Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Below is an email I received from the Arthritis Foundation. I have sent my email to the SSA to show my support. I wanted to share this email in case any of you guys would like to participate in this great cause as well.
Let SSA Know RA Can be Disabling!
Today, the Arthritis Foundation is speaking out! Today, we are telling the Social Security Administration (SSA) that it is unacceptable that it can take months if not years for people with disabling rheumatoid arthritis to get through the disability claims process (read our testimony). Today we are asking you to join us!
The Social Security Administration is considering that for certain autoimmune diseases, people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma would be eligible for possible expedited claims review, also known as compassionate allowance. If SSA makes this change for autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, those disabled with RA would not have to wait so long for a decision regarding disability benefits.
http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/
Special thanks to Dr. Eric Gall, Arthritis Foundation, Chair of the Public Health Committee and Professor, Clinical Medicine, Rheumatology Department and Interim Director, Arizona Arthritis Center, University of Arizona School of Medicine for coming to Washington, DC and speaking out on behalf of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Speak Up With Us! If you agree that people with disabling rheumatoid arthritis deserve timely review of their disability claims, please contact the Social Security Administration and support the addition of rheumatoid arthritis on the Compassionate Allowances list by e-mailing Compassionate.Allowances@ssa.gov.
Some points you may want to consider:
Your personal story battling rheumatoid arthritis and the difficulty applying for Social Security disability
People with RA suffer from chronic pain, disability and die earlier than the general population. Women are 2.5 times more likely to be affected than men.
People with RA suffer from premature death of up to 10-12 years if treatment is not early, aggressive or if it fails.
Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to joint destruction, deformity and disability
Support the recommendation that SSA place rheumatoid arthritis on the list of Compassionate Allowances which would permit a more timely review of the disability claim.
Read the Arthritis Foundation's testimony and other testimony presented at the hearing.
Learn more about SSA Compassionate Allowances.
http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/hearings031611.htm
If you have questions about the Arthritis Foundation's testimony or this issue, please contact us at advocacy@arthritis.org.
Let SSA Know RA Can be Disabling!
Today, the Arthritis Foundation is speaking out! Today, we are telling the Social Security Administration (SSA) that it is unacceptable that it can take months if not years for people with disabling rheumatoid arthritis to get through the disability claims process (read our testimony). Today we are asking you to join us!
The Social Security Administration is considering that for certain autoimmune diseases, people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma would be eligible for possible expedited claims review, also known as compassionate allowance. If SSA makes this change for autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, those disabled with RA would not have to wait so long for a decision regarding disability benefits.
http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/
Special thanks to Dr. Eric Gall, Arthritis Foundation, Chair of the Public Health Committee and Professor, Clinical Medicine, Rheumatology Department and Interim Director, Arizona Arthritis Center, University of Arizona School of Medicine for coming to Washington, DC and speaking out on behalf of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Speak Up With Us! If you agree that people with disabling rheumatoid arthritis deserve timely review of their disability claims, please contact the Social Security Administration and support the addition of rheumatoid arthritis on the Compassionate Allowances list by e-mailing Compassionate.Allowances@ssa.gov.
Some points you may want to consider:
Your personal story battling rheumatoid arthritis and the difficulty applying for Social Security disability
People with RA suffer from chronic pain, disability and die earlier than the general population. Women are 2.5 times more likely to be affected than men.
People with RA suffer from premature death of up to 10-12 years if treatment is not early, aggressive or if it fails.
Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to joint destruction, deformity and disability
Support the recommendation that SSA place rheumatoid arthritis on the list of Compassionate Allowances which would permit a more timely review of the disability claim.
Read the Arthritis Foundation's testimony and other testimony presented at the hearing.
Learn more about SSA Compassionate Allowances.
http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/hearings031611.htm
If you have questions about the Arthritis Foundation's testimony or this issue, please contact us at advocacy@arthritis.org.
deleted_user
I am only 45 but with having RA/Crohn's/Ulceritive Colitis and gastroparesis my family is pushing me to apply for SSI or SSD, it scares me to think it could take years to get approved, if I would get approved, in the meantime I suffer from a lot of debilitating pain and go to work suffering because I know I can't afford to be off work and wait years for SSI/SSD. I really hope SSA adds RA to the compassionate allowance list so people don't have to suffer for years. I'm definitely going to the site and supporting this measure.
lghthouse4
Thanks for this information. I just sent them an e-mail in support of this.
deleted_user
I sent a message as well!
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