Can a POTS Patient Receive Social Security Disability?

 Posted on July 12, 2023 in Social Security Disability

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a highly complex and poorly understood illness involving autonomic dysfunction. Its primary symptom is having a heart rate much higher than normal relative to the activity being performed. Symptoms worsen upon standing. When a POTS patient stands up or performs even light physical activity, their heart rate can drastically increase and their blood pressure can plummet, causing dizziness, severe headaches, and syncope. POTS often develops after the patient has a viral illness. Many post-COVID patients develop POTS. Living with this syndrome can make it extremely difficult to maintain a job. Many POTS patients are largely housebound, or have “bad days” where they cannot leave their bed. Even those who are generally higher-functioning can experience difficulty trying to work, as they will likely need to take more sick days than their employer allows. In many cases, people with POTS qualify for Social Security Disability payments. If you are living with POTS, an attorney may be able to help you secure the benefits you need.

How Disability is Defined by the Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration’s operational definition of a disability may differ from what we as a society generally consider a disability. A person can be considered disabled for purposes of receiving Social Security Disability payments if they are unable to “engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment.” The medically-identified condition must either be expected to result in death or to last more than one year.

While POTS is not generally considered a life-threatening illness, it is a chronic condition, meaning it may affect the patient for many years or even the rest of their life. This generally meets the “expected to last more than 12 months” requirement.

Meeting the requirement that a person be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity is generally the issue in getting SSDI for a POTS patient. POTS can limit a person’s ability to perform both physical and mental labor. If you have been unable to work for pay for some time, or if you are able to perform some work but cannot earn enough to live on, you are likely eligible for SSDI. You will likely need to be evaluated to determine the extent of significant gainful activity you are able to engage in.

Those with more severe cases that impair even their ability to live independently are more likely to receive benefits than those that are working at least part-time, but the fact that you are able to perform some limited work is not necessarily a bar to benefits.

Contact a Dallas SSDI Lawyer

The Law Offices of Coats & Todd is committed to helping those with disabilities like POTS receive the benefits they need. Our caring Dallas SSDI lawyers will do all we can to help you begin receiving disability payments. For a free case evaluation, please contact us at 972-671-9922.

Source: 

https://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/definedisability.htm?tl=0%2C1