Houston Social Security
Disability Attorney

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Photo of David Dopkin

Will a respiratory disorder qualify for SSD benefits?

On Behalf of | Mar 23, 2018 | Social Security Disability Benefits for Illness

In Texas, people who are unable to work due to a debilitating respiratory disorder may qualify for financial assistance in the form of Social Security Disability Insurance. The benefits that are available from Social Security Disability for illness of the lungs or respiratory system are paid from a trust, just like Social Security Retirement benefits. And, like Social Security retirement benefits, workers in the United States have been paying into the SSDI trust throughout their time in the workforce.

In order to receive benefits, a respiratory disorder must meet the specific guidelines that the Social Security Administration has established for these types of disorders. To be approved for benefits, a claimant must show that their respiratory disorder meets the prescribed thresholds of severity. People suffering from asthma, for example, must demonstrate a forced expiration volume below a level that is prescribed based on the height and gender of the individual suffering from the condition.

Claimants with chronic respiratory disorders are those who are most likely to qualify for SSD benefits. Such disorders are typically evaluated by determining the extent to which exhalation may be obstructed, whether there is any interference with diffusion inside the lungs themselves or if an individual’s ability to inhale is limited. Examples of disorders that may qualify for benefits include cystic fibrosis, asbestosis and lung cancers.

Those who have had lung transplants or who are suffering from respiratory failure may also qualify for SSD benefits. Unfortunately, submitting a claim for SSDI is not particularly user-friendly, and if the application is initially turned down, the hearing process can be labyrinthine. The assistance of an experienced SSD benefits attorney can often help to the process seem more bearable.

Source: SSA.gov, “3.00 Respiratory Disorders – Adult,” accessed on Mar. 19, 2018