What Heart Conditions Qualify For Disability

Ssi And Heart Conditions

When Does Heart Disease Qualify for Disability Benefits and SSDI?

If you are suffering from a Heart Condition, you know how debilitating this condition can be. So do we. We understand that when you are suffering and unable to work, completing forms, obtaining medical records, and figuring out all the steps to receiving Social Security Disability can be difficult, if not impossible. Thats why at Disability Advocates Group we take all the work out of applying for Social Security Disability benefits.

We will help you at every stage of the process.

We have assisted individuals suffering from all types of heart or cardiovascular conditions to get Social Security Disability benefits they need and deserve. Some examples include:

Congestive heart disorder

Can I Get Disability For Heart Problems

Some heart conditions can automatically qualify you for benefits if they are severe enough to meet one of the Agencys Listings of severe impairments. Other heart diseases and conditions could qualify you for benefits even if they do not meet the stringent requirements for a Listing if they cause you to be so limited in the things you can do that you could not be expected to work at a 40-hour per week job, no matter how easy.

In other blog posts weve talked about the two alternative ways a person can meet the SSAs requirements to show they are disabled by:

meeting a Listing, or

showing a significantly impaired Residual Functional Capacity

Whatever your particular type of heart problem, it is absolutely imperative that you have been seeing a doctor and being tested, medicated, and treated for a significant period of time, at least 4-6 months.

Without a substantial set of medical records, test results, and medication prescriptions to back up your heart condition claim, it is unlikely that you can win your disability case based on heart disease.

What Conditions Qualify As A Disability

With more than 20 years of experience in this area of the law, we have significant experience with a wide range of disability insurance cases. We have seen many different types of disabilities and we are familiar with what conditions disability insurance challenge the most.

You can rely on us to help you if you suffer from any of the following disabilities:

Musculoskeletal system disabilities: Spinal disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, amputation, disc disease, etc.
Senses loss: Loss of speech, vision loss, loss of hearing , or Menieres Disease.
Respiratory system disabilities: Chronic mycobacterial infections, COPD, lung transplant, etc.
Cardiovascular/cardiac disabilities: Heart transplant, heart failure, recurrent arrhythmia, etc.
Hematological disabilities: Sickle cell disease, chronic anemia, liver transplantation, etc.
Endocrine system disabilities: Obesity, adrenal gland disorders, pituitary gland disorders, etc.
Neurological disabilities: Parkinsons, stroke, seizure disorder, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, etc.
Mental disorders: Autism, Bipolar Disorder, depression, Schizophrenia, PTSD, etc.
Malignant neoplastic disease: Myelofibrosis, Lymphoma, Leukemia, cancer, etc.
Immune system disorders: Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Immune Deficiency, Scleroderma, etc.

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Health Resources For People With Disabilities

Federal, state, and local government agencies and programs can help with your health needs if you have a disability.

Explore the Disability and Health section of CDC.gov for articles, programs, tips for healthy living and more.
Learn more about assistance and benefits for people with disabilities from the Social Security Administration.
Contact your local city or county government to find out what medical and health services are available locally for people with disabilities.
Your state social service agency can help you locate medical and health programs.

Visit USA.govs Government Benefits page to learn more about government programs and services that can help you and your family.

I Have A Heart Condition Do I Qualify For Disability Benefits

How to Determine What Heart Problems Qualify for Disability?

In the United States, February is all about the heart. Not only do we celebrate Valentines Day in February, but we also raise awareness about heart disease during February as part of American Heart Month. In addition, today is National Wear Red Day, a day set aside to raise awareness about womens heart health.

If you have a heart condition, February is the perfect month to learn more about how Social Security handles heart disease. Can you qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you suffer from a heart condition?

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What You Need To Know Before Applying With A Heart Problem

If you are applying for Social Security benefits with a heart problem, be sure that you have all the necessary medical documents.

Like most disabilities, the severity of your heart problem carries as much or more weight than what kind of heart problems you have. Even if your heart problem does not meet the criteria for total disability as listed by the SSA, you may still qualify for Social Security Disability if you can show how your heart problem precludes you from doing any kind of work which you have done or for which you could be trained.

In addition to medical records, meeting a Blue Book listing and employability, the Social Security Administration will examine how your heart problems affect your daily activities.

Importance Of Medical Evidence

Medical evidence supporting a claim of disability because of heart disease is crucial. While other kinds of proof can help your chances, your insurance company will weigh objective medical evidence most heavily when evaluating your claim.

Medical evidence may include:

Proof of diagnosis. Your doctors notes and any diagnostic testing results that substantiate your diagnosis should be submitted in your claim.
Test results and findings. Examples of cardiovascular testing include echocardiograms, stress tests, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging .
An opinion letter from your doctor. Your doctors opinion is key to your insurance company. Request that your doctor write a report outlining your condition, your symptoms, and the way your heart disease impairs you from working.
Treatment notes. Your insurance company will require proof of appropriate treatment in order to approve your claim. Make sure when submitting your claim to include medications youre taking and records of regular follow-up visits with your treating doctor. If your insurance company believes you are noncompliant or ignoring your doctors recommendations for treatment, they may deny your claim or terminate existing benefits.

