High blood pressure by itself is not a good enough reason to submit a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, you might qualify for financial assistance if you can demonstrate high blood pressure has produced heart failure, coronary heart disease, and/or an enlarged heart.
What You Need to Know About SSDI
The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages the SSDI program to help disabled workers cope with significant financial losses. Suffering from a medical condition that is caused by high blood pressure can produce costly medical bills, as well as lost wages because you can no longer hold down a job.
You have to demonstrate you can no longer work if you want to become eligible for SSDI benefits. The SSA program provides annual cost-of-living adjustments to account for inflation, as well as retirement benefits for eligible family members.
Just because you suffer from high blood pressure does not mean you qualify for SSDI benefits. The SSA does not include high blood pressure as one of the qualifying medical conditions listed in the medical guide called the Blue Book.
However, if you can show high blood pressure has kept you out of work for at least 12 consecutive months, you might qualify for financial assistance. What you and your Social Security disability attorney have to do is prove high blood pressure has made a significant negative impact on the eyes, brain, heart, and/or kidneys.
Deciding Between Medicare and SSDI Benefits
Recipients of SSDI benefits must make a decision when they turn 65 years old. Do they continue to receive financial assistance from the SSDI program or make the transition to Medicare coverage? The SSA makes the decision easy for at least two years, as SSDI recipients cannot receive Medicare coverage until they turn 67 years old. The two-year window to continue receiving financial assistance from the SSDI program allows you to receive more comprehensive healthcare coverage. Medicare also does not cover lost wages.
Returning to Work
The SSA eventually wants SSDI recipients to return to work. To accomplish this goal, the federal agency manages two back-to-work programs called Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and Ticket to Work. PASS educates disabled workers about how to save money for learning new occupational skills.
For example, if high blood pressure prevents you from working a mentally challenging job, PASS helps you save money to acquire new job skills for an occupation that produces much less daily stress. Getting disabled workers back into the workforce allows the SSA to free up money to help other disabled American workers cope with a debilitating illness or disease.
Work with a Social Security Lawyer
The SSA applies a strict list of criteria when reviewing claims for SSDI benefits. To improve your chances of receiving approval for an SSDI claim that covers high blood pressure, you should work with a Social Security disability attorney. A lawyer may not only help you submit the most persuasive medical evidence, but you also gain an advocate who monitors the progress of your SSDI claim.
Complete the Free Case Evaluation today to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
