Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in your lungs, causing them to become inflamed and narrow, making it difficult to breathe. More than 28 million people in the United States suffer from asthma, or roughly 1 in every 12 people. For many, asthma is manageable with proper treatment. However, for some, the condition can be debilitating and interfere with their ability to work.
Frequent asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, and medication side effects can make maintaining employment impossible. When severe asthma prevents you from working, Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits may provide the financial support you need.
If you’re wondering if you can get disability for your asthma, we invite you to contact Drozdowski & Rabin, PLLC. Our law firm can help determine if you have a valid claim and help you seek benefits.
Can You Qualify for SSD With Asthma?
Yes, asthma is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and can qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Asthma disability benefits are available to those whose condition meets the SSA’s strict requirements.
What It Takes To Qualify for Disability With Asthma
Applying for Disability Benefits
To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must meet these general requirements:
- Your medical condition must prevent you from performing Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).
- Your medical condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
- Your medical condition must be supported by evidence and meet the requirements in the Blue Book.
The SSA uses the Blue Book (officially known as the Listing of Impairments) to evaluate disability claims. This book contains specific medical criteria for qualifying impairments, including respiratory conditions like asthma. If your condition meets (or equals in severity) the Blue Book listing, you’ll likely be approved for benefits.
Can You Get SSDI for Asthma?
Yes, you can get SSDI for asthma if you have worked long enough to earn sufficient work credits and your condition meets the SSA’s disability requirements. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides monthly payments based on your past earnings and work history.
Can You Get SSI for Asthma?
Yes, you can get SSI for asthma if you meet the Blue Book medical requirements and have limited income and resources. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to people with disabilities who have not worked enough to qualify for SSDI or whose work history doesn’t provide sufficient benefits.
Both programs use the same medical criteria to determine if a physical impairment qualifies as a disability.
How To Qualify
Blue Book Medical Criteria
The SSA evaluates asthma Social Security Disability claims under section 3.03 in the Blue Book, or section 3.02. The SSA will rely on testing to find out if your condition qualifies.
Under listing 3.03 for asthma, your FEV1 lung function test results must be less than or equal to the values in the table (under the listing) for your age, gender, and height.
You must also experience flare-ups or complications that necessitate 3 hospital stays within a year, with each stay at least 30 days apart. Every hospital stay must be a minimum of 48 hours. Your FEV1 measurements must be within the same 12-month period as the hospitalizations.
Under listing 3.02 for chronic respiratory disorders, you’ll have to meet the criteria under subsection 3.02A, B, or C. These include various lung function test results that are less than or equal to the values in the applicable tables.
OR
You can meet the criteria under subsection 3.02D. These include flare-ups or complications requiring 3 hospitalizations (lasting at least 48 hours each) within 12 months (at least 30 days apart).
Medical-Vocational Allowance
If your asthma doesn’t satisfy the Blue Book criteria, you may still qualify for SSD through a Medical-Vocational Allowance. This approach considers how your asthma affects your ability to work, along with your age, education, and work experience. The SSA will check your residual functional capacity to understand what you can still do despite your condition.
If you can’t do any previous types of work or adjust to new work, you might qualify even if your asthma doesn’t meet Blue Book requirements.
Qualifying Evidence for Your Asthma Disability Claim
To prove that your asthma qualifies for disability, you need comprehensive medical documentation. Because asthma symptoms can vary greatly between individuals, detailed evidence is crucial to show how your condition prevents you from working.
Medical Evidence
Examples of evidence you should include in your asthma disability claim include:
- Pulmonary function tests
- Detailed treatment records
- Hospital records documenting emergency room visits and hospitalizations for asthma attacks
- Medication history showing what treatments you’ve tried and their effectiveness, plus side effects
- Documentation of complications like respiratory infections or pneumonia
It’s crucial that your medical records show you’re receiving ongoing treatment for your asthma. The SSA needs to see that your symptoms are severe enough that they don’t allow you to work consistently, despite treatment.
Non-Medical Evidence
Supporting non-medical evidence can strengthen your claim, such as:
- Work attendance records showing absences due to asthma
- Statements from employers about your performance limitations
- Daily activity logs showing how asthma affects your routine
- Witness statements from family or friends who have observed your attacks
How Asthma Makes Working Difficult
Severe asthma can cause numerous symptoms that make maintaining gainful employment extremely challenging. Some examples include:
- Breathing Difficulties: Frequent shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness can make it impossible to perform physical tasks or even speak clearly.
- Unpredictable Attacks: Asthma attacks can occur without warning, requiring immediate medical attention and making reliable work attendance difficult.
- Medication Side Effects: Asthma medications can cause serious side effects. Some examples include rapid heartbeat, tremors, insomnia, nervousness, and fungal infections of the throat.
- Environmental Limitations: Many workplaces contain asthma triggers like dust, chemicals, and strong odors that can cause attacks.
- Physical Limitations: Severe asthma can limit your ability to climb stairs, lift or carry objects, walk long distances, and maintain physical activity for extended periods.
- Medical Complications: Asthma can lead to other medical issues, such as frequent respiratory infections, like pneumonia. Such complications often require extended recovery periods.
The Challenge of Proving Disability
Proving that you should get disability for asthma can be particularly challenging because:
- Asthma symptoms can be invisible and vary in severity
- The SSA may not fully understand how debilitating your asthma can be
- Many people with asthma can work, so you must prove that your case is different
- Medical evidence requirements are specific and technical
At Drozdowski & Rabin, PLLC, our experienced disability attorneys understand these challenges. We know how to effectively present cases to maximize chances of approval. If you have asthma and need SSDI or SSI, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We can help you through every step of the complicated disability application process.
The Advantages of Working With Our Disability Law Firm
At Drozdowski & Rabin, PLLC, we offer:
- Free case evaluations
- 100 years of combined experience in Social Security Disability law
- Flexible meeting options – our attorneys will travel to you or meet virtually
- Emma Drozdowski Webb, our managing attorney, is a Certified Disability Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
We can help determine if you qualify for disability and guide you through the claims process. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation!
Get Help With Your Asthma Disability Claim
If you’re struggling to work due to severe asthma, remember these key points:
- Asthma can qualify for Social Security Disability benefits when severe enough
- Both SSDI and SSI are available for qualifying cases
- Strong medical evidence is crucial for approval
- You don’t have to meet exact Blue Book criteria to qualify
- Professional legal help improves your chances of claim approval
At Drozdowski & Rabin, PLLC, we understand that severe asthma is a real, debilitating condition that can make working impossible. Our experienced team knows how to gather the right evidence, work with your doctors, and present your case effectively to the SSA.
Contact us to discuss your asthma disability claim and learn how we can help you secure financial support. Take the first step toward getting the benefits you need.