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The Blue Book Listings For Common Heart Conditions

If the medical evidence in your case establishes that you meet the requirements of a cardiac impairment listed in Social Security’s “blue book,” your case should be approved without much difficulty. Unfortunately, only the most severe cardiac conditions are found in the blue book, and even some individuals who have received stents or undergone heart attacks don’t meet any of the listings.

The listings for cardiac conditions are found in Section 4.00 of the blue book under The Cardiovascular System. Because these particular listings are rather complex and technical, you should work with your disability attorney and your cardiologist to determine if you meet or “equal” any of the listings.

Here are some common cardiac conditions that may qualify you for disability benefits under a listing .

There Are Two Types Of Heart Failure: Systolic And Diastolic

Heart Disease and Social Security Disability

Systolic heart failure occurs when heart muscle doesnt contract with enough force, reducing oxygen-rich blood pumped through the body. In diastolic heart failure the heart contracts normally, but the ventricles do not relax properly and less blood enters the heart. Congestive heart failure usually begins in the left side of the heart and can travel to the right atrium and ventricle if untreated.

Listing Of Impairments For Social Security Disability Benefits

So, what qualifies for disability? The Social Security Administration maintains a list of impairments that are essentially considered automatically disabling. The list is also sometimes called the Blue Book. The book also describes the tests and symptoms that a person must exhibit to meet the requirement for a specific impairment. Here is the complete list of impairments from the Blue Book that are SSDI and SSI disability qualifications for adults.

Can A Lack Of Exercise Cause Heart Problems

Signs of Heart Problems During Exercise. Overview. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. According to the World Heart Federation, lack of exercise can increase your risk for heart disease by 50 percent.

Some of the more common heart problems which often qualify for Social Security disability benefits include chronic heart failure, chronic venous insufficiency, congestive heart failure, coronary heart failure and heart transplant. There are many other heart conditions that qualify for disability to go alongside those conditions.

If the cardiologist who treats your heart problems fills out the form, it may be more beneficial than having your primary care provider complete it. However, both your PCP and cardiologist can complete an RFC for you and that may help you with your claim.

Chair yoga is ideal if you have a disability, injury, or a medical condition such as arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, or multiple sclerosis. Similarly, seated versions of Tai Chi exercises can also be practiced in a chair or a wheelchair to improve flexibility, strength, and relaxation.

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How Often Do You Get Paid For Short Term Disability

If you are there for 10 years and have a 26-week disability period, you might get three months at 100% and then three months at 50%. If you live in one of the five states where short-term disability benefits are mandated, then the amount youll be compensated will be regulated as well. 8. How Often Will You Receive Payments?

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Special Senses And Speech

Disability for Heart Problems: Do You Qualify?

The conditions listed here deal with the senses, particularly vision and hearing. Some examples include blindness and deafness. Total blindness is not necessary to qualify for benefits as other vision impairments might be enough to qualify as well. In addition, severe speech issues or hearing loss can get you qualified under this section.

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Disorders Of The Digestive System

Chronic liver disease

PTSD
Intellectual/cognitive impairment disorders

While a physical health problem is easily substantiated with diagnostic scans, lab tests, and other empirical evaluations, a mental illness diagnosis is initially viewed as a subjective diagnosis by SSA disability examiners. To qualify for SSDI, a mental illness must have prevented the individual from working for at least six months. The inability to work due to mental illness should be supported by extensive documentation proving the person has had and is continuing to comply with psychological and pharmacological treatments.

One reason why the SSA denies many SSDI benefit applications is they discover the person has been noncompliant with treatments prescribed by their physician. The majority of mental illness symptoms can be managed as long as the individual takes medication as directed and follows through on counseling appointments. Alternately, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders are the most difficult to treat with antipsychotic drugs primarily because of side effects and the need for frequent dosage adjustments. Also, if you were recently diagnosed with a mental illness such as major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, or a personality disorder and have just started taking medications, the SSA will immediately deny your SSDI claim due to a lack of duration of your mental illness.

These 49 Disabilities Qualify For Ssdi

Social Security Disability Insurance pays monthly benefits to individuals who have accumulated enough work credits to qualify for the program. The number of work credits you have is based on how much you earn in one year. The Social Security Administration allows workers to earn no more than four credits per year. As of 2020, the SSA will give you one credit for every $1410 you earn. The maximum of four credits is allotted once you have earned $5640 in one year.

In most cases, SSDI applicants need 40 work credits to qualify for SSDI. Twenty of those credits must have been earned over the past 10 years. However, if you are under 50 years old and have a qualifying disability, the SSA may approve your SSDI application with fewer than 40 credits.

