Eisenmenger Syndrome and Social Security Disability Claims
It was reported that in 2010 the Social Security Administration received more than three million claims for Social Security Disability benefits. Unfortunately, more than two-thirds of these claims were denied during the initial stage of the application process. These applicants then had to file Social Security Disability appeals, increasing the backlog of cases that are already in the Social Security system. While many of these backlogged cases were filed by disabled workers who were no longer able to perform substantial gainful work activity, some were filed by parents of children who had been diagnosed with severely debilitating conditions.
When a child is diagnosed with a serious and life-threatening condition, it is an overwhelming and stressful situation. Parents are often dealing with emotional turmoil and are not yet considering the financial ramifications that the diagnosis will have on their family. When the time comes, Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income should be there to help. Unfortunately, actually obtaining the disability benefits that a family needs for a disabled child is not as easy as one would hope.
In 2008, the Social Security Administration stepped up to the plate and realized that not all disabilities are equal in severity, so they should not be treated equally. As a result, the SSA implemented the Compassionate Allowances Listings. Under these listings, an applicant may be approved for Social Security Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration in less than a month, instead of having to wait two years or more before benefits can begin.
Until recently there were only 88 conditions that qualified an applicant for claim processing under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines. In 2011 the SSA introduced 12 more conditions to these guidelines, including Eisenmenger Syndrome.
If your child has been diagnosed with Eisenmenger Syndrome and you hope to obtain Social Security Disability benefits on their behalf, the following information will help you understand the claim process and how you can increase your chances of an expedited approval of your child's Social Security Disability benefits.
Eisenmenger Syndrome Condition and Symptoms
Eisenmenger syndrome is a condition that is caused by a rare defect in the heart. This defect affects the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs.
Most of the infants who are born with this condition suffer from a hole that is located between the left and right ventricles of the heart. This hole allows blood that has already been through the lungs to receive oxygen to flow back into the lungs instead of out into the rest of the body like it should.
As time goes on, this increased blood flow may cause damage to the small blood vessels in the lungs, causing high blood pressure in the organ. This then results in a backup of blood, which causes the lungs to not provide the blood with enough oxygen.
In most cases the symptoms of Eisenmenger syndrome will present themselves before a child reaches puberty. However, there are some reports of the condition developing in young adulthood. While the symptoms themselves can vary, the common symptoms of Eisenmenger syndrome include chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms, a blue tint to the skin and extremities, coughing up of blood, fainting, dizziness, chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of the joints and/or stroke.
Unfortunately there is no cure for Eisenmenger syndrome. Treatment will depend on the age of the child at the time of diagnosis and the severity of the condition. Some children have to have blood removed from the body in order to reduce the number of red blood cells and then undergo volume replacement. Others may need oxygen treatments. In some cases, heart transplants or lung transplants may be required.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Eisenmenger Syndrome
If your child has been diagnosed with Eisenmenger Syndrome, it can be an emotionally overwhelming experience. Many parents wonder if they will be able to meet the needs of the child while still meeting the financial needs of the family. Fortunately, Social Security Disability benefits can help relieve some of the financial burden.
Because Eisenmenger Syndrome is one of the 12 new conditions that qualifies an individual for claim processing under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines, your child may be approved for disability benefits in a matter of weeks, bypassing the traditional disability claim and appeal process.
When filing your claim for disability benefits based on a diagnosis of Eisenmenger Syndrome, make sure that you provide sufficient medical evidence and complete the claim forms entirely and with as much detail as possible. Things that the adjudicator will want to see will include records of clinical examinations describing physical findings, diagnostic features of the impairment and laboratory test results.
Eisenmenger Syndrome and Your Social Security Disability Case
Many of the parents who file Social Security Disability claims for children who have been diagnosed with a Compassionate Allowances listing assume that the claim will be automatically approved by the Social Security Administration. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. You will need to ensure that your claim paperwork is properly filled out and that you submit all of the required medical evidence.
If you would like to increase your chances of obtaining an expedited approval of your child's Social Security Disability claim, you should consider obtaining the services of a qualified Social Security Disability advocate or attorney. These professionals can help you complete the disability claim forms and gather the medical evidence that will be needed to prove your case to the Social Security Administration.
To learn more about the Social Security Compassionate Allowance listings or to find out whether your child qualifies for disability benefits due to a diagnosis of Eisenmenger syndrome, simply fill out the for a free evaluation of your disability case from an experience Social Security Disability lawyer.
