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How Long Does SSDI Take for COPD Claims?

Do you struggle with COPD? If so, you know what a challenging condition it is, and how difficult it can make daily life when it is severe. If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder if you should pursue a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration and if so, how long it might take to be approved for those benefits. These are important and understandable questions to ask. After all, being disabled can be difficult in so many ways, including from a financial perspective. Let’s take a closer look at the law together, including what types of benefits may be available and how long it typically takes to pursue them.

What Benefits Might Be Available?

Those who are seeking disability benefits for COPD may have a number of options available for pursuing benefits. In some cases, you might have a short-term or long-term disability policy that you privately obtained, or that was provided by your employer. If this is the case, you may be able to seek those benefits if your condition satisfies the terms outlined in your policy. It is always wise to review your policy and to seek the advice of an attorney if necessary.

In other cases, you may not have a short-term or long-term disability policy and may choose instead to pursue disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. If this is the case, you should know that two types of benefits may be available, depending on your circumstances. These include:

  • Social Security Disability Insurance: Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a benefit the Social Security Administration provides to applicants who have a disabling medical condition that has caused them to be unable to work for one continuous calendar year or more and who are “insured.” To the Social Security Administration, being “insured” means that you worked a job for a sufficient length of time and regularly paid employment taxes from your salary into the Social Security system. The maximum SSDI benefit an individual can receive per month in 2025 is $4,018.
  • Supplemental Security Income: As with SSDI benefits, those seeking Supplemental Security Income (SSI) must prove they have a disabling condition that has lasted for one continuous calendar year or more. Unlike the case with SSDI benefits, however, those who seek SSI benefits need not be “insured.” Instead, they must have income and resources below a specific annual limit established by the Social Security Administration. In 2025, the maximum monthly SSI benefit is $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple.

Depending on your particular situation, you can seek one or both of these types of benefits. As we have noted, an essential part of pursuing a claim is proving that you have a condition that the Social Security Administration considers to be a “disability.”

Is COPD a “Disability?”

If you struggle with COPD, which stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, you probably already know all too well that it is a progressive lung disease with symptoms that may include coughing, wheezing, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and more. Depending on its severity, it may significantly impact your daily life, including your ability to work.

In determining whether a particular condition is a “disability” for the purpose of awarding benefits, the Social Security Administration will consult its “Blue Book.” The Blue Book is a guide that lists various conditions and their accompanying symptoms. Fortunately for those with COPD, it is a condition that is included in the Blue Book, along with other conditions to which it is often connected, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and others.

While COPD is listed in the Blue Book, it’s important to realize that you will still need to be able to provide sufficient medical proof regarding your particular case, your symptoms, and their impact on your daily life. This typically includes evidence such as imaging results, pulmonary function tests, lab tests, and other important information.

After you have gathered all of your evidence and completed the necessary paperwork with the assistance of a knowledgeable and experienced attorney, you’ll be ready to submit your claim. It is important to understand that the time to receive a decision on your claim depends largely on the Social Security Administration’s workload at the time. It could be a few to several months before an official decision is issued.

American Disability Action Group – Here For You

At American Disability Action Group, we know that our disabled clients face many challenges. Worrying and wondering about how to best pursue a disability claim shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why we’re here to help. Our knowledgeable and experienced team of attorneys knows and understands every aspect of the process of seeking these benefits, and we’ll always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

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By American Disability Action Group | Posted on December 17, 2025