When a child is born with a disability, that child may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits if his or her parents have earned enough work credits and have paid taxes into the Social Security system. Unfortunately, proving that a child has a disability that qualifies for benefits has proven to be quite a difficult process for many hard-working parents. Nearly 70 percent of the disability claims that are received each year are denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA), resulting in the need for a long and drawn out disability appeal.
When a parent is caring for a disabled child, the last thing they should have to do is deal with the stress and frustration of the disability appeal process. A Social Security Disability appeal can take more than two years to complete thanks to the overwhelming backlog of disability claims that are currently in the Social Security system.
Previously, the SSA had treated all disabilities equally. Parents of children who were in desperate need of Social Security Disability benefits would have to fight the system to receive the benefits that they were entitled to. In 2008 that all changed when the SSA rolled out its Compassionate Allowances Listings.
When an individual suffers from a disability that falls within the Compassionate Allowances Listing, they are able to receive Social Security Disability benefits in a matter of weeks instead of having to wait months or years before disability payments start coming in. Until recently, there were only 88 conditions that would qualify an individual for processing under these listings. In 2011 the SSA included 12 more conditions in the Compassionate Allowances Listings, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
If your child has been diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the following information will help you understand the disability claim process and how you can increase your chances of receiving a quick and hassle-free approval of your child's disability claim under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Condition and Symptoms
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, also known as HLHS, is a congenital heart defect that is usually diagnosed at birth. Infants who are born with this condition suffer from a severe under-development of the left side of the heart.
When an infant suffers from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the entire left side of the heart is usually affected including the left ventricle, the mitral valve, the aortic valve and the aorta. This results in the heart being unable to send enough blood to the body. As a result, the right side of the heart has to maintain enough circulation to sustain both the lungs and the body. This causes extra work for the heart, which eventually results in heart failure.
Some of the children who suffer from hypoplastic left heart syndrome also suffer from other genetic syndromes or heart defects as well. They are also at an increased risk of developing other heart complications following surgery as well as developing endocarditis.
Because individuals with hypoplastic left heart syndrome are unable to endure much physical activity, they are not able to maintain the responsibilities required for full-time work when they reach adulthood. The SSA has recognized this fact and has included the condition in its Compassionate Allowances Listings.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
If you or your child have been diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, it is important that you realize that even though the condition is included in the SSA's Compassionate Allowances Listings, it does not mean that you will receive an automatic approval of your Social Security Disability application. You will need to complete the disability claim forms properly and submit sufficient medical evidence in order to receive a quick approval of your Social Security Disability claim.
When filing a Social Security Disability claim due to a case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, make sure that you fill out the disability application paperwork properly. This means filling the claim forms out in their entirety and answering all questions asked with detailed and in-depth answers. The more specific you are in your answers, the easier it will be for the adjudicator who is reviewing your file to understand the severity of the condition and how it qualifies for processing under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
When submitting your Social Security Disability application, you also need to be sure that you provide the SSA with the proper medical evidence to support your disability application. In the case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the SSA will need to see a clinical description of your physician's findings, copies of operative reports, cardiology consultation reports and copies of any imaging studies that have been performed.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Your Social Security Disability Case
Most disability applicants assume that their application for Social Security Disability benefits will be automatically approved because their condition is included in the SSA's Compassionate Allowances Listings. This is not necessarily the case. While the SSA does not commonly deny Compassionate Allowances applications, it can happen if you do not fill your claim forms out properly or do not provide the SSA with sufficient medical evidence to support your disability claim.
If you wish to increase your chances of a quick approval of your disability claim under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances Listings, you may want to consider retaining the services of a disability advocate. These professionals can help you present your claim in such a way that there is no question as to whether or not the condition qualifies as a Compassionate Allowances Listing and can help you gather the medical evidence that will be needed to support that fact.
