Heart disease is the "number one killer" of men and women in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over one in four Americans died from heart disease in 2006. Ohio ranks in the bottom quartile for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a 2009 study by the American Heart Association that ranked all fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Ohio ranked 39 out of 52 for death-rates associated with cardiovascular disease and 41 out of 52 for death-rates associated with coronary heart disease.
But despite the deadly risks of heart disease, many people survive heart attacks, strokes and other heart-disease complications, and live with heart disease. But in many cases, they are unable to work because of the significant debilitating effects of heart-related conditions. For example, congestive heart failure can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, lack of energy and strength, and sleep deficits caused by trouble breathing, especially when lying down. Most people who are diagnosed with congestive heart failure live at least one year after their diagnosis, so this can be a long-term health condition that patients must learn to live with.
Ohio Social Security Disability Benefits For Heart Disease Sufferers
In testimony at the Social Security Administration's Compassionate Allowances Outreach Hearing in November 2010, Dr. Ileana Piña of the American Heart Association spoke about the sometimes "deadly" waiting period for SSD benefits and Medicare eligibility for some patients who suffer cardiovascular disease. She noted she has seen many patients that were unable to work or afford health care because of their heart-related conditions. She advocated that certain types of CVD be added to the list of compassionate allowances including heart failure and congenital cardiovascular disease. Several new heart-related conditions were added to the SSA's list of Compassionate Allowances in July 2011.
As Dr. Piña noted, the wait time for Social Security disability benefit applicants can be very long, and some SSD applicants may be denied once, twice or may never be awarded SSD benefits. Those who suffer from heart-related conditions may want to consider applying for SSD benefits earlier, rather than later. New heart-related conditions included on the compassionate allowance list may speed heart-related SSD applications. The assistance of an experienced Social Security disability benefits attorney can also help navigate the process as well as providing support and guidance to SSD applicants during a difficult time.
