Change of Heart for North Carolina Social Security Disability Applicants with Heart Disease?

July 19, 2011, by Michael A. DeMayo

The Social Security Administration (SSA) may soon implement new rules that will help North Carolina Social Security Disability applicants who have heart disease get on the “fast track” to benefits through something called Compassionate Allowance.

Earlier this year, the SSA held a hearing to address whether cardiovascular disease should be added to a list of conditions that the SSA consults when it considers whether or not to fast track workers for benefits. Under normal circumstances, if you want to collect North Carolina Social Security Disability, you need to show that your disability is severe and impedes you from both doing your normal work and taking other work. But if your disease or condition is on the list of Compassionate Allowances, you get to shortcut the typical process.

Thus, people who have heart disease may soon be able to get benefits faster and easier – and focus on dealing with their cardiovascular conditions. Of course, not all cardiovascular disease is equally severe or problematic. Many people who have heart disease – and even people who have suffered heart attacks – can return to work and live long, healthy, productive lives.

This is one of the reasons why heart disease has not yet been added to the Compassionate Allowances list. So there will likely be some logistical and semantic wrangling over who exactly can bypass the traditional SSD route and under what circumstances.

If you are confused about how to move forward, and you want someone to help you develop a clear, step by step, reasonably bulletproof process to eliminate your uncertainties and maximize your chances of success, connect today with an experienced North Carolina Social Security Disability law firm. The SSD/SSDI application process can be surprisingly complicated, and if your energy is already drained because you are fighting a disease, struggling to recover from a devastating injury, or simply just overwhelmed by paperwork, good legal can help you regain balance, control, and perspective.

More Web Resources:

Compassionate Allowances

Compassionate Allowances and heart disease