COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung disease caused by chronic inflammation that obstructs your airflow. Generally, patients with COPD suffer from wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. In addition to COPD, most patients have emphysema or chronic bronchitis that contributes to the condition.
In some cases, respiratory disorders like COPD can qualify you for SSDI.
When does COPD qualify for SSDI?
COPD can affect your ability to work and your general quality of life. COPD must be severe enough to prevent you from participating in gainful activity. Gainful activity is anything you do for profit, including full-time and part-time work. Your ability to work may be determined by your income. You must make less than the income threshold for the year.
How do you prove you have a qualifying condition?
To prove that your COPD qualifies, you must have medical exams that can show you have COPD and that it is at a severe level. For example, you need to provide pulse oximetry levels, imaging tests, lung function tests, hospitalization records and other documents showing the nature of your condition.
If you have stage three or four COPD, you may automatically qualify for SSDI. If you want to apply for SSDI, work with your doctors and medical specialists to provide enough documentation about your condition. Sometimes, the SSA will examine your body’s limitations based on your COPD.
When it comes to SSDI, the most important evidence you have is the evidence provided by medical professionals. The SSA puts a lot of weight on medical opinion.