Asthma and Allergy: Social Security Disability
Asthma Could Turn into a Life-Threatening Disability
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease of the bronchial tubes. These inflamed airways to the lungs swell, making it difficult to breathe. Attacks of breathlessness, tight chest, wheezing and coughing can be triggered by allergens, or non-allergic causes such as cold air, exercise or stress.
There is no cure for asthma and it can develop in a person at any age. Though asthma can usually be controlled with medications, for some people, asthma can severely affect quality of life and become disabling and possibly life-threatening.
Asthma is listed as one of the Social Security Administration’s disabling medical conditions in the respiratory system category. For people who experience severe and frequent asthma attacks that interfere with their ability to work at any job for 12 months or longer, they could prove their eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, this chronic disease affects 20 million Americans and every day:
- 40,000 people miss school or work due to asthma
- 30,000 people have an asthma attack
- 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma
- 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma
- 11 people die from asthma
.
Helpful Resources for People with Asthma
Freedom Disability helps people with respiratory disabilities such as asthma, apply for and win Social Security Disability benefits. We also provide information on additional resources to further help our claimants.
Read more about the Asthma and Allergy Foundation and how to get involved in the services they provide. 
About The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
*The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a leading national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with asthma and allergy diseases through education, advocacy and research.
AAFA participates in a number of special programs ranging from corporate sponsored education campaigns, government funded health care initiatives, co-op nonprofit projects and more.
They offer educational programs and tools for patients, caregivers, and health professionals that are recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as potentially effective educational interventions. A national network of nine regional chapters provide services, educational programs and educational support groups to help parents, young people and adults cope with challenges related to asthma.
To find out more about resources and other organizations that provide support services for people with asthma, visit the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Web site at www.aafa.org.
*information source: www.aafa.org.
I was just diagnosed with a pulmonary disease caused sarcodoises. Is that a justified disability?
LaKina,
If your condition is severe enough to interfere with your ability to work at any job, and if you have a long enough and recent-enough work history and have paid into Social Security, you may be able to prove that your condition qualifies you for disability. If you are interested in finding out if you could be eligible please submit information on our online form so that an Eligibility Consultant can contact you or call in to 866-347-2910. Here is a list of SSA’s qualifying medical conditions that are considered disabilities.
i agree with you, but you sholud add that the tax raise that would “fix” Social Security amounts to an average of 20 cents per week per year while incomes are going up 10 dollars per week per year. The money would be needed to pay for the longer life expectancy of the people paying the tax.This is so tiny that no one would notice it. But for some reason the amount is never discussed, while the cumulative shortfall without the tax raise is used to scare people into doing something stupid, like cutting benefits or raising the retirement age.There needs to be a focused, and loud, campaign to educate the people. And, frankly, scare the Congress.
How do they determine if a toddler is eligible? We went through the entire process and was denied. We were about to give up and the baby continued to have asthma attacks, was assigned by primary doctor to an Asthma and Allergy specialist, on a daily bases takes a grocery bag of medicines. Had two surgeries, due to scar tissue found in airway, has spent time in a children’s hospital. So we decide to start over. He is being sent by DDS to a medical exam (what should we expect there). What is it that they are looking for? When the baby is sick, I can’t work.
Joan,
I am so sorry about your child’s medical problems. That’s tough. And certainly hard on you. I don’t know what the reasons are for denying benefits to your child, but maybe this online page from Social Security will help you understand the process. It explains benefitsand eligibility criteria for children with disabilities. Since your child is having an exam from an SSA-appointed medical professional, this must mean that SSA is re-eavluating your child’s medical history and condition to decide if your child is disabled. The other part of the determination process is to determine if your income and resources meet the criteria for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for your child. No doubt it is a complicated process. I’m sorry it’s been so difficult. Since we don’t handle cases for children, I suggest you make sure to ask your local SSA representative questions to make sure you understand what’s going on. I wish you the best.