Do you suffer from the long-term, debilitating symptoms of psoriatic arthritis? Does the joint pain, stiffness, and swelling associated with psoriatic arthritis leave you unable to fulfill your work duties or struggle with everyday life? If so, you can certainly — though not easily — win disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis in Canada.
Anyone applying for disability insurance benefits in Canada faces an uphill battle. Often, insurance companies deny claims even if their claimants are legitimately disabled. If you have already started the process of applying for disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis, you already know how difficult it can be.
Many people are unaware of psoriatic arthritis, let alone how difficult it can be for those suffering from the disorder’s chronic symptoms.
Thankfully, winning long-term disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis is not impossible. This article will address the unique challenges and steps involved in winning disability benefits in Canada.
If you want to understand psoriatic arthritis, disability benefits in Canada, and how to prove disability for psoriatic arthritis, you have come to the right place. This article will help you take the first steps toward securing the benefits and support to which you are entitled to.
If you have any further questions about disability benefits and eligibility criteria, please check out our article on medical conditions and disability benefits or browse the articles below:
What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is a joint disorder that can affect people who already have the symptoms of psoriasis. Psoriasis, in turn, is a skin condition associated with red patches and scaly skin. While most people see symptoms of psoriasis first, followed by joint problems of psoriatic arthritis, some experience psoriatic arthritis before the red patches or scaly skin appear.
Psoriasis on its own is irritating enough. Caused by skin cells being created ten times faster than usual, psoriasis manifests as the old skin cells reach the surface and cause the red patches and white scales seen in most psoriasis cases. These symptoms are primarily found on the scalp, knees, and elbows (but can sometimes afflict the palms, soles, and torso).
Psoriatic arthritis stems from psoriasis. According to Arthritis Society, 10 to 30 percent of Canadians with psoriasis will also develop the inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. The symptoms are quite similar to arthritis: swollen extremities, lower back pain, and foot pain.
The primary source of disability arising from this condition is related to inflammatory arthritis, which can result in long-term damage to the joints, fatigue, and chronic pain.
In fact, the development of psoriatic arthritis often introduces even more debilitating symptoms than the original disease. Because psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease, it generally only gets worse over a long period of time.
If you already have psoriasis and begin to experience joint pain, be sure to tell your doctor. There is no cure for either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Instead, treatment is available to address the symptoms and prevent them from worsening.
Types of Disability Benefits Available in Canada for Psoriatic Arthritis
If your work activities are directly related to your symptoms, winning disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis is one of the first steps in ensuring that the condition does not get worse.
The good news is that you can successfully obtain disability benefits if you take the right steps. Unfortunately, not every Canadian who has psoriatic arthritis is eligible for long-term disability benefits. However, if you are a worker, then you may qualify for these benefits. If psoriatic arthritis keeps you from being successful in the workplace, you are likely eligible for long-term disability.
When it comes to claiming long-term disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis in Canada, you might be eligible for one of two types of disability benefits if you are a worker. These are the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits and long-term disability insurance benefits.
CPP disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis
The CPP is designed to support you after retirement. However, it also covers disability benefits that start once you have become disabled and last until you are 65. After that, these disability benefits are converted into regular pensions. In order to be eligible for the CPP disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis, you must:
- have worked for four out of the past six years; and
- and paid payroll taxes
The CPP requires that you prove your disability is both prolonged and severe, leaving you unable to work. For this reason, psoriatic arthritis may qualify you for the CPP disability benefits, given the disorder prevents you from working
Long-term disability insurance benefits for psoriatic arthritis
Group disability insurance policies are Canada’s most common type of disability insurance. If your employer has insured you as part of a group, you are receiving your disability insurance through your job. These group disability insurance policies provide both long-term and short-term disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis.
If you are suffering from chronic pain associated with psoriatic arthritis, you can apply for long-term disability benefits if eligible. If successful, these benefits will provide you with monthly income payments during long absences from work. This can completely remove the financial pressure of remaining at work through chronic pain.
How to Win Disability Benefits for Psoriatic Arthritis
Proving disability in the case of psoriatic arthritis is difficult but certainly not impossible. The key to winning disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis is to submit a comprehensive and persuasive claim. A winning insurance claim is one that includes overwhelming evidence in favour of approval.
Here are a few steps you can take to ensure your claim is both comprehensive and persuasive.
