It may not be totally unusual for you to wake up every morning in Orlando with a few aches and pains. It is when those pains persist throughout the day (and every day) that concern arises.
Age does indeed bring with it some joint deterioration, yet if yours is severe enough (and exacerbated by other factors), it could reasonably prevent you from completing many daily tasks (including those associated with your employment). The question is when does your joint pain become severe enough to keep you from working (and, by extension, qualify you for Social Security Disability benefits).
Reviewing the SSA’s Listing of Impairments
Given that joint pain is relatively common (and its severity is often viewed subjectively), some might think that it does not warrant one receiving disability benefits for. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration sets a very objective measure when determining if you should qualify for disability benefits due to joint pain in its Listing of Impairments.
Here it states that to meet its qualification criteria, you must demonstrate the following:
- Chronic joint pain and stiffness
- An apparent limitation in the range of motion of the affected joint
- A gross anatomical deformity involving the affected joint
Identifying disabling joints of the body
It goes without saying that certain joints are more vital to the performance of daily functions than others. According to the SSA, joint issues warranting disability benefits must occur in either your peripheral weight-bearing joints of the lower extremity (e.g. the hips, knees or ankles) or of the upper extremity (the shoulders, wrists and hands). Issues with one may make it difficult for you to remain on your feet for extended periods, while problems with the other might impede your ability to perform fine movements.