Psoriatic arthritis is often associated primarily with skin symptoms, but in its most severe forms, the condition can cause progressive joint damage that fundamentally changes what a person’s hands and body are physically capable of doing. When joint deformity advances to the point of eliminating both fine motor skills, like gripping a pen or buttoning a shirt, and gross motor function, like lifting or carrying objects, the resulting limitations can make virtually any form of employment impossible. Supplemental Security Income may provide essential support for claimants facing this level of impairment.
Understanding the Progression of Severe Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis causes chronic inflammation that, over time, can damage cartilage and bone within the joints. In advanced cases, this inflammation leads to visible joint deformity, including swelling, misalignment, and permanent structural changes that affect movement. Unlike milder forms of the disease that may be managed with medication, severe joint deformity often represents damage that cannot be fully reversed, meaning the resulting functional limitations tend to be persistent rather than temporary.
Why Motor Function Limitations Are Central to This Claim
Nearly all jobs, even sedentary ones, require some combination of fine and gross motor skills. When both are severely compromised, the range of tasks a person can physically perform narrows dramatically. Common functional impacts include:
- Inability to grip, pinch, or manipulate small objects due to finger joint deformity
- Reduced hand strength affecting the ability to lift, carry, or hold items
- Limited range of motion in larger joints, affecting mobility and positioning
- Chronic pain that interferes with sustained use of the hands or body throughout a workday
- Fatigue related to chronic inflammation, compounding physical limitations
Building the Medical Evidence Your Claim Requires
A strong SSI claim depends on detailed documentation establishing both the severity of joint damage and its functional consequences. Important evidence includes:
- Imaging studies showing joint deformity, erosion, or structural damage
- Records from a rheumatologist detailing diagnosis, disease progression, and treatment history
- Documentation of grip strength testing or range-of-motion assessments
- Statements from treating physicians describing specific functional limitations in fine and gross motor tasks
- Records of any surgical interventions related to joint damage
Why a Function-by-Function Assessment Matters
Because psoriatic arthritis can affect different joints to different degrees, disability evaluators benefit from a detailed picture of how the condition affects specific work-related functions, including your ability to:
- Grip, grasp, and manipulate objects of varying sizes
- Lift and carry items of specific weights
- Use your hands repetitively without significant pain or fatigue
- Maintain postural positions given joint limitations
- Sustain reliable attendance given flare-ups and associated pain levels
A detailed opinion from your treating rheumatologist addressing these specific limitations can significantly strengthen your case.
Common Challenges with These Claims
Psoriatic arthritis claims are sometimes challenged when records emphasize skin symptoms without adequately documenting the joint-related functional impact. Ensuring that imaging, motor function testing, and physician statements clearly address hand and body function, rather than focusing solely on the skin manifestations of the disease, is essential to accurately conveying the severity of the impairment.
What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied
Initial denials are common, even for claimants with significant joint damage. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal, often with additional testing or a more detailed functional statement from your specialist.
Why Experienced Legal Guidance Matters
Presenting a progressive joint condition in the specific terms Social Security uses to evaluate functional capacity requires careful preparation. The team at PLBH has experience helping claimants build strong, well-documented cases for conditions like severe psoriatic arthritis.
If joint deformity has eliminated your ability to use your hands or body reliably, contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 to discuss your SSI claim and the benefits available to you.