Living with a disability could pose a variety of problems for a person. The disability could affect a person’s ability to work and may also require a person to have extensive medical attention over the course of their life. As you might expect, this could be extremely expensive if a person was not able to secure disability benefits. If you were diagnosed with high blood pressure, and you are unsure about whether you could claim disability benefits for your illness, you should consult with an experienced Fayetteville, AR disability lawyer. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, understands the many burdens of living with a disability, and he would be pleased to help you seek the benefits you deserve. Our firm has managed a variety of disability benefit claims for our clients, and we are confident we could provide you legal representation tailored to your needs. Ken Kieklak is here to discuss whether you could get disability benefits in Arkansas for high blood pressure.
Does High Blood Pressure a Qualify for Disability Benefits in Arkansas?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines whether an applicant has a severe impairment that could qualify for disability benefits. Specifically, the SSA has a Listing of Impairments that names disabilities that qualify for disability benefits in Arkansas. However, the SSA will also consider disabilities that are equivalent to the conditions listed.
While the SSA does not specifically list high blood pressure as a condition that is eligible for disability benefits, the circumstances of your illness and the impact it has on your life could be used as factors to help you secure the benefits you deserve. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, could help you get started on filing disability benefits for your high blood pressure case.
Qualifying for Disability Benefits with High Blood Pressure
Generally, when a person has a blood pressure reading of 140/90, they are considered to have high blood pressure. There are a number of signs and symptoms that could affect a person with high blood pressure:
- Headaches
- Increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and heart failure
- Issues with vision
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained confusion
High blood pressure could also be an indication that a person has developed a more serious illness like a renal disease.
If you’re wondering how to apply for disability benefits in Arkansas for hypertension, the applicant will need to show the SSA how it affects their life and their ability to obtain gainful employment. Normally, the SSA would require that the applicant show that the illness is permanent or is expected to result in death. However, it may also be possible to gain benefits if you can show that your hypertension is expected to last for at least a period of 12 months.
When pursuing disability benefits, you should be sure to provide extensive medical documentation that highlights the impact of high blood pressure on your life. For example, if you previously worked in a physically demanding job, and you can no longer work due to hypertension, this should be mentioned in your case. Additionally, if your high blood pressure diagnosis was caused by a more serious illness, you should thoroughly document this illness as well.
To learn more about the process of filing for disability claims in Arkansas, you should continue reading and consult with an experienced Fort Smith disability lawyer as soon as possible.
5 Steps for Determining High Blood Pressure Disability Benefits
The SSA uses a five-step process (3 steps for minors) to determine whether an applicant is eligible to be awarded disability benefits. The first step of this process inquires whether the applicant is currently working. If the answer is yes, the SSA must know how much the applicant earns per month to determine eligibility.
The amount of money a disability applicant could earn per month is often adjusted to account for inflation and other factors. In 2020, an applicant with hypertension that is applying for disability benefits cannot earn more than $1,260 per month. However, if the applicant is also blind, the threshold increases to $2,110.
Next, the SSA will examine whether the applicant’s illness is severe. If high blood pressure affects the applicant’s ability to work and their daily life, it will satisfy the requirements of the second step.
Third, the SSA will determine whether the illness is on the List of Impairments. As mentioned, equivalent illnesses to those on the list may be sufficient to receive disability benefits. If the applicant’s illness is on the List of Impairments, they could skip the fourth and fifth steps.
The fourth and fifth steps ask the applicant the following questions:
- Can the applicant continue to perform work in their previous field?
- Can the applicant make an adjustment to work a different job or in a different field?
If the answer to these questions is no, then the applicant could be eligible for disability benefits.
Work with Our Committed Arkansas Disability Benefits Lawyer for Your High Blood Pressure Case
If you or a family member was diagnosed with high blood pressure and need assistance to apply for disability benefits, you should consult with an experienced Springdale disability attorney. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, possesses over 20 years of legal experience helping clients file for disability benefits, and he is prepared to use this experience to represent you. To learn more about applying for disability benefits in Arkansas for high blood pressure, you should call Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438 to schedule a free legal consultation. You may also use our online submission form to schedule your free consultation.