Can I qualify for SSI benefits due to having angina?You can qualify for SSI disability or Social Security Disability on the basis of practically any condition as long as it causes you functional limitations that prevent you from being able to engage in subtantial and gainful work activity. This is why SSA will focus on how well you can engage in normal daily activities versus simply a diagnosis. Pain, by itself, will not result in an approval for disability benefits. However, pain is often tied to conditions that are severe and which cause functional limitations. In the case of angina, the type of angina a person has may point to how a Social Security examiner may evaluate the case. For example, the cardiovascular section of the adult listings states the following: "We will consider variant angina under 4.04 only if you have spasm of a coronary artery in relation to an obstructive lesion of the vessel. If you have an arrhythmia as a result of variant angina, we may consider your impairment under 4.05." That section also states "Instead of typical angina pectoris, some individuals with IHD (ischemic heart disease, which is the same as coronary artery disease) experience atypical angina, anginal equivalent, variant angina, or silent ischemia, all of which we may evaluate using 4.04. FYI: listing 4.04 is the listing for Ischemic heart disease (the focus is on the level of blockages in a person's main arteries and the resulting effect in the ability to independently initiate, sustain, or complete activities of daily living) and listing 4.05 is the listing for Recurrent arrhythmias. So, to answer the question, angina by itself will not result in an approval, but a person with angina may very well be approved if their angina is tied to a medical condition that satisfies the requirements of one of these listings, or if that condition, while not satisfying a listing, still causes enough functional limitations that they simply cannot work at a level that earns them a substantial and gainful income. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Related pages: Heart Attack and Filing for Disability High Cholesterol and Filing for Disability Congestive Heart Failure and Filing for Disability |
