Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Learn about qualifying impairments for Social Security Disability from the team at Nash Disability Law.

Social Security Disability Benefits for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) in Chicago, IL

If you have congestive heart failure and can’t work, you may entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration lists CHF within its official listing of impairments, but to qualify for benefits, you must be diagnosed with severe continuing heart failure despite taking heart medication. Your medical records must also show that you have experienced fluid retention at some point while suffering from CHF.

Winning disability benefits for CHF or any condition is never an easy process, but success is possible. To qualify for disability benefits when you have CHF, you must have medical records showing you have evidence of systolic or diastolic heart failure.

How the Symptoms of CHF Affect Disability Benefits

As mentioned above, you must have medical evidence outlining your systolic or diastolic heart failure.
Systolic heart failure happens when your heart has weakened pumping strength. This can be shown when:

  • Your heart’s left ventricular end diastolic dimensions are bigger than 6 centimeters.
  • Your heart’s percentage of blood pumped out during a heartbeat is 30% or less during a period of stability.

Diastolic heart failure happens when your heart is unable to fill properly. This is shown when all of the following qualifications are met:

  • You have an enlarged left atrium that’s 4.5 centimeters or larger, and
  • The thickness of your left ventricular wall and interventricular septum is 2.5 centimeters or large on imaging, and;
  • You suffer from a normal or elevated ejection fraction during a period of stability.

If you suffer from complications due to your CHF and can no longer work, you will need medical evidence to present to the SSA. If you have CHF, it’s important you follow all of your doctor’s orders for treatment including taking any heart medication your doctor prescribes. If you don’t follow all of your doctor’s orders, it can potentially harm your claim for disability benefits.

Consider Applying for Disability Benefits if You Have CHF

Before you apply, make sure you visit your doctor several times about your heart condition and make sure your doctor keeps detailed medical notes about your condition. This medical evidence will play a key role in your application for benefits. The SSA will ask for blood work, results or an exercise stress test and medical imaging (cardiac ECHO, MIR, etc.) to fully evaluate your disability claim for CHF.

The more evidence you have, the easier it is to paint a clear picture of how your condition limits you when you present it to the SSA.
If you have congestive heart failure and need to apply disability benefits, or if you were denied,
call us
at 312-548-6237 to get started with a free consultation or your claim.