Is Pulmonary Fibrosis a Disability That Can Get You SSD Benefits?

Important: We updated this article in April 2025 after fact checking Social Security Administration policy data and current medical studies. Did you recently develop pulmonary fibrosis? If so, you may be worried that as the disease progresses, it could limit your ability to work. But is pulmonary fibrosis a disability that can get you benefits every month? In many cases, yes — but it’s not guaranteed.

Before you do anything else, read our guide below to learn what it takes to get pulmonary fibrosis disability benefits. That way, you can decide whether and when to stop working and apply for Social Security disability benefits.

Getting Pulmonary Fibrosis Disability Benefits: Key Takeaways

• Not all types of pulmonary fibrosis may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. However, one type (IPF) should medically qualify for disability pay, if you can meet the SSA’s other technical eligibility requirements.
• There are two federal programs that offer disability payments each month. They are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The SSA takes applications and manages monthly payments for both of these benefit programs.
• If you do not have an official IPF diagnosis from your doctor yet, start there. A Social Security attorney can also greatly improve your chances for benefit approval from the SSA.
• The disability claim process is long and requires filling out a lot of paperwork. You’ll need to submit several different forms and strong medical evidence to support your application with help from your pulmonologist.
• Depending on your work background and military service history, other types of disability benefits may also be available to you.

What Is Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis affects about 13-20 people out of every 100,000 across the globe, including 100,000 Americans. Doctors diagnose about 30,000-40,000 new cases of this rare respiratory system condition every year. It indicates you have scarring in your lungs that restricts your ability to transfer oxygen to your blood.

Not all PF cases are equal, and the majority are spontaneous so there’s no real way to know if you’re at risk. However, PF is simply a term that means you have scarring inside your lung tissue. I have it, in fact; about 9% of my right lung is scar tissue after a nasty case of scarlet fever when I was 8.

People can develop pulmonary fibrosis in a lot of different ways, including:

• Chronic viral infections, especially pneumonia (studies show IPF cases are on the rise globally since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020)
• Smoking
• Exposure to environmental pollutants, like wildfire smoke, asbestos, or other hazardous chemicals
• Being between the ages of 50 and 70, and especially those who are 65 or older
• Working around livestock or birds
• Autoimmune disorders, like Sjögren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis
• Taking certain medications, like bleomycin and amiodarone

However, there’s another form of the disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) that gets worse over time. Its cause is unknown, so if your doctor can’t find a good reason for scars in your lung tissue, you’ll receive an IPF diagnosis.

Is Pulmonary Fibrosis a Disability?

In some cases, yes, it absolutely is a disability. But not for everyone. Remember when I said that I have it, too? My own lung scarring hasn’t changed over the years in shape or size, so mine is considered non-progressive. But if you have an IPF diagnosis, your own case could look quite different from mine.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

When doctors are unable to determine the root cause of the disease, they may diagnose patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This progressive lung disease causes thick scar tissue to grow inside the lungs, which can slow down oxygen flow into your blood. This, in turn, can prevent your body from working properly. It’s not possible to reverse or heal this scarring once it starts, unfortunately.

However, as this condition worsens, your doctor may discuss the possibility of getting a lung transplant. And there are certain prescription drugs that can help ease some of your symptoms. Using supplemental oxygen can also help you breathe a little easier, too.

Does Pulmonary Fibrosis Qualify for Disability Benefits from the Social Security Administration?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as a medically determinable impairment under the Compassionate Allowance program. The Compassionate Allowance list consists of conditions so severe they automatically meet the SSA’s definition of disability. If you have a CAL list condition, the SSA may award you disability benefits in as little as 2-4 weeks.

But is pulmonary fibrosis a disability if you don’t have an IPF diagnosis? Maybe not. The SSA’s listing for IPF under Respiratory Disorders only lists that one type as an eligible disability.

Technical Eligibility Rules

Before the SSA reviews your medical evidence, you must pass a technical review for disability. These steps are a little bit different depending on whether you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

For both SSDI and SSI, you must show that you cannot work at all for at least 12 months.

