Hypertensive nephropathy, a kidney condition in which high blood pressure causes vascular degeneration, is a debilitating ailment that can prevent you from working and earning a living. If you have recently received a diagnosis of this condition, you could be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. An accomplished SSD attorney from the Disability Advantage Group, can help you get disability for hypertensive nephropathy.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) awards disability benefits to applicants unable to work due to the effects of certain disabling medical conditions. Hypertensive nephropathy appears on the SSA’s list of diagnoses that qualify for benefits.
A diagnosis alone is not always sufficient to guarantee an approval for benefits, even when your condition is on the SSA’s list. In fact, many applicants, including those with qualifying conditions, receive denials in the mail. This typically happens because of an error or omission—often a minor one—in the application, or because the evidence submitted was insufficient to prove that the applicant met the SSA’s criteria for disability.
When you work with an attorney from the Disability Advantage Group, you join a team of professionals that has spent years fighting for disability benefits. We have a long, successful track record of helping our clients win the benefits they need to care for themselves. We have a clear understand of the disability process and the obstacles that stand in your way. We have the tools, resources, and knowledge to overcome those obstacles.
We want you to join our team and become our next happy client. We offer free initial consultations to allow you to meet with an attorney and have your questions answered. To set up an appointment, call 865-566-0800 today.
How Can I Get Disability for Hypertensive Nephropathy?
The SSA offers two ways to qualify for benefits. The most straightforward method is to meet the criteria of a “Blue Book” listing. The Blue Book is the SSA’s master list of conditions it considers disabling.
If your diagnosis does not satisfy Blue Book criteria, we can use another method. If we can show that your condition and its effects on your work capacity, is functionally equivalent to a Blue Book listing, you may qualify for disability benefits.
Hypertensive nephropathy appears in the Blue Book under the broader heading of genitourinary disorders in section 6.00. For you to receive an approval based on the Blue Book, your diagnosis must meet the criteria outlined in the listing.
These criteria require medical proof of your condition, in the form of clinical exams, treatment records, documentation of your response to treatment, lab findings, and any other evidence related to your hypertensive nephropathy. The SSA needs to see evidence that you have undergone at least 90 days of treatment.
You must also provide records showing your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). If you have undergone a bone or kidney biopsy, the SSA will want to see a pathology report detailing the findings.
In determining whether your diagnosis meets the Blue Book criteria, the SSA may also consider other factors, such as whether you are on dialysis, if you have had a kidney transplant, and if you have experience any other complications from your hypertensive nephropathy.
Before assembling your claim, our attorneys closely examine your medical records and other evidence, cross-referencing it with the Blue Book listing to determine if we have a strong chance of winning based on these criteria. If we feel your case is questionable, we gather evidence to show that your condition is functionally equivalent to a Blue Book listing.
What Is Functional Equivalence and How Can It Help Me Win Benefits?
A functionally equivalent condition is one that does not meet the Blue Book criteria for a given ailment, but that has a demonstrably similar impact on your ability to sustain meaningful, gainful employment and carry out activities of daily living.
We demonstrate functional equivalence through a residual functional capacity (RFC) test. An RFC test is an evaluation, which your doctor fills out, that details the specific ways your condition limits your functional capacity. It is an effective tool to show that your condition limits you to the same degree that a Blue Book condition would.
Our team has successfully used RFC tests to win disability for clients who fall short of meeting the Blue Book criteria for their disabilities. After we evaluate your case and your medical records, we may be able to do the same for you.
You Must Also Meet Income and Work Requirements to Qualify for Disability.
Even if the SSA decides that your medical condition is worthy of benefits, you have one more hurdle to cross on the way to approval. That is meeting the income or work requirements for the disability program to which you are applying.
Depending on your financial situation and your work history, you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or—in certain cases—both.
To qualify for SSDI, a government disability insurance program, you must have a sufficient work history and you must have paid a certain amount in payroll taxes over the years. If you have been working at least part-time for most of your life, even in a low-wage job, you probably qualify for SSDI. Our attorneys can review your employment records to be certain.
You must also show the SSA that your condition leaves you unable to earn a living. We can do this by offering proof that your monthly income falls below the SSA’s substantial gainful activity limit. For 2017, this limit is $1,170.
SSI is a means-tested disability program for the needy. To be eligible for SSI benefits, your income and net worth must fall below certain levels. For 2017, you must:
- Earn less than $735 per month; and
- Have personal assets worth less than $2,000.
We will review your financial situation to determine if you qualify for SSI. If you qualify for both programs, we will show you how you can receive SSDI and SSI benefits.
For a Free Consultation With a Disability Attorney, Call 865-566-0800 Today.
The disability attorneys at the Disability Advantage Group, are ready to help you win benefits for hypertensive nephropathy. For a free consultation, call us today at 865-566-0800.