Filing A Long-Term Disability Claim For Rheumatoid Arthritis? Here's What You Need To Do
Rheumatoid arthritis can make it difficult to work, especially if you type extensively in your job. If you are no longer able to remain gainfully employed due to pain in your fingers and wrists as a result of your arthritis, you can file a long-term disability claim. However, it's important to understand that sometimes claims are denied, so you'll want to be sure you submit the appropriate information and documentation for a better result. Here are a few important things you'll need to do in order to get approved.
Describe Your Job As Accurately As Possible
In order for your claim to be approved, you'll need to prove that you are unable to perform tasks for your occupation if you have what is called own-occupation disability insurance. However, don't just simply take the job description from your human resources department, as it may not have enough of the necessary details. Be as descriptive as you can in regards to the physically demanding aspects of your job that you no longer are able to accomplish.
If you have any-occupation disability insurance, you'll need to prove that you are unable to perform tasks of your occupation, which is profoundly more difficult. If this is what you have, you'll need to have an attorney and your doctor guide you through a detailed description of various tasks you are unable to perform. Again, be as descriptive as possible, and try to cover as many aspects of various occupations that you can, such as the complete inability to use your hands without extreme pain.
Gather All the Pertinent Medical Documentation
You'll also need to gather and provide all the pertinent documentation of your medical challenges related to your disability claim, which includes a statement from your physician stating that you are unable to remain gainfully employed with an expectation of your disability being long term. Be sure to inform your physician of which type of long-term disability insurance you have: own occupation or any occupation, so he or she will be able to provide the proper information necessary for the claim to be approved.
Your attorney can give you a list of the other types of medical documentation that will help prove your disability claim. Be sure to go over these items with your attorney after you've gathered them and before they are submitted. It's a good idea to keep hard copies of each document you submit so you can refer to them in the future should a representative call you to ask questions.