Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term for certain types of irreversible lung and airway damage that block (obstruct) your airways and make it hard to breathe. If you’re diagnosed with either emphysema or chronic bronchitis, you have COPD. People with COPD often get exacerbations, or worsening of symptoms, like severe difficulty breathing, thicker mucus, wheezing and cough. You might need to go to the hospital for severe exacerbations. COPD gets progressively worse over time. Flare-ups get more severe and happen more often. This usually takes years or decades, though some people get worse faster. To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 3.02 of the Blue Book.
Does Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Qualify for Disability?
Yes, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) do qualify, but they need to meet one of the requirements of the SSA’s guidelines for this disability below:
- COPD, due to any cause, with a forced expiratory volume one (FEV1) that is equal to or lower to the minimum for your height, between 1.05 for those who are five feet and 1.65 for those who are six feet.
- Chronic impairment of gas exchange due to documented COPD, with a gas diffusion capacity (DLCO) of a single breath under 10.5 mil/min/mm Hg or a low amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood either during rest or exercise, as determined a low partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and high partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2).
How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits?
To apply for disability benefits, it’s important to understand the disability application process. If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
