Social Security Disability Insurance, otherwise known as SSDI, is there to help people who cannot work any longer because of a disability. There are a few different requirements that all people need to meet to get SSDI, but the first thing to establish is that your specific disability is one that qualifies.
If you’re dealing with work-related asthma, you should know that you may be able to qualify for SSDI, but you will need to show that your asthma meets the definition of a disability.
Asthma: A respiratory disorder
The first thing you need to do is look at the Social Security Disability’s Blue Book and Listing of Impairments. This will go over the different respiratory disorders that can qualify for SSDI.
Asthma is listing 3.03. To meet the definition of having a disability, your FEV1 needs to be equal to or less than the values in the Blue Book’s chart. The FEV1 requirements change based on your height and age, so you should first make sure to get a pulmonary function test and then look at the chart provided by the Social Security Administration.
As well as having a score below the listings on the chart, you’ll need to show that you’ve had multiple exacerbations or complications in the last 12-month period. If you can show that you’ve been hospitalized at least three times in the last 12-month period and that those hospitalizations happened at least 30 days apart, then you may be able to qualify for SSDI. Keep in mind that your hospitalization will only count if you had to be hospitalized for 48 hours each time (this includes the time spent in the emergency room).
If you’re ready to seek compensation, know your rights
If you are ready to look into getting compensation for an asthma-related disability, it’s important to know your rights as well as the process to apply for SSDI. Having the right medical information and copies of medical tests will help you make your case to the Social Security Administration and improve your chances of approval. If you’re denied, you do have a right to appeal.
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