What Medical Conditions Qualify For Long Term Disability A List Of Impairments Medical Conditions And Problems

Are you wondering if your medical condition or a combination of medical conditions may qualify you to receive long-term disability benefits? Many medical conditions qualify someone for disability if severe enough. We often find that a claimants disability is not due to a single illness or injury.

Instead, we usually find that a persons combination of impairments renders him or her disabled. Illnesses and injuries are compounded by other illnesses and injuries. Moreover, a claimants medical problems may be further compounded by chronic pain or fatigue and by negative side effects to potent medications. So, with that in mind, what medical conditions qualify for long-term disability? Almost any combination of medical conditions, if severe enough, will prevent you from working.

Disability insurance companies tend to evaluate whether conditions qualify without appreciating the full impact that the illness and/or injury has on your life. For example, do your medical records adequately convey the fact that you are constantly in pain? Does sleep deprivation leave you extremely fatigued during the day? Has your doctor stated that you are unable to work? You need to make sure all of your symptoms and limitations are documented during the claims process so the insurance company will approve your claim for short-term disability or long-term disability benefits.

If You Have Chronic Heart Failure You May Be Eligible For Social Security Disability Benefits

What conditions qualify you for Social Security disability?

In order to qualify for Social Security Disability, you will need to satisfy a few specific requirements in two categories as determined by the Social Security Administration.

The first category is the Work Requirements which has two tests.

The Duration of Work test. Whether you have worked long enough to be covered under SSDI.

The Current Work Test. Whether you worked recently enough for the work to actually count toward coverage.

The second category is the Medical Eligibility Requirement.

Are you working? Your disability must be total.

Is your medical condition severe? Your disability must be severe enough to interfere with your ability to perform basic work-related activities, such as walking, sitting, and remembering.

Is your medical condition on the List of Impairments? The SSA has a List of Impairments that automatically qualify as severe disabilities. If your disease is not listed this does not mean you cannot get disability, it means you must prove you cannot maintain employment due to your limitations.

Can you do the work you did before? SSDI rules look at whether your medical condition prevents you from doing the work you did prior to developing the condition.

Can you do any other type of work? If you cannot do your prior work, an evaluation is made as to whether you can perform any other kind of work.

More details can be found on our Qualifying for Disability page.

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When Is Congestive Heart Failure Considered A Disability Making You Eligible For Disability Benefits

The Social Security Administration has detailed criteria in its Blue Book listing that must be met in order for CHF to be considered a disability. A person must have one of these types of CHF:

Systolic failure. This is a type of CHF where the heart has weakened pumping strength. To qualify for SSDI, the percentage of blood pumped out of the heart with each heartbeat, which is referred to as the hearts ejection fracture, must be 30 percent or less or the hearts left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions must be larger than 6.0 cm.
Diastolic failure. Diastolic failure occurs when the heart cannot fill properly. To meet the SSDIs definition of disability, the thickness of the left ventricular and interventricular septum has to be 2.5 cm or larger, the left atrium must be enlarged at 4.5 cm or larger, and there must be a normal or elevated ejection fraction during a period of stability.

In addition, a person must show that he has one of these symptoms:

Inability to perform an exercise tolerance test at a workload equivalent to 5 EMTs or less
Continuing symptoms of heart failure that limit activities of daily life
Three or more episodes of CHF in the last 12 months that required treatment in an emergency room or hospital for at least 12 hours

If an applicants medical condition does not meet these requirements, he may still be eligible for SSDI benefits if he can show that his congestive heart failure is so disabling that it prevents him from performing the duties of any job.

Lonnie Roach A Partner In The Austin Law Firm Bemis Roach & Reed Has Successfully Assisted Hundreds Of Clients Including Those Suffering From Chronic Heart Failure Who Have Been Denied Long Term Disability Benefits

A client of ours from Round Rock had congestive heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmias, and a surgically implanted pacemaker.

This previous heart condition was later complicated by a paralyzed diaphragm that caused chronic Pulmonary Insufficiency. The client was determined to have a Class 5 physical impairment by her treating physician, a Board Certified Cardiologist. She was similarly certified as suffering a Class 5 physical impairment by a Board Certified Pulmonologist. She satisfied Social Securitys criteria for total disability under at least three separate sections. Her pathology was demonstrated by multiple, objective tests and she had been certified as totally disabled by a cardiologist and a pulmonologist. Despite all of this, Sun Life denied her claim. We handled her appeal got her benefits reinstated.

The former president of a company in Houston had been receiving disability benefits, and then was denied.

The Social Security Administration concurred with his physicians that he was disabled from any gainful activity, much less his former occupation as president of a multi-national corporation. At the time of denial, over ten years after the initial disability determination, he was placed on a heart transplant list. The physician on whom Hartford allegedly relied to deny benefits stated that the client could not work at any occupation. Nonetheless, The Hartford denied his claim. After filing suit, we were able to get his benefits reinstated.