Syncope, also known as fainting or passing out, is a temporary loss of consciousness and muscle strength in the body. Fainting spells typically come on quickly, are short-lived, and are spontaneously recovered from. Near-syncope is the sensation that you're about to faint. You might feel lightheaded and weak but don't lose consciousness.
While syncope and near-syncope are typically well treated with medications and avoiding certain triggers, severe cases can significantly interfere with your activities of daily living. If your syncope keeps you from working full-time for at least 12 months, you might be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
Syncope is caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. Common types of syncope include:
While the above types of syncope have different causes, they share similar symptoms. The most common syncope symptoms include:
Treatment options for syncope vary based on the kind of syncope you have. For vasovagal syncope, treatment may simply include rest and avoiding rigorous exercise. Postural or orthostatic syncope treatment might involve increasing water and salt intake and wearing compression stockings. Cardiac syncope treatment can include medication or surgery to address underlying heart disease.
If you're under the age of 50 and applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you can be approved in one of two ways:
Social Security's Listing of Impairments—also known as the Blue Book—contains medical criteria the agency uses to evaluate disabling conditions in adults. If you meet the criteria of a listing, you'll automatically qualify for benefits as long as you satisfy the non-medical requirements for SSDI or SSI.
Syncope isn't a condition with its own listing in the Blue Book. But because syncope is caused by issues with blood circulation, Social Security may evaluate symptoms of syncope under one of the cardiovascular listings. In particular, the listing for recurrent arrhythmias requires that your medical records document a history of uncontrolled (not effectively treated with medication), recurrent (occurring repeatedly) episodes of syncope in order to qualify automatically for disability benefits.
Or, if your syncope is the result of an underlying nerve disorder, you might meet a listing for neurological problems.
You can still qualify for disability benefits due to syncope even if you don't meet (or "equal") one of the listings—if you can show that your symptoms keep you from full-time work. If Social Security doesn't find that you're disabled according to a listing, the agency will then need to assess your residual functional capacity (RFC).
Your RFC is a set of restrictions on the types of tasks you can do in a work environment. For example, somebody with syncope might have an RFC that would limit them from doing jobs that require working at heights, operating heavy machinery, or driving. They might also be limited from a job requiring frequent postural changes (going from sitting to standing).
Keep in mind that even with an RFC that rules out risky jobs, it will still be difficult to get benefits based only on syncope if you're under 50. That's because Social Security needs to see that you can't do even the easiest, sit-down jobs, which don't typically involve exposure to hazards that are unsafe for somebody with syncope. You'll have the most success if you have other impairments that you can combine with your syncope impairment.
The older you are, the easier it is to get approved for disability benefits. If you're over the age of 50 (or pretty close to it under the borderline age rule), Social Security will apply a set of guidelines called the medical-vocational grid to determine whether you're disabled.
Using the grid rules, you can get disability benefits even if you can physically perform a job that's easier than your past job, if you don't have any transferable skills. For example, if you're a 54-year-old former construction worker who can no longer work around power tools or at heights due to syncope, Social Security is unlikely to find that you can use your construction skills at a sit-down desk job. According to the grid rules, somebody your age with your work history who doesn't have transferable skills is considered disabled.
There are four ways you can file your application for Social Security benefits:
When you apply, you'll have to enter a lot of personal info like your name, address, and Social Security number. You'll also be required to list your full work history, income for the last three years, doctors you've seen, and the types of medical treatments you've received. For more tips, check out our article on how to apply for Social Security disability benefits.
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