If you have asthma and it prevents you from engaging in typical activities of daily living, including work, you may be able to get disability benefits for your asthma.

Can I Get Disability for Asthma?

When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, Social Security reviews your medical records to determine disability. If you are applying for disability with asthma, Social Security will first look to see if you meet the Blue Book listing. To meet the listing and found disabled, you must have:

• Three asthma exacerbations or complications within a one-year period that required hospitalization for at least 48 hours each. The hospitalizations must have occurred 30 days apart.
• A low FEV1 value, based on your age, gender, and height. The chart for what is considered a “low” value can be found in the listing here.

Under the Blue Book listing, you are considered disabled for one year from the discharge date of your last hospitalization. After that year, Social Security will evaluate any residual impairments to determine ongoing disability.

If you do not meet the strict Blue Book definition, you may still qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits. In that case, Social Security will consider your residual functional capacity. That means Social Security will determine what you are capable of doing (based on your records) and determine if there are jobs you could perform. In that case, Social Security considers your age and education level, as well as your past work.

Need Help with Your Asthma Claim?

You may be able to get disability for asthma if you cannot work due to the impact asthma has on your body. If you have questions or have been denied SSDI or SSI benefits, contact a local attorney today. To schedule a call with us, click here.