Heart problems are one of the biggest threats to the health of people in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the US and someone dies from a heart-related condition every 33 seconds.
Can you claim Social Security Disability Insurance if you have a heart condition that leaves you unable to go to work? It depends.
The key to any SSDI claim is that you need to be unable to work for at least 12 months
Many people who suffer heart attacks, or other serious cardiovascular problems can return to work well before a year is up. While it may require altering their role to lighten their duties or changing jobs altogether, someone expected to return to work within 12 months will not be able to claim.
Doctors have a lot of options at their disposal to treat or control heart problems
Doctors can often get someone back to work far quicker than the person imagines. They can operate to remove a blockage or repair a damaged part, insert a pacemaker to regulate heart rate, give pills to thin the blood and help flow or prescribe statins to reduce cholesterol and more.
Patients can also often do a lot to improve their heart health with lifestyle changes. For instance, stopping smoking, changing diet and getting more exercise.
The Social Security Administration’s Blue Book has some guidelines on when someone with a heart condition may qualify for SSDI, but they are not straightforward to understand. What’s more, they are not all-encompassing, and you may still be able to claim for a heart condition even if an initial read of the rules suggests you can’t. Sometimes it’s about knowing how to present your claim in a different way.
It’s worth seeking legal advice for a better idea of whether you are entitled to these benefits, and if so, how to present your claim.