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How to claim COPD disability benefitsMedically reviewed by Thomas Johnson, PA-C — By Helen Millar on May 19, 2022Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung condition that leads to breathing difficulties. In the United States, people with severe cases may be eligible for disability benefits. COPD is a common condition that ranges in severity.
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Ryan Garcia 4 minutes ago
COPD does not cause any symptoms in some people, whereas it can lead to respiratory failure in other...
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David Cohen Member
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COPD does not cause any symptoms in some people, whereas it can lead to respiratory failure in others. The condition causes limitations to airflow and damage to tissues in the lungs.
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Scarlett Brown 3 minutes ago
COPD is a progressive disease that worsens over time. Quitting smoking can help slow the progression...
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Ryan Garcia 3 minutes ago
However, even with appropriate therapy, COPD still progresses in severity and is a significant cause...
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Sebastian Silva Member
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COPD is a progressive disease that worsens over time. Quitting smoking can help slow the progression.
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Chloe Santos Moderator
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However, even with appropriate therapy, COPD still progresses in severity and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. This article discusses whether COPD qualifies as a disability, when it becomes disabling, how to qualify for benefits, and more. Is COPD a disability
Share on PinterestWestend61/Getty ImagesThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considers any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities as a disability.
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Alexander Wang 5 minutes ago
This includes different types of conditions, such as respiratory disorders. When COPD is severe, sym...
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Andrew Wilson 4 minutes ago
These include activities that fall under the ADA’s criteria, such as walking, performing manual ta...
This includes different types of conditions, such as respiratory disorders. When COPD is severe, symptoms of the condition can affect a person’s ability to complete certain activities they need to get by in daily life.
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Aria Nguyen 8 minutes ago
These include activities that fall under the ADA’s criteria, such as walking, performing manual ta...
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Sophia Chen Member
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These include activities that fall under the ADA’s criteria, such as walking, performing manual tasks, and breathing. When does COPD become disabling
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has established criteria to group COPD into four stages. These range from early to advanced stages:stage 1 COPD: earlystage 2 COPD: moderatestage 3 COPD: severestage 4 COPD: very severe
Early COPD causes mild symptoms and is not a cause for immediate concern.
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Andrew Wilson 6 minutes ago
However, diagnosis and treatment are still important, as the handling of stage 1 can determine how t...
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Sofia Garcia 5 minutes ago
Diagnosis and treatment are necessary to limit the condition from worsening, but the tissues of the ...
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However, diagnosis and treatment are still important, as the handling of stage 1 can determine how the condition progresses. Moderate COPD, or stage 2, also falls under the category of an early stage.
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Audrey Mueller 1 minutes ago
Diagnosis and treatment are necessary to limit the condition from worsening, but the tissues of the ...
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Daniel Kumar 5 minutes ago
By stage 3, there is severe obstruction in a person’s airways, and the lungs are hyperinflated. Th...
Diagnosis and treatment are necessary to limit the condition from worsening, but the tissues of the lungs are still largely intact. Stages 3 and 4 are where COPD can become disabling.
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Natalie Lopez 7 minutes ago
By stage 3, there is severe obstruction in a person’s airways, and the lungs are hyperinflated. Th...
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By stage 3, there is severe obstruction in a person’s airways, and the lungs are hyperinflated. This causes shortness of breath, among other symptoms, which can limit a person’s ability to lead their day-to-day life. Learn more about worsening COPD here.
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Ava White 20 minutes ago
How to qualify for COPD disability
If having COPD affects a person’s ability to work and live in ...
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Alexander Wang 19 minutes ago
There are two types of benefits a person with COPD can receive. These are Social Security Disability...
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Oliver Taylor Member
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How to qualify for COPD disability
If having COPD affects a person’s ability to work and live in the U.S., they may be eligible to receive disability benefits from the U.S. government.
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Luna Park 36 minutes ago
There are two types of benefits a person with COPD can receive. These are Social Security Disability...
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Lucas Martinez 39 minutes ago
To qualify for COPD disability, a person must undergo disability evaluation and meet certain criteri...
