If you’re struggling with a heart condition, you know how it can impact every aspect of your life. You are maybe even wondering how hard is it to get disability for heart problems? It is a common question that people with injuries or disabilities think about.
It makes sense with something as crucial as your heart, daily tasks that were simple become a major challenge. Maybe it is the constant fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
Dealing with these symptoms is hard enough without also working a full-time job. This brings up some questions, like is getting approved a difficult, lengthy task or relatively fast? This is one question you might think is simple, but is actually something you are unsure of. Let’s find out how hard is it to get disability for heart problems.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability with a Heart Condition
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a specific section in their “Blue Book” for cardiovascular system impairments. This book is known as the Listing of Impairments. Any disorder affecting the proper functioning of the heart or circulatory system could qualify.
The cardiovascular system section in the Blue Book lists eight different heart problems. Let’s go over some of the main heart conditions covered.
Chronic Heart Failure
This is when your heart can’t pump enough blood because it has become weakened in some way. It often leads to congestive heart failure. Sometimes this is referred to as congestive heart.
To qualify, you need documented systolic or diastolic failure. The condition needs to give you symptoms, make things seriously limited to do normal, regular daily activities, had three or more failures, or being unable to perform low impact tests.
Ischemic Heart Disease
This is when your heart muscle isn’t able to get enough blood supply. It’s caused by a decrease of blood flow, due to coronary artery disease or peripheral arterial disease. Ischemic heart disease can lead to a heart attack.
One way you are accessed to meet criteria of this issue is, an abnormal exercise tolerance test, also known as a stress test. It also can include three separate ischemic episodes, requiring procedures over the period of 1 year. The Social Security Administration also considers issues like Myocardial Ischemia.
Recurrent Arrhythmias
These are abnormal heart rates, also known as “irregular heartbeats”. Sometimes irregular heartbeats can give justifications for a Social Security Disability claim. This can impact the ejection fraction of the heart muscle.
To qualify, the medical documentation would have to demonstrate an altered level of consciousness along with 3 separate documented incidents that would qualify over a 1 year period. This is also a condition covered in the blue book by Social Security Administration.
Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital heart disease means a birth defect in the heart, resulting in malfunction. Many conditions listed within the Blue Book have specific documented medical tests and treatment with what the expected result would be to a certain condition. A symptomatic congenital heart condition can significantly limit your functional capacity.
There are various heart conditions that affect daily activity that could also make working hard. It may lead people unable to continue working, because it is tough to work with heart problems. So, getting approved for disability depends on proving that you’re unable to work, because of a condition or health problem.
Other Heart Conditions
There are several other cardiovascular issues that might make someone eligible for Social Security disability benefits. These include heart transplant, aneurysm of aorta or major branches, chronic venous insufficiency, and peripheral arterial disease. A heart transplant aneurysm is a serious condition.
The Blue Book contains many specific impairments for many various conditions and what would need to be shown. The SSA evaluates these conditions based on their impact on your ability to work.
Meeting the Criteria of Disability for a Heart Condition
The Social Security Administration needs details on a person’s situation and medical status. They generally want reports of a medical history. They will request things like a physical checkup with documents for lab work that show the condition.
Generally speaking, these documents should show around three months of ongoing and consistent data, with how it impacts things normally. Tests are critical because they may be the best “proof”.
Tests for Heart Conditions
There are many common medical tests used for the diagnosis of heart problems. An electrocardiograph (ECG) machine records your heart’s electrical impulses, like arrhythmia’s and checks your heart is not getting enough oxygen.
Exercise tests, sometimes including an exercise Doppler, monitor how a person’s cardiovascular system responds. They do things to observe your heart. They are useful to find things about peripheral vascular or even coronary artery issues that arise.
Documenting the Severity of Your Condition
When applying, make sure you gather comprehensive medical records. Documents should demonstrate what your condition is, what is causing issues to your job, with tests to clearly show it. Things like medical notes from doctor visits or tests are helpful to send in with an SSDI benefits application.
If a person struggles with moving around because of their breathing and heart, it would be near impossible to keep performing and functioning for many type of careers. A key to this step is working to gather as much evidence and info, and if struggling, asking the doctors for assistance.
