Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Respiratory Failure
Respiratory failure is a serious condition that makes it difficult to breathe on your own. Respiratory failure develops when the lungs can’t get enough oxygen into the blood. Acute respiratory failure happens quickly and without much warning. It is often caused by a disease or injury that affects your breathing, such as pneumonia, opioid overdose, stroke, or a lung or spinal cord injury
Respiratory failure can also develop slowly. When it does, it is called chronic respiratory failure. Symptoms include shortness of breath or feeling like you can’t get enough air, extreme tiredness, an inability to exercise as you did before, and sleepiness. If you are diagnosed with a serious lung disease such as respiratory failure, you may need extra oxygen through tubes in your nose or support with a breathing machine called a ventilator. To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 3.14 of the Blue Book.
Does Respiratory Failure Qualify for Disability?
If you suffer from a chronic respiratory disorder other than cystic fibrosis (which has its own listing), then you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you require:
- Invasive mechanical ventilation
- Noninvasive ventilation with BiPAP
- Combination of both invasive mechanical ventilation and noninvasive ventilation with BiPAP
These treatments must be provided:
- Continuously for at least 48 hours or continuously for 72 hours if postoperatively
- At least twice within 12 months
- At least 30 days apart
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 respiratory failure and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
