Disability Benefits for Heart Condition or Blood Vessel Diseases

Many hardworking Americans have to leave the workforce behind once they discover their health problems are both serious and permanent. As they pursue various medical treatments and learn how to cope with chronic pain or discomfort, the disabled realize they must find a new source of income to help them pay their most basic expenses.

Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) runs two different programs that can often meet the needs of the disabled. One provides for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) while the other offers Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you’ve worked a required minimum number of years and paid Social Security taxes during that time, you may be eligible to receive SSDI benefits. The SSI program, is based solely on a person’s disability status and financial need. Regardless of the heart or blood vessel disease you may be battling, you should seriously consider filing for disability benefits if your condition is so serious you can no longer work.

Filing a Disability Claim

When filing a disability (SSDI) claim, you have a choice to do so over the phone, in person or online. Those seeking SSI benefits cannot file online and must speak directly with Social Security Administration employees.

To learn about the specific records and information you’ll need when discussing your claim with an SSA representative, you should view the Social Security Administration Checklist. It notes how important medical, work, military and worker’s compensation records are to your claim. Applicants for SSI benefits must also be ready to produce comprehensive information about their current financial status.

Getting Disability Benefits for Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases

There are many different types of heart and blood vessel diseases that may qualify an applicant for either SSDI or SSI benefits. These various ailments include (but are not limited to):

• Heart valve diseases;
• Aneurysms;
• Serious heart arrhythmias;
• Vasculitis;
• Marfan Syndrome;
• Health problems caused by extremely high or low blood pressure; and
• Atherosclerosis, which can in turn lead to such diseases as Coronary artery disease
• (CAD) and Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

Determining Eligibility for SSDI

When your claim is reviewed by the Social Security Administration, the agency will be looking at such factors as whether or not you’re ability to work now, how long you’ve been suffering from your disease and if it’s likely to remain for the rest of your life. The agency will also try and determine if your education and past work experience might still make it possible for you to pursue another line of work.

How to Appeal a Denied Disability Claim

Since many applicants for disability benefits are turned down after they first file, it’s important to be ready to pursue an appeal. It’s at this stage when many applicants realize how helpful it would be to hire an attorney who specializes in social security law. This professional can help you move beyond your initial determination so that a “reconsideration” can be made. If necessary, your attorney may even need to pursue your appeal before an administrative law judge or other proper tribunal (or court).

Why Use a Disability Lawyer?

It’s always wise to confer with a social security law attorney when you’re planning to file for disability benefits. Although many people wait until they’ve been turned down before hiring a lawyer, you may still want to confer with one before you first file to obtain some helpful tips and insights into the process. Once a reconsideration or appeal is necessary, your attorney can guide you through the process.  

Don’t forget that you don’t have to pay this type of lawyer ahead of time – private social security lawyers are normally paid out of the funds the SSA applicants receive once their benefits are granted. The lawyer’s fees come from the back payment amount that the Social Security Administration owes you.

When hiring an attorney, be sure your contract indicates that you pay nothing up front and only owe if benefits are eventually granted. If a lawyer cannot secure any benefits for you, you should not be contractually bound to pay anything for his or her services.