What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition that causes thick scar tissue to grow inside the lungs. This breathing condition can slow oxygen flow into your blood, which can prevent your body from functioning properly. People who suffer from pulmonary fibrosis often experience shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue, weight loss, and aching muscles. In most cases, doctors are unable to determine the underlining cause of the disease and diagnose patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as an approved condition on the Compassionate Allowance List (CAL). The CAL consists of conditions so severe they automatically meet the SSA’s definition of disability. If you have a CAL list condition, you may qualify for faster approval in as little as 2-4 weeks.
Does Pulmonary Fibrosis Qualify for Disability Benefits?
Even though idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is on the SSA’s list of approved conditions, you won’t get automatic approval. First, you must provide the SSA with strong medical evidence that supports your disability claim. When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, be sure to include the following medical evidence along with your claim paperwork:
- Documentation of any physical exams related to pulmonary fibrosis
- Evidence of abnormalities caused by the disease
- Treatment notes from your physician showing your symptoms don’t improve, even with regular treatments
- Current prescription medications, frequency, and dosage (along with any side effects you experience)
- Doctor’s visit dates, payment receipts and descriptions of surgeries, outpatient procedures or tests done in the last year
- Relevant scans and lab results, such as bloodwork, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc. related to your diagnosis
You May Qualify for Legal Assistance
Getting Social Security disability benefits for COPD can be difficult. That’s why we recommend talking to a Social Security attorney for free before you apply. Having an attorney file your application nearly triples your chances for benefit approval on your very first try. Those who qualify for legal assistance through this website usually receive $12,000 in lump-sum backpay as well as monthly benefits. People who apply without legal assistance typically wait at least 24 months for the first payment, if approved.
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.