Is Rheumatoid Arthritis a Disability? Understanding Your SSDI Eligibility

Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often means coping with chronic pain, severe fatigue, joint inflammation, and unpredictable flare-ups. For many people, these symptoms make it difficult, or impossible, to continue working consistently. When RA interferes with the ability to earn a living, Social Security disability benefits may provide critical financial support.

This article explains when rheumatoid arthritis qualifies as a disability, how the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates RA claims, and what evidence is required to build a strong case for disability benefits.

Is Rheumatoid Arthritis a Disability Under Social Security Rules?

Rheumatoid arthritis can qualify as a disability if it prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). However, the SSA does not award benefits based on a diagnosis alone. Instead, it evaluates how severe your RA is and how it limits your ability to function in a work setting.

To qualify, you must show that your RA:

• Causes significant functional limitations;
• Is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death; and
• Prevents you from performing sustained, competitive work.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the synovium, the lining of the joints. This leads to inflammation, pain, stiffness, and progressive joint damage. Over time, RA can cause joint deformities, reduced range of motion, and loss of physical function.

Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear, RA is a systemic inflammatory condition that can affect multiple joints and other organs throughout the body.

Why Disability Benefits Matter for People with RA

RA frequently interferes with employment due to:

• Persistent pain and stiffness
• Reduced mobility and dexterity
• Flare-ups that disrupt work attendance and productivity
• Severe , non-restorative fatigue that does not improve with rest or sleep

   

Even with treatment, many people with RA are unable to maintain consistent work schedules or meet the physical demands of their jobs. Disability benefits can provide financial stability when working is no longer possible.

How the SSA Evaluates Rheumatoid Arthritis

The SSA focuses on functional impact, not diagnosis. This means evaluating how RA affects your ability to perform basic work activities such as standing, walking, lifting, using your hands, concentrating, and maintaining a regular schedule.

The systemic impact of RA

RA affects more than just the joints. Common disabling effects include:

• Chronic pain and prolonged morning stiffness
• Severe fatigue that limits stamina and concentration
• Reduced range of motion and joint deformity
• Difficulty using hands and fingers for fine motor tasks
• Complications affecting organs such as the lungs

The SSA evaluates these symptoms together to determine whether you can perform work on a sustained basis.

How RA can prevent you from working

RA can interfere with essential job functions, including:

• Fine motor skills such as typing, gripping, and writing
• Standing or walking for extended periods
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects
• Maintaining pace, focus, and attendance due to fatigue and pain

If these limitations prevent you from working reliably, the SSA may find you disabled.

Flare-ups and the unpredictability of RA

RA often involves cycles of flare-ups and remission. Even if symptoms improve temporarily, frequent or severe flare-ups can make consistent employment impossible. The SSA recognizes that unpredictable periods of incapacity can be disabling when they prevent sustained work.

Documenting flare-ups, their frequency, duration, and impact, is therefore critical.

SSDI vs. SSI: Which Disability Benefits Are Available?

The SSA offers two main disability programs: SSDI and SSI.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI is available to individuals who:

• Have a qualifying disability; and
• Have earned enough work credits through past employment

Most applicants need about 40 work credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years before becoming disabled. Benefit amounts are based on lifetime earnings.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is a needs-based program for individuals with limited income and resources. It does not require a work history. Some people with RA qualify for SSI if they do not meet SSDI work credit requirements.

To receive SSI benefits, your resources cannot be more than $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples. Resources are the things you own that count toward the resource limit. Common resources are cash, personal property, stocks, and vehicles. There are resources that do not count against this limit. These include the home you live in, the land it is on, and one vehicle that you use for transportation. To get a full list of resources and exceptions, click here.

Medical Eligibility: The SSA Blue Book and RA

The SSA evaluates rheumatoid arthritis using established medical standards and a functional analysis designed to measure the condition’s impact on work capacity. This process begins with a review of the SSA’s medical listings and, if necessary, moves on to a broader assessment of functional limitations.

Rheumatoid arthritis under the Blue Book (Listing 14.09)

The SSA Blue Book is the Social Security Administration’s medical guide that lists impairments considered severe enough to prevent someone from working. It explains the medical criteria the SSA uses to evaluate disability claims at step three of the process. If a claimant’s condition meets or medically equals a Blue Book listing, they can be found disabled without further vocational analysis.

