Get Social Security Disability & SSI Benefits: Cystic Fibrosis

Winning Your Case

For you or your child to become entitled to Social Security benefits based upon a cystic fibrosis disability, you must meet Social Security’s –

1. Non-Medical Criteria, and
2. Disability Criteria.

Meeting the disability criteria requires –

1. You know how Social Security assesses cystic fibrosis (discussed on this page),
2. You satisfy the Social Security Cystic Fibrosis Listing (also addressed here) or you have disabling Functional Limitations (discussed on the next page), and
3. You Submit Winning Evidence (discussed on the next, next page).

How Social Security Reads Your Cystic Fibrosis Medical File

A Social Security and SSI disability cystic fibrosis case is usually awarded at the initial level and rarely requires a hearing. Cystic fibrosis is a very severe medical impairment that causes the cells in your body that produce sweat, mucus, and digestive enzymes to instead produce abnormal fluids that are thick and sticky. These abnormal fluids clog airways, ducts, and passages of a body organ so that the organ functions improperly. The most commonly affected organs are the lungs, pancreas, liver, and intestines. Cystic fibrosis symptoms are –

1. Shortness of breath,
2. Cough,
3. Fatigue,
4. Slow physical growth,
5. Pain, and
6. Weakness.

Before Social Security makes a favorable decision, it will examine your medical file which must include a diagnosis of your cystic fibrosis made by commonly relied upon medical testing. Diagnosis is done primarily by a sweat skin test. Other tests include genetic (blood) tests and chest x-ray. There is no cure for cystic fibrosis. Social Security will also examine your medical records to determine your treatment which includes antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen or ibuprofen, and airway therapy/medications (bronchodilators and nebulizers), and supplemental oxygen (oxygen tank). Any use of an assistive device like a nebulizer or an oxygen tank is indicative of a severe degree of symptomatology. You must make sure your medical records include the prescription for that device. If they don’t, get a statement from your doctor that the device is needed. Lung transplants are rare.

Cystic Fibrosis Social Security & SSI Listing

An adult satisfies the cystic fibrosis Adult Listing 3.04 by satisfying one of points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. A child satisfies the cystic fibrosis Child Listing 103.04 by satisfying one of points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8.

1. Significantly reduced FEV scores on lung testing,
2. Cystic fibrosis complications requiring multiple hospital visits,
3. Collapsed lung needing a chest tube,
4. Respiratory failure necessitating ventilation,
5. Bleeding in the lungs demanding an embolization (stoppage of bleeding),
6. Cystic fibrosis manifestations (pulmonary worsening or bleeding, significant weight loss, or ongoing insulin use).
7. Limited SpO2 (peripheral capillary oxygen saturation), and
8. For children under age six, thickening of the bronchial airways, nodular-cystic lesions, atelectasis, or consolidation; and shortness of breath, repetitive coughing, and rales or rhonchi.

If you are an adult, and your cystic fibrosis results in transplantation of a lung, you will meet Adult Listing 3.11 for three years from the date you had your transplant surgery. After that, Social Security will make a new decision if you still under a disability.

TERI: Terminal Disease Case

If you have cystic fibrosis, Social Security can classify your disability case as a TERI case which is terminal (untreatable and expected to cause death). TERI cases are expedited – Expedited Cases.