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Isabella Johnson Member
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There are two types of benefits a person with COPD can receive. These are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
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Harper Kim 11 minutes ago
To qualify for COPD disability, a person must undergo disability evaluation and meet certain criteri...
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Ava White 4 minutes ago
COPD falls under section 3.0 of the Blue Book, which outlines the medical criteria used to assess el...
To qualify for COPD disability, a person must undergo disability evaluation and meet certain criteria. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires evidence to show that the benefits are necessary. Disability evaluation criteria
A disability evaluation considers the following factors:the severity of the medical conditionageeducationwork skillspast work experience
Disability evaluation falls under different categories depending on which body area they affect.
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Victoria Lopez 35 minutes ago
COPD falls under section 3.0 of the Blue Book, which outlines the medical criteria used to assess el...
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Amelia Singh 1 minutes ago
Medical evidence is still necessary to qualify for disability benefits, even if a person is using su...
COPD falls under section 3.0 of the Blue Book, which outlines the medical criteria used to assess eligibility. Medical evidence
A person needs to provide medical evidence to show the severity of their condition and how it impacts their ability to work and live their day-to-day life.
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Ava White 10 minutes ago
Medical evidence is still necessary to qualify for disability benefits, even if a person is using su...
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Nathan Chen 52 minutes ago
People can apply for disability benefits either:in personover the telephoneonlinethrough mail
To app...
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James Smith Moderator
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Medical evidence is still necessary to qualify for disability benefits, even if a person is using supplementary oxygen. Medical evidence should include the following:medical history, including COPD diagnosisresults from physical examinationresults from medical imaging showing evidence of COPDresults from pulmonary function testsany medications being taken for COPD
Pulmonary function tests can include:spirometrydiffusing capacity of the lungs (DLCO)arterial blood gaspulse oximetry
With COPD, spirometry test results may not be significant, so it is good to support the results with a DLCO test. How to apply
There are different methods people can choose from to apply.
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Lily Watson 21 minutes ago
People can apply for disability benefits either:in personover the telephoneonlinethrough mail
To app...
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Isaac Schmidt 23 minutes ago
Medical professionals and Social Security use the criteria in the Blue Book to evaluate a person’s...
People can apply for disability benefits either:in personover the telephoneonlinethrough mail
To apply online:Use the SSA disability checklist to gather all the necessary documentation.Complete the disability benefits application process.Fill out the medical release form. More details of eligibility requirements are available in the Blue Book. Importance of the Blue Book
The Blue Book outlines the SSA’s medical criteria for different conditions and which types of medical evidence should go in an application for SSDI.
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Ethan Thomas 39 minutes ago
Medical professionals and Social Security use the criteria in the Blue Book to evaluate a person’s...
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Emma Wilson 54 minutes ago
COPD falls under section 3.02, which refers to chronic respiratory disorders. A person should check ...
Medical professionals and Social Security use the criteria in the Blue Book to evaluate a person’s condition and eligibility for SSDI. Section 3.0 of the Blue Book is the overall category for respiratory disorders.
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William Brown 12 minutes ago
COPD falls under section 3.02, which refers to chronic respiratory disorders. A person should check ...
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William Brown 12 minutes ago
If the SSA approves the application, payments will typically begin within a few months. However, the...
COPD falls under section 3.02, which refers to chronic respiratory disorders. A person should check whether they meet the criteria in the Blue Book and gather the evidence required before applying for disability benefits. How long does it take to get disability benefits for COPD
According to Disability Benefits Help, it typically takes between 3–5 months for the SSA to respond after a person submits their initial application.
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Ryan Garcia 30 minutes ago
If the SSA approves the application, payments will typically begin within a few months. However, the...
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Evelyn Zhang 1 minutes ago
If the SSA denies an application, a person can review their submission and check to see if they have...
If the SSA approves the application, payments will typically begin within a few months. However, they can take up to a year. If payments take more than 5 months to begin, a person will receive some backdated payments on top of their monthly allowance.
