Atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat that often beats rapidly, can lead to several debilitating symptoms. Heart palpitations, chronic fatigue, and constant shortness of breath can make it nearly impossible to complete basic job responsibilities. If you suffer from atrial fibrillation, the Social Security Administration (SSA) runs a safety net program called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) that offers financial assistance.
SSDI can offer you the financial assistance you need to pay for medical bills, as well as recoup the income lost because you have stopped working. Medicare is also an option in some cases and you can enroll in a return to work program that helps you transition back into your career. Working with a disability attorney can get you the financial assistance you need to pay for the costs associated with atrial fibrillation.
Overview of SSDI
The SSA offers SSDI benefits for applicants that have a full disability, not a disability that is a partial disability or a short-term medical issue. A team of healthcare experts reviews each SSDI application to determine eligibility for financial assistance. The SSA refers to a guide called the Blue Book, which lists the medical conditions and symptoms that can qualify applicants for SSDI benefits.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have missed work for 12 consecutive months. The SSA increase SSDI benefits when the federal agency increases the cost-of-living index. Although atrial fibrillation typically does not result in death, there are cases when a patient dies because of the severity of the symptoms. SSDI includes a benefit that grants surviving spouses financial assistance when their spouse dies because of an SSA-approved medical condition.
Does SSDI Influence How Much Pays Out in Medicare?
Medicare is the federal safety net program that kicks in when eligible Americans reach a certain age. If you receive SSDI financial assistance because of atrial fibrillation and you qualify for Medicare, federal law states that you have to wait two years before Medicare health insurance kicks in. The reason for the two-year waiting period is that SSDI should cover all the costs associated with atrial fibrillation. However, you can enroll in a health insurance program provided by your last employer.
Back to Work Programs
The primary goal of the SSDI program is to help disabled workers pay for the costs associated with their medical conditions. As a secondary goal, the SSA wants to encourage disabled workers to recover enough of their previous professional skills to get back to work. Both the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and Ticket to Work programs provide disabled workers with the tools they need to get back on the job. PASS teaches participants how to manage finances during a stressful period in their lives. Enrollment in either program should develop the skills disabled workers need to become more self-sufficient.
Request a Free Case Evaluation
The SSA denies a majority of SSDI claims primarily because of a lack of medical evidence. To strengthen your SSDI claim, reach out to a state-licensed Social Security lawyer to walk you through the entire process. An attorney is especially helpful with collecting and submitting persuasive medical documentation. If your claim comes back denied, your disability lawyer can represent you during the four-step appeals process.
Speak with an experienced Social Security lawyer to schedule an initial appointment for a free case evaluation.
