Congestive Heart Failure
Social Security Disability for Congestive Heart Failure in Detroit
Congestive heart failure often comes with debilitating symptoms. You might find day-to-day activities hard because you experience shortness of breath or extreme fatigue. You may have problems with swelling in your lower extremities. You also may suffer from confusion or memory loss.
If your symptoms have reached a point where you’re no longer able to work, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, which provide monthly payments to help you cover basic expenses.
Most people who apply, however, get denied. Winning benefits requires a carefully prepared application, including evidence showing how your condition prevents you from working.
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Qualifying for Congestive Heart Failure Disability Benefits
In order to win disability benefits for congestive heart failure, you have to prove that your medical condition makes it impossible for you to continue in your job or switch to a new job. You also have to show that your health problems will last at least a year.
You have to provide two major types of evidence to the Social Security Administration (SSA):
- Medical documentation
- Occupational information
Medical Documentation
A significant portion of the SSA’s decision will be based on a review of your medical records.
The SSA includes congestive heart failure as an impairment in its “Blue Book,” which is a listing of conditions that may qualify for benefits.
Generally speaking, your medical records must show that your heart’s ability to pump blood is weakened (systolic heart failure) or that your heart cannot properly fill with blood (diastolic heart failure).
In order to meet either of these requirements, you must have documented test results that meet very specific standards.
You’ll also need to prove that your heart failure symptoms prevent you from doing your normal, everyday activities, or that they significantly impact your ability to handle those activities.
Be prepared to provide information about the doctors, clinics or hospitals where you have been treated for your heart failure symptoms.
You’ll need to provide several other things, too, like dates and results of tests and lab results. You’ll also need to explain the effects of any prescribed treatment plans.
It’s okay if you don’t have all this information when you apply. You can estimate dates. And you can sign a release form authorizing the SSA to obtain your medical records directly from your providers.
Occupational Information
You’ll also need to provide information to help the SSA determine whether you can still work in any occupation you would be qualified for if you didn’t have a debilitating condition.
The SSA will ask you for details about your previous job experience over the past 15 years, including descriptions of your job responsibilities.
Because many jobs with different responsibilities have similar-sounding titles, you’ll have to go into detail about how much of your typical work day you spent doing various tasks.
You’ll also need to provide information about your education and any specific job training you have received.
Armed with your medical records and your occupational history, the SSA will be able to make an informed decision on your application for benefits.
Get Help with Your Congestive Heart Failure Disability Claim
When you’re dealing with congestive heart failure, you have enough to focus on without trying to tackle a Social Security disability application on your own.
The process can be complex and frustrating, especially if you haven’t been through it before. At Levine Benjamin Law Firm, we’ve gone through this process thousands of times on behalf of our clients and know how to succeed.
Easing your way is one reason to work with a Social Security disability attorney from Levine Benjamin. Another reason is that your chances of having your claim approved are higher when you have professional representation for your application or appeal.
We understand how Social Security disability applies to congestive heart failure.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.