As a sufferer of coronary artery disease, you may have the opportunity to file for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits. Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries of the heart become clogged with plaque and fat. Over time, the buildup will get hard and close in on your arteries. Coronary artery disease causes shortness of breath, chest pain, and heart attacks. If you have this disease, here are some things you should know about SSDI benefits:
Will You Qualify for SSDI?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a list of impairments which names the disabilities eligible for SSDI benefits. According to the list, ischemic heart disease is considered a qualified impairment. The SSA will evaluate your health and symptoms to determine if you are qualified to receive benefits.
Which Symptoms Qualify for Coverage?
You have to have certain symptoms in order to receive SSDI benefits. Chest pain which is brought on by physical activity that is only remedied by rest or nitroglycerin is one of these symptoms. Atypical angina, which happens when certain areas of your body suffer pain in addition to your chest, is another symptom. Pain can extend from the heart to the left arm, abdomen, jaw, or neck. Coronary spasms, shortness of breath, and silent ischemia are additional symptoms you can suffer. Silent ischemia is essentially a heart attack in which you do not feel pain.
What Should You Do If You Do Not Have the Symptoms?
If your heart disease does not meet all of these requirements, it is still possible to receive SSDI benefits. The SSA considers whether or not your condition has kept you from working. Should the SSA determine that you are unable to work any job at all, they can determine that you have a disability. The SSA will look at your medical evidence and figure out your residual functional capacity, or RFC. The RFC is the highest amount of time you can work consistent with your health.
The SSA will decide how able you are to work, including standing, walking, sitting, lifting, and so on. If your doctor states you are unable to stand for a certain amount of time each day because your health cannot handle it, the RFC will state you can only do work consisting of sedentary activity.
After the SSA decides the RFC, they will use the information to decide if you can do the job you did prior to your health condition. The SSA may decide that you can do other work in lieu of receiving SSDI.
For help with receiving SSDI benefits, contact a social security disability lawyer in your area.
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