The wear and tear of daily life in Buffalo is bound to take a toll on your body over time. Throw in an injury or two, and you could be left with extreme joint pain that makes performing your on-the-job functions (and even the tasks of daily living) difficult. Many may expect that you simply work through the pain (as people may not believe joint pain to be a serious enough condition to warrant Social Security disability benefits). Yet only you know how severe and debilitating the pain you are experiencing, and thus the opinion of others should not deter you from seeking assistance when it is needed.
One opinion that does matter, however, is that of the Social Security Administration. Yet it has eliminated any confusion as to whether or not your joint issues would qualify you for disability benefits with its Listing of Impairments. According to this list, benefits can be had due to the dysfunction of a joint provided that your case meets its criteria.
Per the criteria, you must be experiencing issues with a major peripheral joint of the upper extremity (e.g. shoulder, hands, wrists). This condition must leave you with an inability to perform fine and gross movements both consistently and effectively.
If your joint pain is not in your upper extremities, then it must be shown that you have chronic pain and stiffness in a major peripheral weight-bearing joint that is also characterized by a gross anatomical deformity. This may include:
- Subluxation
- Contracture
- Ankylosis (bony or fibrous)
- Instability
In addition, these lower extremity issues must impair your ability to walk for extended periods in order to qualify for benefits.