Keep in mind that if a condition prevents work, disability insurance benefits could potentially come as a result. There is an evaluation process to review this known as the “Residual Functional Capacity” (RFC) test.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Assessment
An RFC assesses what work you can still do, despite physical issues. The Social Security Administration factors in the trouble a condition has on one’s work. An example would be walking or standing that results in breathing problems and pains that stop you in the process of what is being performed.
An RFC looks at a person’s entire situation like what is done daily and seeing where things affect it. Another condition, that may seem unrelated like mental health, could affect heart issues, such as high blood pressure, which impacts the left ventricular.
| Condition | RFC Impact |
|---|---|
| Chronic Heart Failure | May limit ability to stand, walk, or lift due to fatigue and shortness of breath. |
| Ischemic Heart Disease | Could restrict exertion and activities that cause chest pain or shortness of breath. |
| Depression | Can affect heart issues like making communication hard, staying motivated and maintaining attention at work. |
Factors Affecting Disability Approval
Several key factors can impact how difficult the application process turns out. One of the most significant things considered, is the documented condition. If conditions show work and life cannot operate in an unaffected state, approval of the disability claim is improved, compared to light impacts on one’s situation.
It may be worth the effort to keep and make as much medical history as possible. It has a strong bearing for consideration with applications submitted. Age can also sometimes be a factor that is looked at.
The Role of Medical Records
Having detailed reports from your doctors is invaluable when proving a medical condition. Those records show your overall conditions history and severity. You can also get opinions from doctors with insight.
This all provides strong support of an application and how work is impacted. It is useful to track your treatments and if those have improved things or remained stagnant.
Age and Ability to Work
The Social Security Administration does factor in your age and prior experience when reviewing claims. Individuals aged 50 to 54 are generally viewed in the zone of, “approaching advanced age.” Older workers may face more difficulty of new training.
Workers who are 55 or older may also find disability decisions more favorable. Keep in mind that regular benefits will apply once at full retirement.
Those over 55 are in a different category and could still be able to work. Your Social Security disability lawyer can request this info.
Getting Help with a Claim
It is possible, and more people than you think, may not seek any council when claiming. An option if assistance or legal guidance is ever sought or desired would be a disability lawyer. A Social Security disability lawyer could provide help or review a unique situation with a free consultation.
Applying for Social Security disability benefits can get very complicated sometimes. Seeking assistance could take that difficulty down. A disability lawyer has knowledge of things that impact results.
One can apply to get disability, if eligible, while following the prescribed treatment.
FAQs about how hard is it to get disability for heart problems
How long does it take to get disability for heart problems?
The time varies. Usually, it can happen within a few months, but sometimes can go past a year depending on several factors with claims.
This includes evidence gathered, processing times for various things, or if appeals are sought by the applicant. Some reports suggest a range of around 3 to 5 months as a general estimate of applications, for claims, overall though.
What are three ways a person may become ineligible for disability benefits?
There are three situations that could make you potentially ineligible for disability. Earning above the Substantial Gainful Activity limit, not having enough medical issues/documentation to prove things, or failing to meet certain insured/non-insured requirements like work history, if applicable.
How to survive financially while waiting for disability?
Many possible methods include applying for temporary assistance programs. Or even seeking additional supportive people to assist during an unexpected wait with financial pressures.
What heart defects qualify for disability?
Many things and it varies. Chronic heart conditions, along with the others mentioned above.
This could be, recurrent arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, or issues stemming from things like heart transplants could qualify. Vascular disease, including arterial disease impacting the major arteries, can also be a factor. Chronic venous insufficiency can meet the criteria.
Conclusion
You now have some key information for consideration with disabilities with heart conditions. So for anyone pondering how hard is it to get disability for heart problems, remember various things.
Several issues influence and depend on factors like documented medical impairment and the ability to perform one’s occupation or not. So it depends, in a very basic answer, because everyone’s circumstances, medical issues, treatments vary significantly.
A person needs to present enough medical proof to show that their condition meets the SSA’s specific criteria. Ultimately, there are methods with benefits like Social Security for those impacted by disabilities.
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The information provided in this blog article is intended to be general in nature and should not be construed as legal advice. Social Security laws and regulations are subject to, and often change. Please consult the official Social Security Administration (SSA) website or contact SSLG for advice regarding your specific legal matters.