Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
Men are generally at a greater risk than women, but women’s risk increases after menopause. Women over the age of 35 who take oral contraceptives and smoke are considered to be at high risk.
How do I qualify for Social Security Disability Income if I have ischemic heart disease?
The Social Security Administration includes ischemic heart disease as an impairment in its Blue Book specifically under Section 4.04. In order to qualify for benefits you must meet both the financial and medical requirements set forth by the SSA.
Financial Requirements:
In order to be approved for benefits you must have a disability that has lasted, or is expected to last 12 months and you must have worked in a job where you paid Social Security taxes long enough and recently enough.
Additionally, you must not earn more than Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which is $1,620 per month in 2025 for nonblind applicants and $2,700 per month for blind applicants.
Medical Requirements:
If you have ischemic heart disease, there are basically two ways you can qualify for SSDI: 1) you must meet the requirements of the impairment listed in the Blue Book; or 2) you can prove that your heart condition has reduced your functional capacity so severely that you are unable to hold a job.
Social Security will consider the evidence in your medical records to evaluate your disability. In situations where there is little or no medical documentation, or the medical evidence covers only a short period of time, Social Security may order a consultative exam, a physical exam conducted by a physician contracted by Social Security.
To meet the requirements of Section 4.04 you must have one of the following symptoms:
Angina pectoris – severe pain in the chest caused by inadequate blood flow often spreading to the shoulders, arms and neck.
Anginal equivalent – shortness of breath on exertion, but no complaints of chest pain.
Variant angina – chest pain at rest due to spasms of coronary artery.
Silent ischemia – the heart doesn’t receive enough blood flow, but the person doesn’t have symptoms and requires a diagnostic test to detect.
In addition to the above symptoms, Social Security also requires you to show proof of one of the following:
An abnormal stress test at workload equal to 5 METS or less. MET is a measurement of the metabolic equivalent of energy used by a person at rest and during activity. For example, MET 1 is the amount of energy used when a person is at rest. For more specific information on this requirement, see https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/4.00-Cardiovascular-Adult.htm#4_04
Three ischemic episodes (temporary periods of symptoms) within 12 consecutive months. Each episode must require revascularization, a procedure that restores blood flow in blocked arteries or veins, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery.
Abnormal imaging results from an angiography or other imaging showing 50% – 70% of narrowing of a coronary artery that has not been bypassed.
Social Security will be looking for a clinical record that shows your symptoms are so severe they limit your ability to engage in daily activities.
It will be very difficult to meet the requirements of this listing if you haven’t been receiving prescribed treatment or medication. Your medical records should include the following:
Records of three months treatment
Complete medical history
Detailed physical exam reports
Laboratory test results
Electrocardiograph or electrocardiogram
Exercise tolerance tests
Any prescribed treatments you received and your responses to those treatments
Medications and side effects
Discuss all your symptoms with your doctor and make sure they are included in your doctor’s statement; for example, chest pain that interferes with your concentration or if you have difficulty walking certain distances without shortness of breath.
Medications for heart disease can cause dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, lethargy and memory loss, so be sure to mention those side effects.
If your disability does not satisfy the listing requirements for ischemic heart disease set by Social Security, you may still qualify for disability benefits by demonstrating that your medical condition has significantly impaired your functional capacity, rendering you unable to perform your job.
Social Security will evaluate your medical records and the opinions of your healthcare providers, as well as conduct a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment to ascertain whether you can continue in your last job or any job.
This evaluation will consider factors such as your ability to drive, your age, and your educational background. The opinions of your physicians are essential for securing approval for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
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