For some arthritis sufferers the effects of their disease become so debilitating that they can no longer work. When this unfortunately occurs many of them look to governmental disability programs to help them maintain a level of income, even though it is often far below the level they were earning at whilst employed.

The disability system is not an easy one for any patient to navigate, regardless of the medical condition or injury that leaves them unable to perform their former work duties any longer. There is a mountain of paperwork involved and it is often many months before a claimant will receive even a preliminary answer about whether or not they have been approved for benefits.

The official guidelines for meeting disability criteria laid out by the Social Services department do indeed include provision for those afflicted with any form of arthritis. However, before they can approve a patient the department requires a significant volume of medical evidence that the condition truly prevents the claimant from completing their former duties.

How severe arthritis has to become before disability will be granted is therefore an extremely difficult question to answer with clarity. One strict guideline that is followed in all disability cases is that the condition must have been causing the inability to complete one’s job functions successfully for at least twelve months, or a doctor must state that it is expected it will do so.

For those arthritis patients who suffer from “flare ups” of the disease, that is that they have “good days” and “bad days”, this can be a tough call. When making a decision about a disability claim adjusters look to see if “reasonable’ treatment avenues have been investigated and how effective they have been.

In the course of a disability application for arthritis related conditions the patient’s best advocate is their doctor. It is upon their notes and observations that disability adjusters base much of their decision. If your doctor believes that indeed the disease has progressed to a stage where it will no longer be possible for you to continue to work then their opinion holds a lot of weight, as long as it is clearly stated in writing.

Even this though may not be enough and those seeking disability benefits unfortunately have to be prepared for the fact that it may be many months before they begin receiving any money from the government at all.