One of the most harrowing experiences new parents can have is to find out that their child has been born with a congenital birth defect. Even worse is the possibility that this defect could potentially be life-threatening. Sometimes having a perfectly healthy newborn can be stressful; having a little one who enters the world multiplies that stress exponentially. In addition to all of the medical decisions that must be made, parents have to also juggle childcare if there are other children in the home, work responsibilities, transportation, and all the other tasks that go along with being parents, including the financial commitments. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented the Compassionate Allowance program to help to defect.
With some medical conditions, the process of obtaining Social Security Disability Income benefits can be grueling, simply because of all the documentation required to demonstrate that the person is legitimately disabled. If any of this documentation is missing, incomplete, or is in any other way inadequate, the case may be denied; such is the case for more than 7 out 10 claimants. If a case is denied, there is little choice but to enter into the appeal process, which has become bogged down under the sheer volume of cases waiting to be heard. However, if your child’s condition is one which qualifies for the Compassionate Allowance program, this process can be abbreviated, bringing some much-needed financial relief to you and your family.
Tricuspid Atresia - Condition and Symptoms
Within the heart are several valves, which are essentially small flaps of muscle which allow blood to pass through in only one direction. As these valves open and close in conjunction with the contractions of the heart muscle, the blood is pumped to the lungs to be oxygenated. It then returns to the heart and is circulated to carry the oxygen to the rest of the body. Once the oxygen is delivered, the process repeats continually.
In a child born with Tricuspid Atresia, the Tricuspid valve is not formed at all. As a result, the blood is not able to flow through the heart and to the lungs as it should, so it is unable to receive the oxygen needed by the rest of the body. While there are some risk factors which have been associated with Tricuspid Atresia such as a family history of heart disease, prenatal alcohol consumption by the mother, and Down syndrome, there is frequently no definitive cause.
Symptoms of Tricuspid Atresia include bluish skin and lips (cyanosis), difficulty breathing (dyspnea), and tiredness, especially during feedings. These symptoms are usually present at or shortly after birth. Some infants may also show signs of heart failure; these include weakness, swelling (edema), abdominal swelling, and/or rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Many cases of Tricuspid Atresia may be treated with surgery, depending on the severity and whether or not there are other defects present. In those cases which are not candidates for surgery, a heart transplant may be an option.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Tricuspid Atresia
A child who has been born with Tricuspid Atresia will automatically for Social Security Disability, because Tricuspid Atresia has very recently been added to the list of conditions which qualify for disability benefits under Compassionate Allowance guidelines. If there is a silver lining to such a dreadful diagnosis, it is the comforting knowledge that your disability case may very well be resolved much more quickly than usual.
While Tricuspid Atresia automatically meets the criteria for a Compassionate Allowance, it would still be in your best interest to have your case evaluated by a qualified Social Security Disability attorney in order to minimize the risk of having your case unnecessarily delayed. A compassionate professional, your disability lawyer is very knowledgeable regarding the details of the approval process and can make sure that all of your paperwork is in order, so your case can stay on the fast track instead of having to detour through the time-consuming approval process.
Your Tricuspid Atresia Social Security Disability Case
If your child has been born with Tricuspid Atresia, you may find some measure of comfort in the knowledge that he or she will certainly qualify to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. In spite of this condition’s Compassionate Allowance status, it would still be advisable to seek the services of an experienced disability lawyer in order to be sure you won’t get stuck in the seemingly endless appeal process. Working closely with your child’s medical team, your disability attorney can help you gather the needed documents so you can have the peace of mind of knowing that your disability benefits will be on their way to you soon.
The surest way to bypass the appeal process is speak with a Social Security Disability lawyer. To get in touch with a disability attorney, please click here.
