Psoriatic Arthritis

Do I Qualify For Disability Insurance Benefits If I Have Psoriatic Arthritis?

Disability insurance companies don’t always make it easy for policyholders who have psoriatic arthritis to get the disability benefits they deserve.

Psoriatic arthritis affects some people who have psoriasis, but the joint problems can begin long before changes in your skin. It typically:

Involves the hand joints near the finger or toes tips, mid-joints and knuckles. It causes a sausage like swelling of the hands or feet that makes them difficult to use,
Causes pain in the foot where the tendons and ligaments attach to the bones,
Causes spondylitis, inflammatory damage to your spine that leads to difficulty sitting,
Leads to stiffness and reduced range of motion in affected joints, making everyday tasks challenging,
Can cause fatigue and general malaise, further impacting your ability to function normally.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the immune system, causing inflammation not only in the joints but also in other tissues. The severity and progression of symptoms vary widely among individuals, which can complicate the process of qualifying for disability insurance benefits.

Can You Get Disability for Psoriatic Arthritis?

To qualify for disability insurance benefits, it is essential to provide comprehensive medical evidence documenting the diagnosis, severity, and functional limitations caused by psoriatic arthritis. This includes medical records, imaging studies such as X-rays or MRIs, laboratory tests, and detailed reports from your healthcare providers.

Insurance companies often require proof that your psoriatic arthritis significantly impairs your ability to perform your job duties or any other occupation. This means demonstrating limitations in joint mobility, strength, endurance, and overall ability to function in a work environment.

Working closely with your physicians to document your symptoms, treatment side effects, and their impact on your daily living and work capacity is crucial. Objective assessments such as Functional Capacity Evaluations can provide valuable support for your disability claim.

Because disability insurance companies may challenge claims related to psoriatic arthritis due to the variability of symptoms and sometimes limited objective findings, having legal representation or expert advice can improve your chances of obtaining the benefits you deserve.

Understanding your disability policy, knowing the definitions of disability it uses, and gathering all necessary documentation before filing a claim can help streamline the application process and reduce the likelihood of denials or delays.

Psoriatic arthritis affects some people who have psoriasis, but the joint problems can begin long before changes in your skin. It typically:

Involves the hand joints near the finger or toes tips, mid-joints and knuckles. It causes a sausage like swelling of the hands or feet that makes them difficult to use,
Causes pain in the foot where the tendons and ligaments attach to the bones,
Causes spondylitis, inflammatory damage to your spine that leads to difficulty sitting.

Psoriatic arthritis tends to involve the joints on only one side of the body.

How Disability Carriers View Psoriatic Arthritis Claims

Many claims are denied because the disability insurance company says:

There is no objective basis of the psoriatic arthritis diagnosis, as x-rays are often normal in the early stages,
There is no objective basis for the restrictions and limitations assigned by your physician, or
There is no causal relationship between your psoriatic arthritis diagnosis and/or your restrictions and limitations, and your inability to do your own or any occupation.

Nancy Cavey, who has 35 years experience handling disability cases, has successfully represented many psoriatic arthritis policyholders. She overcomes a claims denial by working closely with you and your physician.

She obtains, as needed, a Functional Capacity Evaluation to objectively document the limits you have using your fingers and hands, difficulty walking and standing and the difficulty you have sitting as a result of back pain. She hires a Vocational Evaluator to explain why your symptoms prevent you from doing your occupation or any occupation.

Nancy Cavey offers a free initial consultation and welcomes the opportunity to speak with you about your Social Security disability claim.

What Is The Treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis and How Does That Impact My Claim?

The hallmark symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are swelling, stiffness and painful inflammation. The severity of the symptoms can differ from person to person.

The treatment for psoriatic arthritis often includes methotrexate or cyclosporine or other immune suppressant drugs. Cyclosporine can cause kidney toxicity and high blood pressure. Other therapies can suppress cell production in the bone marrow and cause anemia and fatigue. It is important that your physician document those side effects and how they impact your ability to work.

How Do I Get The Disability Insurance Benefits I Deserve?

Psoriatic arthritis can interfere not only with your daily activities but with your ability to work.

If you no longer can work or your doctor has told you to apply for disability benefits, you should take steps before you apply:

Obtain a copy of your disability policy. See how it defines “disability,” “occupation” and “self-reported conditions.” You’ll need to understand what you have to prove and if there are limitations in your coverage.
Your policy might limit conditions that are based on subjective complaints without objective evidence of a diagnosis.
Obtain a copy of your medical records. Review them to see if there is an objective basis for your diagnosis, what your records say about your report of symptoms and your restrictions and limitations.
Obtain a copy of your personnel file to see if your psoriatic arthritis has affected your work performance. You may have limited ability to use your hands, walk, stand or sit for any length of time that has impacted your productivity.
Obtain a copy of your job description. Create your own description of your physical duties with an explanation of how your symptoms impact your ability to do your occupation.
Provide your doctor with the occupational description. Ask your doctor to prepare a report that explains the objective basis for your diagnosis, the objective basis of your restrictions and limitations, and the objective reasons you can’t perform some or all of the material and substantial duties of your occupation.
Prepare a diary that explains and gives examples of how your symptoms interfere with your ability to do things on a daily basis and the side effects of your medication.
Hire Nancy Cavey to help you file your initial application. The application process is confusing and designed so you and your physician make mistakes that can result in a delay or even a denial of your benefits. Ms. Cavey knows how to prepare and file a winning shock and awe disability application that leaves the carrier little reason to question your claim.
Hire Nancy Cavey to help you appeal a wrongful denial or termination of your disability benefits. Disability carriers are in the business of collecting premiums and not paying disability benefits. They’ll use any reason to deny your claim. The odds of getting your benefits on appeal are greater when you are represented by an experienced ERISA/private ID policy disability attorney.

Contact Disability Attorney Nancy L. Cavey, Who Can Help You Regardless of Where You Live

Psoriatic arthritis can make it difficult, if not impossible, to work. You owe it to yourself and your family to get help today! Nancy Cavey can review your policy and your medical records, and explain to you what your policy says and how to get your disability benefits. Call today for a free consultation at 727-477-3263.