You must also show that you have one or more medical conditions that specifically making working full time impossible for you.

Technical Rules for SSDI Benefits

• Making sure you worked at least 5 in the last 10 years while paying Social Security payroll taxes.
• Being younger than 67 years old and not currently getting any other Social Security benefits.
• Having monthly income that falls below the maximum dollar amount when you apply. In 2025, that dollar amount is:
  • $1,620 for sighted people who apply for SSDI.
  • $2,700 for blind people filing SSDI claims.

Technical Rules for SSI Benefits

• You are blind, disabled, or at least 65 years old on the date you apply for SSI.
• Having a household monthly income and assets that fall below the maximum dollar amount in value when you apply. In 2025, that means:
  • Your household income is less than $2,019 for everyone who lives in your home with you, combined.
  • You own less than $2,000 worth of assets in your name (or $3,000 for couples who apply for SSI benefits).

Medical Evidence

Even though idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is on the SSA’s list of approved conditions, there’s no guarantee you’ll receive benefits. First, you must provide the SSA with strong medical evidence that supports your claim. When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, be sure to include the following along with your claim paperwork:

• Documentation of any relevant physical exams and tests (i.e., arterial blood gas tests, pulmonary function tests).
• Evidence of related health problems from the disease (i.e., blood clots, a collapsed lung, or high blood pressure just in your lungs).
• Notes from your doctor showing your symptoms don’t improve, even with regular treatments like pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy.
• Current prescription medications, frequency, and dosage (along with any side effects you might experience).
• Doctor’s visit dates, payment receipts and descriptions of surgeries, outpatient procedures, or tests done during the last year.
• Relevant scans and lab results, such as bloodwork, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc. related to your respiratory condition.

Most Common Symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis That May Limit Your Ability to Work Over Time

People who suffer from severe cases of pulmonary fibrosis often experience the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Persistent dry cough
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Aching muscles
• Chest pain
• Frequent lung infections

You can, of course, ask your job to make reasonable accommodations to help you keep working as long as possible. But once you quit working, you should try to apply for pulmonary fibrosis disability benefits.

Other Medical Conditions That Can Help Support Your Claim

Interstitial Lung Disease

IPF tends to be the most common type of interstitial lung disease, which causes progressively worse lung function over time. But there are also more than 200 different types of interstitial lung disease. People diagnosed with an ILD have a harder and harder time breathing normally as time moves forward.

Lung Cancer

If you were diagnosed with lung cancer and had radiation therapy, there’s a known risk for developing pulmonary fibrosis. This is commonly known as radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF). It most commonly occurs 6-12 months after you complete radiation treatment.

Other Chronic Respiratory Disorders

If you have any of the following, you may be at risk for developing PD scarring:

• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Chronic bronchitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis

Heart Failure

You’re at increased risk for developing the following heart conditions if you have pulmonary fibrosis:

• Heart failure
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Pulmonary hypertension

It’s far more common to develop heart-related complications once you an IPF diagnosis. Since many of these conditions qualify for Social Security disability benefits, be sure to list any you have on your claim.

Talk to a Disability Lawyer Free of Charge to Learn Your Chances of Benefit Approval

Getting SSDI or SSI benefits for pulmonary fibrosis can be difficult. However, you can talk to a Social Security attorney for free to learn how likely you are to receive benefits before you apply. Having an attorney file your application nearly triples your chances for success and getting your first payment within 180 days.

Without an attorney, your initial application might not be so successful. The SSA only approved 19% of initial claims (less than 1 in 5) over the last few years, according to annual reports.

If a lawyer cannot help you secure benefits, then you owe $0 in legal fees. And if you are successful, then you’ll only pay one small contingency fee after your award goes through.

Want to know whether you might qualify for SSD benefits before you start the paperwork? Click the button below to request a free consultation from an attorney near you today to discuss your chances:

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