Can I receive disability benefits for high blood pressure?

The Social Security Administration has a long list of illnesses and conditions that may, under certain conditions, make a person eligible for disability benefits. Among them is high blood pressure. But before you start filling out your application for benefits, be aware it may not be as easy as it seems.

High blood pressure is a very common ailment. By some estimates, as much as 29% of American adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. While it doesn’t show any apparent symptoms by itself, when left untreated high blood pressure can raise the likelihood of heart disease or stroke. Because many people don’t know they have high blood pressure until they suffer one of these very serious events, the condition is sometimes known as “the silent killer.”

Hypertension can often be treated through medication and behavioral changes, such as exercising more often and adopting a low-sodium diet. However, many people have chronic hypertension that is connected to kidney disease or other conditions that make the high blood pressure harder to treat. Some people have such severe hypertension that it makes it difficult or impossible for them to work for a living. It is for these more difficult cases that Social Security Disability is designed to help.

If your high blood pressure and related conditions make it difficult for you to earn a living, talk to an attorney with experience in Social Security Disability benefits about your options. A lawyer can help you gather the documents and the paperwork you will need to submit your application, and if your first application is denied, can advocate on your behalf in hearings and appeals.