Applying for SSD Benefits in Asthma and Allergy Cases

Asthma is an inflammatory lung disease affecting the bronchial tubes and is chronic in nature. These airways to the lungs become difficult to breathe because they swell. Coughing, wheezing, tight chest and breathlessness attacks are triggered by allergens and stress, exercise and cold air are non – allergic causes. Asthma or allergy is a condition that can develop at any age and has no permanent cure. But this condition can be kept under control by medications. However, for some people, asthma or allergy can affect the quality of their life severely thereby rendering them disabled to do even their routine activities.

Where does asthma fit in the list of SSD benefits designed by social security administration?

Asthma is considered by social security administration (SSA) as one of the disabling medical conditions in the category of respiratory system disorders. People can prove their eligibility for SSD benefits when they experience frequent and severe asthma attacks interfering with their work ability for a consecutive period of 12 months or longer. As per Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, this condition affects nearly 20 million Americans every day.

Allergies and asthma is considered a disability when the condition does not permit an individual to perform their course of work or take up an alternative job. A nurse developing an allergy for rubber or latex or a nursery worker developing a chronic allergic reaction to a bee sting or a chromium worker developing asthma because of exposure to chromium are classic examples of a disability created by allergy and asthma.

Determining disability is becoming a very complex process owing to the several different kinds of claims that flood the SSA in the last few years. Therefore, having a specialized attorney to represent you through the application and appeals process is a wise decision. Also, medically proving specific symptoms is an important task for claiming benefits. When asthma or allergy limits your ability to

(1)  Handle, carry, reach, pull, push, lift, sit, stand and walk.

(2)  Speak, hear and see.

(3)  Remember simple instructions and understand or carry out instructions.

(4)  Simply deal with changes in an everyday work scenario.

Qualifying procedure in asthma or allergy cases

Respiratory system of medical listing 3.03 is where asthma gets listed. The major criterion for evaluating level and severity of the impairment is when a respiratory disorder is episodic.  The intensity and frequency of episodes occurring in spite of treatment are also important considerations. When any of the following symptoms occur, an individual with asthma is considered to be disabled

(1)  Asthma attacks should occur at least once in a two month period or six times in a year’s time, in spite of treatment. Every in – patient hospitalization should have lasted for at least 24 hours and required intensive treatment such as extended inhalational bronchodilator therapy in a hospital or antibiotic administration or intravenous bronchodilator.

(2)  Chronic asthmatic bronchitis resulting in pulmonary functional loss due to gas abnormalities or ventilator impairments or both.