Can I claim TPD for arthritis?
Short answer
Potentially, yes. Arthritis may support a TPD claim where ongoing pain, reduced mobility, or treatment side effects mean you are unlikely to return to suitable work under your policy definition. The key issue is long-term work capacity, not diagnosis alone.
What decision-makers usually assess
- Which form of arthritis you have (for example osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis) and whether symptoms are persistent despite treatment.
- How pain, stiffness, swelling, fatigue, and flare-ups affect safe and reliable job performance.
- Whether your restrictions prevent your own occupation only, or also alternative roles matched to your education, training, and experience.
- Consistency between specialist records, GP notes, imaging, medication history, and work history.
Evidence that often matters
- Rheumatology and GP reports that explain practical functional limits (standing, lifting, gripping, concentration, attendance) in work terms.
- Clinical evidence over time, including flare frequency, treatment response, side effects, and progression.
- Occupational or functional capacity assessments showing why sustained work is unrealistic.
- Employer information about role demands, modifications tried, and why duties could not be maintained.
Common pitfalls
- Submitting diagnostic labels without clearly linking symptoms to work incapacity.
- Understating variable symptoms where flare cycles cause frequent absence or unreliable output.
- Ignoring policy wording differences between any-occupation and own-occupation tests.
- Inconsistent timelines across medical records, forms, and employment documents.
Important: This page is general information only and not legal advice. Outcomes depend on policy wording, evidence, and individual circumstances.
Related guides
Can I claim TPD for a back injury? · Can I claim TPD for fibromyalgia? · Evidence required for a TPD claim