An organ transplant is a very delicate and challenging operation and will no doubt have followed many months, possibly years, of serious ill health. Because an organ transplant operation may render you disabled and unable to return to regular work you may be able to apply for disability benefits under the federal SSDI program. You will need to apply to the SSA and meet their criteria for assessment and eligibility. An experienced SSA attorney can help you determine whether you meet the criteria, fill in the relevant SSD application form and guide you through what can turn out to be a long wait for approval.
Criteria for Applying for SSDI Benefits
To be able to receive regular disability benefits from the federal government you need to meet the criteria established by the SSA (the Social Security Administration). There are two main criteria which need to be met and it is important that you can prove that your situation does in fact meet both of them. The first criterion is that you have had sufficient full time work history in the recent past to have paid insurance to match the level required for SSDI. The second is that you currently are suffering from a medical disability that prevents you from working and receiving regular income, either from paid employment or from a business that you have been running.
Medical Documents Needed in Your Application
All SSD disability benefit applications are scrutinized carefully. To meet the disability criterion, you will need to include the following information with your application:
- a diagnosis by a registered physician of your current medical condition;
- your previous medical history as it relates to your disability;
- contact details of any doctor who you have seen in connection with your medical condition, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.
- details of all visits to medical facilities including time in hospital, etc., showing dates of attendance and reasons why you attended these facilities;
- names and addresses of the medical facilities, including clinics, medical centers and hospitals attended relating to your current medical condition and disability.
Other Information You Will Need
The other information definitely needed to accompany your application is details of your full time employment or self employment. The SSA needs to know that you have had sufficient work credits to justify paying you a disability benefit. You will also need to show that your transplant and associated previous medical condition will prevent you from obtaining earnings over the next 12 months.
Ensure you submit proof of your past employment as follows:
- last federal tax returns if you were self employed;
- most recent W-2 form if you were employed in a full time occupation;
- the nature of your occupation or business;
- where you were employed or operated your business;
- birth certificate;
- social security number.
How a Social Security Attorney Can Help you with your Application
The process of applying for SSDI disability benefits is often long and tedious. It can help to have an SSA attorney check through your application to make sure you have included everything. This can save you time later. If your application is denied, an SSA attorney can help you with an appeal.