Get a diagnosis and include medical evidence in your application
You can’t win disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis without a diagnosis. If you haven’t already, book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Along with a diagnosis, you will also need to include medical evidence in your application. People suffering from psoriatic arthritis should include the following:
- Blood tests confirming the presence of inflammatory arthritis
- Diagnostic imaging that shows joint damage
- Objective examination shows a reduction in strength or range of motion in your joints
All of this involves several doctor visits, so be sure you are prepared when seeking medical documentation. Some of the questions you may need to answer include the symptoms you are experiencing, how long you have had them, what medications and supplements you currently take, what treatments you have tried, and what activities (particularly work-related) that make your symptoms either better or worse.
Get the appropriate treatment and document it
When considering your claim, disability benefits providers will look to see if you received the appropriate treatment for your condition. Not getting the right treatment is one of the most common reasons for the denial of disability benefits.
This requirement covers all other conditions as well. For example, if you also have other conditions, along with psoriatic arthritis, you must get treatment for each condition. This can include medications, consultations with psychiatrists, or psychological treatments.
Make sure your doctor is accurately documenting all of this as well. At the end of the day, benefit providers base their decisions on the medical documents they have received. Even if you received world-class treatment for psoriatic arthritis without the proper documentation, you received no treatment from the insurer’s standpoint.
Evidence of work-related limitations
Many people with psoriatic arthritis are capable of working, so it is critical to identify the specific impairments that prevent you from working and qualify you for disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis. In order to have complete medical documentation, you may consider getting joint fluid tests and x-rays, which can pinpoint psoriatic-related symptoms. Be sure to be completely honest with both your doctor and your employer about how the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis have impaired your daily activities and work.
You will also want to record all the ways in which you have modified your work habits in order to maintain employment while dealing with heart disease.
You should also try easier jobs within your workplace before you apply. Until you do, the disability benefits providers will always doubt you. You might show that while your job had medium duties on paper, your employer made accommodations to qualify your duties as light.
If you were forced to change jobs as a result of psoriatic arthritis, make a note of that too.
Credibility is key
It is vital that a person seeking disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis maintains a level of total honesty throughout the process. Credibility is intensely important when making a legal claim for disability benefits associated with psoriatic arthritis.
Because the condition is so hard to win disability benefits for, you must not pursue any activities that could undermine your believability.
Any exaggerations or inconsistencies in descriptions of symptoms can hurt credibility, even if the inconsistency is an honest mistake.
Credibility killers
- Contradicting medical records or earlier statements
- Making excuses or blaming others for problems
- Criticizing other parties in the claim (even if they deserve it)
- Filing complaints against professionals you see as negative, biased, or unprofessional
- Using aggressive, sarcastic, or confrontational tones in your claim or testimony
- Blocking or stalling reasonable requests for information
- Fighting with doctors over your diagnosis instead of focusing on the disability
- Acting like a medical expert
Credibility boosters
- Making sure what you say matches the medical records
- Taking responsibility for errors or problems with your claim (not blaming others)
- Being cooperative and respectful of everyone in the claim
- Accepting expert advice and opinions
- Making good faith efforts to try all reasonable advice, even if you disagree with it
- Obvious efforts to keep working
What To Do If Your Disability Claim for Psoriatic Arthritis Gets Denied
You’ve filled out the forms, and you’ve compiled as much evidence as you could get. And yet, the letter you get in the post denies you the right to disability benefits for psoriatic arthritis.
This is a tough time, and I know that – I’ve seen it over and over again with my clients. You don’t know what you’ve done wrong, and a rejection can feel like a slap in the face. Being told your condition doesn’t warrant financial support only adds humiliation and frustration to the chronic pain. Having to force yourself back to work can have devastating consequences for your physical and mental health.
The good news is that you don’t have to accept this as a harsh reality simply. You can appeal the insurance company’s decision instead.
I have years of experience with disability benefits claims, including many cases of psoriatic arthritis. I know what you are going through, and I’m confident that I can help you. You have a choice. You don’t have to let insurance companies get away with denying you the support you are entitled to by law.
If you would like to learn about alternatives if your claim is denied and inform yourself about the appeal process, you can schedule a free consultation with us by calling (888) 480-9050. You can also take a look at our books, which you can order for free and will help you consider all your options.
Based in Toronto, Ottawa, Moncton, and Halifax, Resolute Legal assists clients across all provinces except Quebec. The majority of our services, 90%, are available online, and we will come to you for any in-person requirements. Learn more from the pages below:
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