It is called the silent killer, but there is not anything silent about how a heart attack can turn a vibrant career into a harrowing journey of recuperation both physically and financially. In fact, after the physical side effects have diminished, the financial impact of a heart attack can take years to overcome. A much weaker body cannot keep up with even the most basic demands placed on you at work. The loss of production eventually leads to less time at work and consequently, you start to have trouble meeting your most fundamental financial needs.
Fortunately, there is a safety net that helps many survivors of a heart attack regain some semblance of financial independence.
Recovering Financially after a Heart Attack
A heart attack represents one of the most devastating ailments that put professionals out of work for extended periods. To help workers that have lost time because of a serious disease, illness, or injury, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers displaced professionals a way to recover most, if not all the costs associated with missing a significant amount of time from work. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the safety net used by millions of American workers to take care of medical costs, as well as act as a financial buffer against lost wages. The SSA has created the Blue Book to list every medical condition that applies to SSDI benefits, as well as the symptoms that qualify applicants to receive money through the SSDI program.
Sometimes, the SSA requires SSDI applicants to go a step further in proving eligibility for benefits. You might also have to submit a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment form, which measures the impact a heart attack has had on your financial well-being. An RFC provides the SSA with information about how well after a heart attack you are able to complete every function that is a part of your job. For example, an RFC form describes an architect’s ability to stay at a job site for hours on end. A delivery driver returns an RFC form that details how well the driver performed basic maneuvers in typical traffic.
The Key is to Submit Convincing Medical Documents
The most effective strategy for submitting a persuasive RFC is to ask your physician to complete and sign the form. At the very least, you need to attach medical documents to your RFC that overwhelmingly proves a heart attack has taken you out of the professional game. For a heart attack, this means attaching an x-ray of your chest that clearly demonstrates how a heart attack caused damage to blood vessels, as well as other areas of blood circulation near the heart. You also should send the SSA documentation signed by a licensed heart specialist that describes the common signs of a heart attack that include fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Discover the Strength of Your RFC Application
You have only one opportunity to make a favorable impression on the SSA. If the SSA rejects your RFC submission the first time, you cannot submit a second RFC to act as an appeal for the first decision. Going through a free case evaluation before you submit an RFC ensures you submit a disability assessment form that covers every eligibility requirement stated by the SSA.
Schedule a free RFC assessment form evaluation today to determine the strength of your disability case.