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Daniel Kumar 28 minutes ago
If the SSA denies an application, a person can review their submission and check to see if they have...
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Hannah Kim 67 minutes ago
Applying for benefits can seem like a lengthy process, but it is generally quicker if a person can a...
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Sophie Martin Member
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If the SSA denies an application, a person can review their submission and check to see if they have missed any important details. The SSA keeps hold of files in case an applicant chooses to appeal.
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Luna Park 12 minutes ago
Applying for benefits can seem like a lengthy process, but it is generally quicker if a person can a...
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Oliver Taylor 23 minutes ago
A person should provide as much evidence as possible to give the SSA a clear picture of how COPD imp...
Applying for benefits can seem like a lengthy process, but it is generally quicker if a person can accurately present all the evidence needed. Steps to take to ensure a person wins their claim
All the necessary medical evidence must be ready and in order before applying.
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Ethan Thomas 76 minutes ago
A person should provide as much evidence as possible to give the SSA a clear picture of how COPD imp...
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Ethan Thomas Member
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A person should provide as much evidence as possible to give the SSA a clear picture of how COPD impacts their life. This will reduce the chances of having the request denied. An individual should check that they meet all the criteria outlined in the Blue Book.
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Christopher Lee 54 minutes ago
Additionally, it may be helpful to use a Social Security lawyer or advocate. They are more likely to...
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Evelyn Zhang 8 minutes ago
Summary
COPD is a condition that affects the lungs and can also affect other organs in the body. The...
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Isaac Schmidt Member
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Additionally, it may be helpful to use a Social Security lawyer or advocate. They are more likely to notice areas where information may be missing or where sections need improving.
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Ethan Thomas 70 minutes ago
Summary
COPD is a condition that affects the lungs and can also affect other organs in the body. The...
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Kevin Wang 19 minutes ago
These severe symptoms can affect a person’s quality of life and ability to work. When COPD affects...
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Ethan Thomas Member
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Summary
COPD is a condition that affects the lungs and can also affect other organs in the body. The condition is progressive, starting with mild symptoms in the early stages and more severe in the advanced stages.
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Sebastian Silva Member
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These severe symptoms can affect a person’s quality of life and ability to work. When COPD affects a person’s ability to work, they may be eligible for disability benefits in the U.S.
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Henry Schmidt Member
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They will need to submit an application to the SSA for approval. If the application gains approval, a person will receive monthly disability benefit payments.
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Luna Park 13 minutes ago
If the SSA denies an application, a person can choose to reassess their application and appeal. Alth...
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Lucas Martinez 4 minutes ago
We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific refere...
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Lily Watson Moderator
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If the SSA denies an application, a person can choose to reassess their application and appeal. Although the process can seem lengthy, receiving Social Security support can benefit a person with severe COPD by helping to ease the financial pressures of having a disabling medical condition. Last medically reviewed on May 19, 2022COPDPulmonary SystemRespiratory 13 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.
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We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific refere...
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(n.d.).https://goldcopd.org/Agarwal, A. K., et al. (2021)....
We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.About GOLD.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559281/Americans with Di...
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(n.d.).https://goldcopd.org/Agarwal, A. K., et al. (2021).
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559281/Americans with Di...
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559281/Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. (n.d.).https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htmApply online for disability benefits. (n.d.).https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/Bollmeier, S.
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G., et al. (2020)....
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Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A review focusing on exacerbations.https://www....
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(2020). Diagnosis and treatment of early chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7692717/Disability benefits. (n.d.).https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/Disability evaluation under Social Security.
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(2019). A patient with GOLD stage 3 COPD « cured » by one-way endobronchial valv...
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(2019). A patient with GOLD stage 3 COPD « cured » by one-way endobronchial valves.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6473594/Medical criteria needed to qualify for disability with COPD in 2022. (2022).https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/medical-evidence/copdFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Thomas Johnson, PA-C — By Helen Millar on May 19, 2022
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COPD disability benefits: How to claim and criteria Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer&...
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COPD does not cause any symptoms in some people, whereas it can lead to respiratory failure in other...