What was once considered a medical procedure for a select few individuals has become a relatively common practice that returns patients to vigorous health. However, a heart transplant can produce several side effects that make it impossible for someone to get back to work.
At the forefront of the side effects is the loss of energy due to a compromised heart. You might also have to deal with one or more infections that can land you in bed for weeks at a time. To say a heart transplant will disrupt your career is putting it mildly.
A heart transplant might mean you will never work again.
It is not just the total loss of income that should lead to the filing of a disability claim with the Social Security Administration (SSA). A heart transplant is sometimes considered elective surgery that many health insurance policies do not fully cover.
The cost for an average heart transplant sits at around $1.4 million. To cover the large cost of the medical procedure, as well as recoup the money lost because of your disability, a state licensed Social Security attorney can help you get back on your feet financially.
Submit the Right Medical Documents
The first hurdle to jump over for the SSA is to prove your disability has caused you to miss 12 consecutive months of work. You also have to submit copies of several medical documents that bolster your claim that a heart transplant has left you with a permanent disability.
Start by attaching the document signed by your doctor that confirms a disability diagnosis. The diagnosis should include one or more of the debilitating side effects associated with a heart transplant.
You will need to submit the names, addresses, and phone numbers of every clinic that treated you, as well as every physician that worked with you during each step of the recovery process. Rehabilitation costs for a heart transplant can run into the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The SSA Needs Additional Information
Medical documents form the foundation of your disability claim. However, there is additional information you need to submit to ensure you have the best chance of a claim being approved by the SSA. Make sure to send the SSA your Social Security number. No claim gets processed, without this crucial nine-digit number.
You also have to submit a notary verified birth certificate, and the name and amount of the drugs you have to take for alleviating the side effects of a heart transplant.
To receive full compensation for lost wages, your employer must submit evidence of your earnings that come in the form of the most recent W2 documents. You can bolster your wages claim by attaching the most recent copies of your federal and state income tax statements.
Partner with an Experienced Social Security Lawyer
You probably will not get a second chance to win approval of a Social Security Disability claim. Make sure you present the most persuasive application by hiring an experienced Social Security attorney.
Your lawyer will conduct a comprehensive review of your case to determine the best course of legal action, if the SSA denies your disability claim. A lawyer also ensure you file an accurate application that contains all the information required by the SSA.
Schedule a free initial consultation with a highly rated Social Security attorney.
