Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects the airways and can make it difficult to breathe. Several factors may trigger asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. In severe cases, asthma may limit your activity and affect your ability to perform day-to-day tasks. Since asthma can interfere with normal daily activities, the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers it an approved medical condition. This means individuals who cannot work for one year may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits for asthma.
Other Conditions That Cause Asthma-like Symptoms
Several other conditions can cause difficulty breathing and asthma-like symptoms. These health conditions include:
- Sinusitis
- Myocardial ischemia
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is also commonly known as chronic acid reflux
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Long Covid, also known as post-Covid syndrome
Social Security Disability Benefits for Asthma: How to Qualify
Getting Social Security disability benefits for asthma can be very important if you cannot work due to your condition. According to the SSA, in order to receive disability benefits you must have a health condition that keeps you from performing your current job or similar work duties for at least 12 months. If you cannot work due to breathing issues, you may be a good candidate to receive Social Security disability benefits for asthma.
If you file a claim seeking Social Security disability benefits for asthma, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. Respiratory criteria for asthma include the following:
- Suffering from chronic asthma bronchitis and meeting the criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Experiencing asthma attacks that require the assistance of a doctor once every two months or six times a year, in addition to in-patient hospital stays lasting longer than 24 hours. You must also have undergone an evaluation period of at least 12 consecutive months to evaluate how often your asthma attacks occur.
It’s a good idea to talk with your health care provider about how asthma affects your ability to work. Your physician can supply crucial medical evidence supporting your application to receive Social Security disability benefits for asthma. Having your doctor’s support can be very crucial, especially during the initial application process.
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
It’s not always easy to file a Social Security disability claim on your own. For this reason, many Americans lean on an experienced Social Security attorney or disability advocate to help them get the benefits they deserve. An experienced advocate provides personalized care throughout the claims process, and you won’t pay any out-of-pocket fees. Disability advocates and attorneys know what medical documentation best proves your claim. Getting help from someone who deals with cases like yours every day can help you avoid accidental or technical errors on your application. Believe it or not, paperwork errors can cause the SSA to deny eligible people’s disability claims.
Having an attorney file your claim paperwork makes you nearly 3x more likely to win benefits on your first try. Those who qualify for legal assistance through this website typically get $12,000 in lump-sum backpay as well as monthly benefits. People who apply on their own usually wait 18-24 months for their first disability payment, but most get denied benefits.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free online benefits evaluation now!
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Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.