Secrets for getting Disability Benefits for Asthma

Summary: Can I get disability benefits if I am suffering from the effects of Asthma ?

Approximately 25 million Americans have asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs. Asthma can be a minor nuisance or a major problem; it can interfere with a person’s daily activities or lead to a life-threatening situation. Though asthma cannot be cured, its symptoms can be managed over time.If you are suffering from the effects of Asthma you may qualify for disability benefits if certain conditions are met.

When asthma occurs, airways in the lungs become inflamed and swollen and sometimes produce extra mucus.

The muscles around airways tighten, making it hard for air to pass through. As the airways narrow, a person will have difficulty breathing and may wheeze and cough uncontrollably.

In addition to coughing and wheezing, a person may experience the following symptoms:   Pain, tightness and/or pressure in the chest   Difficulty breathing  Difficulty sleeping because of breathing problems  Tightening of the neck and chest muscles  Rapid breathing  Difficulty speaking  Anxiety or panic  Pale or sweaty face  Bluish lips or fingernails These or a combination of these symptoms can cause you to miss work and jeopardize your ability to maintain employment.

Qualifying for Disability for Asthma

The Social Security Administration lists asthma as a disability under Section 3.03. In order to meet the requirements of this listing, you must have:

   An FEV1 value that is low for your age, gender and height (according to Social Security’s chart). This is a measurement taken from a pulmonary function test that calculates the amount of air a person can force out of their lungs in 1 second.

AND

  Three instances of complications or exacerbations which require hospitalization of at least 48 hours each. The hospitalizations must be 30 days apart.

If you have chronic asthmatic bronchitis (when asthma and chronic bronchitis occur together), you may be able to qualify for SSDI on the basis of a lung function test alone.

Under those circumstances, your FEV1 level must be the same level as that required for COPD. That level is a lower level than that required for asthma.

This means you must be able to prove that your asthma attacks are severe enough to require intensive treatment such as intravenous bronchodilators, intravenous antibiotic administration, or prolonged inhalational bronchodilator therapy in a hospital, emergency room or equivalent.

In addition to a confirmed diagnosis and results of a physical exam, you must document each asthma attack that required emergency treatment or hospitalization over one year.

Your medical records should include results from the following tests:

If you cannot meet the requirements of the listing, Social Security will consider how asthma limits your ability to perform your previous job.

Social Security will conduct a Residual Functional Capacity assessment to evaluate what tasks you are able to perform despite having asthma. Restrictions might mean exclusion of jobs that require heavy exertion, working around dust and fumes, or extreme cold or heat.

Additionally, you may still be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits if you have another impairment; for example, high blood pressure or diabetes, that prevents you from working full time.

By itself one disorder may not meet the requirements of an impairment as stated in Social Security’s Blue Book, but if you have multiple medical conditions, Social Security must consider how those health issues, combined together, limit your ability to hold a job and perform necessary daily tasks.

If you have asthma and it has impacted your ability to hold a full-time job, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.

Because of Social Security’s strict requirements, filing for disability benefits under an asthma diagnosis may be too complex to go it alone. An experienced Social Security Disability attorney can help evaluate your case and guide you through the process, increasing your chances for a successful claim.

In order to qualify for Social Security Disability, you will need to satisfy a few specific requirements in two categories as determined by the Social Security Administration.

The first category is the Work Requirements which has two tests.  The Duration of Work test.   Whether you have worked long enough to be covered under SSDI.  The Current Work Test.   Whether you worked recently enough for the work to actually count toward coverage.The second category is the Medical Eligibility Requirement.  Are you working?   Your disability must be “total”.  Is your medical condition severe?    Your disability must be “severe” enough to interfere with your ability to perform basic work-related activities, such as walking, sitting, and remembering.  Is your medical condition on the List of Impairments?   The SSA has a “List of Impairments” that automatically qualify as “severe” disabilities. If your disease is not listed this does not mean you cannot get disability, it means you must prove you cannot maintain employment due to your limitations.  Can you do the work you did before?   SSDI rules look at whether your medical condition prevents you from doing the work you did prior to developing the condition.  Can you do any other type of work?   If you cannot do your prior work, an evaluation is made as to whether you can perform any other kind of work.

More details can be found on our Qualifying for Disability page.

Disability benefits are an important source of income for those who are unable to work. If you are not able to work due to accident or illness, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability or Long Term Disability benefits. If you have applied for benefits and been denied, contact the attorneys at Bemis, Roach and Reed for a free consultation. Call 512-454-4000 and get help NOW.