Atrial fibrillation is a common heart arrhythmia that is caused by an electrical system disturbance within the heart. Sometimes these arrythmias cause the heart to beat too slowly while at other times the heart beats too fast. An arrythmia may be harmless, but there are some that are dangerous. The symptoms caused by this irregular heartbeat can vary widely, but they often cause chest pains, shortness of breath, fatigue, fainting, and dizziness. With atrial fibrillation, an arrythmia can cause the upper heart chambers to squeeze irregularly and too quickly. This increases the risk of a stroke, and it can lead to heart failure.
What Happens When You Are Approved With Atrial Fibrillation?
After your disability claim for atrial fibrillation has been approved, your disability benefits will begin from the sixth month from the date you became disabled. There are multiple symptoms of atrial fibrillation, and these symptoms play a role in whether you are approved for disability benefits. Your medical records should be detailed, showing how you are affected by your condition and your inability to work. Medical records must confirm the diagnosis, the treatment plan, the response to treatment, side effects from treatment and medications, symptoms, restrictions and limitations that you suffer.
Back Pay And Atrial Fibrillation
If you file a claim for disability benefits because of atrial fibrillation, it can be a complex process. The key to a successful claim is providing access to your medical records. Prepare a list of all the medical providers that have provided treatment – clinics, hospitals, specialists, laboratories, and so forth – you will want to include the name, the contact information, and the dates of service. Your backpay for your atrial fibrillation claim will go back to the date of your initial filing for disability benefits and will continue until the date that your claim was given approval. After your claim is approved, you should get your backpay within 60 days.
Retroactive Payments For Atrial Fibrillation
You might qualify for retroactive disability benefits for your atrial fibrillation. Retroactive benefits may go as far back as 12 months before your claim is filed if you can show you were disabled at that time because of atrial fibrillation. Retroactive payments are only applicable to the time that you can show you were disabled per SSA guidelines, and that retroactive pay cannot exceed 12 months. To receive retroactive benefits for your atrial fibrillation claim, you must provide documentation indicating that the disability was existent for at least 5 months before you applied for disability.
How To Calculate How Much You Could Receive With Atrial Fibrillation
The amount that you paid into Social Security taxes plays a role in your benefits amount. The SSA will review your earnings history and the taxes you paid. They will then determine your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) and figure your primary insurance amount (PIA) so they can calculate your monthly disability benefits for atrial fibrillation can be determined.
Applying For Disability Benefits
If you cannot work because of atrial fibrillation, start the application process for Social Security Disability benefits. You can file an application online at www.ssa.gov or make a call to 1-800-772-1213.
