Lung Disease and Social Security Disability Benefits

Lawyer for Social Security Disability Claims in Illinois

What Is Lung Disease?

Lung disease is a growing potentially fatal condition in the United States. Lung disease encompasses a number of different conditions, all of which can be divided into two categories: obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease. Obstructive lung disease as the name sounds is a category of diseases obstructing airflow into the lungs. Some of the diseases in this category are: emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and COPD. Restrictive lung diseases are characterized by conditions restricting lung expansion.

Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits If I Suffer From Lung Disease?

Lung disease is absolutely recognized by the Social Security Administration! If lung disease is preventing you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI). When you apply for disability benefits with lung disease, the Social Security Administration will first determine whether your condition is severe enough to meet a listing. If you meet a listing you will be found disabled. If you do not meet a listing, the Social Security Administration will then evaluate your residual functional capacity (the most work that you can do despite your medical condition(s)).

Is There A Specific Listing For Lung Disease (Chronic Pulmonary Insufficiency)?

The Social Security Administration recognizes lung disease under Listing of Impairments 3.02: Chronic pulmonary insufficiency, which can be found on the Social Security Administration website. However, because most of the listing is structured using medical terminology, it can be quite difficult to know whether you will meet the lung disease listing. If you or a family member suffers from lung disease and cannot work and want to know more about whether you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits (either SSDI or SSI), contact attorney Jonathan L. Pearson at 312-999-0999 for a free consultation.

If I Do Not Meet The Listing, Is There Another Way To Get Social Security Disability Benefits?

Yes! If you do not meet Listing 3.02 and lung disease is preventing you from working, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration will proceed with your case by evaluating your Residual Functional Capacity. To do this, the Administration will determine the most amount of work that you can do despite your limitations. They do this by dividing “work” into four different categories: heavy, medium, light, and sedentary. It is worth noting that there is sometimes a fifth category that is recognized for very heavy work; however, very heavy work is scarcely used. Whether a claimant wins his or her disability claim is greatly affected by which category he or she is ultimately put into. Being put into a lower category increases the likelihood that a claim is approved for Social Security disability benefits.