RA is evaluated under Listing 14.09 (Inflammatory Arthritis). To meet this listing, medical evidence must show severe joint dysfunction, such as:

• Marked limitation in the ability to use an upper extremity
• Marked limitation in walking or standing
• Persistent inflammation or pain that significantly limits function despite treatment

   

Residual functional  capacity (RFC)

If your RA does not meet a listing exactly, the SSA assesses your residual functional capacity (RFC). This measures what you can still do despite your condition. The SSA uses your RFC to determine if you can perform your past work or other full-time work.

For RA, the RFC evaluates limitations in:

• Sitting, standing, and walking
• Use of hands and arms
• Lifting and carrying
• Concentration, persistence, and pace

   

Evidence Needed for an RA Disability Claim

In our experience, medical records are critical to a disability case because they are often what determines whether a claim is approved or denied. They document diagnoses, symptoms, and functional limitations, which the Social Security Administration uses to assess a person’s ability to work. Objective evidence, such as imaging, lab results, and testing, carries significant weight, and physical exam findings (e.g.,  tenderness, reduced range of motion, strength deficits, and pain on palpation) help translate symptoms into measurable work-related limitations.

Strong claims include:

• Detailed treatment records from a rheumatologist
• Imaging studies showing joint damage or inflammation
• Laboratory tests confirming RA and inflammation levels
• Physician opinions describing functional limitations
• Consistent documentation over time
  
  

Personal statements and third-party reports describing daily limitations also play an important role. These statements are nonmedical in nature, but they can still provide strong support for a disability claim. They help explain how your condition affects your activities of daily living, describe your functional limitations in real-world terms, and show what assistance you need to complete everyday tasks. When consistent with the medical evidence, this information can strengthen the overall record by giving context to how impairments impact daily functioning.

Common Reasons RA Disability Claims Are Denied

Many people with RA are denied benefits because their records don’t fully show how the condition affects their ability to work. The SSA looks for detailed, consistent medical and functional evidence, any gaps or inconsistencies can lead to a denial even if the condition is severe.

RA claims are often denied due to:

• Insufficient medical evidence
• Failure to document functional limitations
• Inconsistent statements across forms
• Gaps in treatment or noncompliance without explanation
  
  

If the application is initially denied, any errors or gaps can be corrected on appeal.

The Appeals Process

If your Social Security disability claim is denied, it doesn’t mean the process is over. You have the right to appeal, and each level of appeal offers an opportunity to correct errors, submit additional evidence, and fully explain how your condition affects your ability to work. Understanding the appeals process can help you prepare effectively and increase your chances of a successful outcome.

• Reconsideration: Reconsideration is the first level of appeal after an initial disability claim is denied. At this stage, a different SSA reviewer reevaluates the claim using the existing record and any new evidence that is submitted. The goal is to correct errors or consider additional medical or nonmedical evidence before the case moves to a hearing.
• A hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ): The hearing stage is the next level of appeal after reconsideration is denied, and is your opportunity to present your case before an administrative law judge. The ALJ reviews the evidence, hears testimony from you and any witnesses, and may question a vocational or medical expert. This is often the best chance to explain how your impairments and limitations prevent you from working.
• Appeals Council review: An Appeals Council review is the next appeal level after an unfavorable hearing decision. The Appeals Council looks for legal, procedural, or administrative errors made by the ALJ, not just whether you are disabled. If the Appeals Council grants review, it usually results in the case being sent back for another hearing rather than an outright approval.
• Federal court review: This is the final level of appeal after the Appeals Council denies review or issues an unfavorable decision. At this stage, a federal judge reviews the case to determine whether the SSA made legal or procedural errors when denying the claim, rather than deciding disability from scratch. Most successful cases result in a remand back to the SSA for further proceedings, not an immediate award of benefits.
  
  

Why Legal Representation Helps

Disability attorneys understand how the SSA evaluates RA, how to present medical evidence effectively, and how to challenge denials. Representation is especially valuable at hearings and during appeals.

An experienced disability attorney can guide you through each step of the process, from gathering the right medical records to clearly documenting functional limitations. They know what the SSA looks for, how to anticipate common pitfalls, and how to advocate effectively on your behalf. With proper representation, you can ensure your claim is presented as thoroughly and accurately as possible, increasing your chances of approval.

If your rheumatoid arthritis or other condition makes it hard to work, timely and effective advocacy is essential. LaPorte Law Firm’s team understands the Social Security disability process and can help you appeal denials and maximize your chances of approval. Call LaPorte Law Firm now to start protecting your rights.