Getting SSDI With Heart Disease

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a payroll-funded insurance program that pays benefits to you and possibly other family members in the event of a disability that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Beginning the process of filing for disability due to heart disease can seem terrifying. Here are some tips to help you get through the daunting process.

Step 1 -- Talk to your doctor about filing for disability

• Your doctor's cooperation is required for the forms and letters stating that you have a disability that will affect your ability to work for at least a year or will result in death. The SSA has several criteria for determining if you are actually disabled, one of which is comparing your condition against its "Listing of Impairments" (http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/4.00-Cardiovascular-Adult.htm) to determine the severity of your disability. If you have significant "cardiovascular impairment," you may qualify for SSDI. The SSA lists significant impairment as "any disorder that affects the functioning of the heart or circulatory system (that is, arteries, veins, capillaries, and lymphatic drainage)." Your doctor will know what to do to help you start the process.

Step 2 -- Get your medical records together

• Get release forms from your doctor to release all your medical records back to her. Include every physician who has treated you for your condition. Make sure you include records of any related surgeries, hospital stays, visits to clinics and anything else associated with caring for your disease, like applicable lab reports. The more evidence you have backing up your diagnosis showing the severity of your disability, the more likely you are to win your case.

Step 3 -- Contact a Social Security Disability attorney

• The first thing an attorney will do is help you gather the information that the SSA requires you to file. Applying for disability is confusing at best and extraordinarily stressful at worst. An attorney who specializes in Social Security disability law can help you navigate the labyrinth of terms and requirements.

  Binder and Binder is one excellent resource (http://www.binderandbinder.com/index.html). Based in New York, it has been in business since 1975. It handles SSDI cases nationally and its lawyers are experts in Social Security disability mitigation. Having an attorney who specializes in disability law makes the process easier, as he is well versed in the initial filing and appeals processes. Such attorneys also don't require payment until after you win, and then a portion of your settlement will go to them. Their percentage varies based on the amount of the settlement.

Step 4 -- Don't try to beat the system

• Fraud is a scary word. Felony is even scarier. Don't make an end run around your own disability case and try to work. This is about proving that you can't work. Disability fraud is big business for the unscrupulous, and people defrauding the government make it even harder for those of us with legitimate claims to get approved for disability. Thanks to stiffer penalties due to the government cracking down on fraud cases, the penalty is imprisonment for up to five years and $250,000 in fines.

Step 5 -- Don't give up

• These are tough times, and you have to be tough, too. This isn't about giving up on your life, it's about getting yourself into a financial position where you can at least enjoy it a little bit. Sometimes we can feel sorry for ourselves for having to opt out of the workforce and go on disability. Don't. A serious disability can make us feel like it's stolen our right to be happy, like it's taken away our independence and dignity. But there is no shame in taking care of yourself and doing what you need to do to make sure you can get by.