - history of pain, swelling, signs of inflammation on exam, etc.) and

Resulting in significant restriction of function of the affected joints

B criteria - objective (labs or biopsy)

2002

In 2002, although the listing was moved out of the musculoskeletal listing, a new way to meet the listing was added, using the same new functional criteria in the musculoskeletal listing, i.e. inability to ambulate or perform fine or gross movement.

• Moved out of Musculoskeletal to Imnume System
• Includes functional criteria: inability to ambulate or perform fine/gross movement or
• constitutional signs: fatigue, fever, malaise, weight loss & moderately severe involvement of organs/body systems
• Separate criteria for ankylosing spondylitits and other inflammatory spondylo-arthropathies

2008

The 2008 revision now includes a very favorable functional criteria for the claimant; requiring documentation of flare ups and only one marked functional limitation.

• New D Criteria includes functional criteria
• Repeated manifestations of inflammatory arthritis, with at least two of the constitutional symptoms or signs (severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss) and one of the following at the marked level:
  1. Limitation of activities of daily living.
  2. Limitation in maintaining social functioning.
  3. Limitation in completing tasks in a timely manner due to deficiencies in concentration, persistence, or pace

Good News for Arthritis Sufferers

Given all the changes over time with how social security determines the eligibility of arthritis suffers to receive disability benefits, really, arthritis is now easier to meet, not harder or more complex!