Does Cancer Qualify for Social Security Disability?

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be frightening. The National Cancer Institute reports that more than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year. In addition to concerns you might have about your treatment and the potential outcomes, a cancer diagnosis can also leave you struggling to meet your financial obligations. Cancer treatment itself can be debilitating and leave you unable to work, and the high costs of cancer treatment can compound this. Many people diagnosed with cancer apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) when they’re unable to return to work because of their treatment and the condition’s effects. But does cancer qualify for Social Security Disability?

SSDI and Cancer

SSDI is a program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides monthly benefits to people whose medical conditions are severe and leave them unable to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA). This means that to qualify for SSDI, your condition must be severe enough to keep you from working in nearly any capacity. Your condition must also be expected to last a year or more or be terminal.

Does cancer qualify for Social Security Disability? The answer to this question is that it depends. According to the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), there are more than 200 different types of cancer, and they vary in disease progression, treatment options, and prognosis. Whether your cancer qualifies you for disability benefits depends on its severity, how long it’s expected to last, and whether it’s likely to result in your death.

Qualifying Under a Blue Book Listing

The SSA lists qualifying conditions in its Blue Book. Listed conditions are those that are severe enough that people who suffer from them are considered to have qualifying conditions for SSDI. Cancer-related impairments are listed in section 13.00 in the Blue Book. To qualify for SSDI based on cancer, you must prove that your condition meets or exceeds all of the criteria listed in the Blue Book and that it’s expected to last 12 or more months or result in your death.

It’s easiest to qualify if your cancer is inoperable or when surgery is unlikely to resolve it. Metastasized or recurring cancer also improves your chances of qualifying for SSDI based on your condition. Generally, people who are diagnosed with terminal cancer or Stage IV cancer will qualify for SSD. If you have a very serious cancer, you might also qualify for the Compassionate Allowance program. This program expedites your SSDI claim so that you can begin receiving money faster.

Compassionate Allowance

To qualify for the Compassionate Allowances program, your cancer diagnosis must be extremely serious and meet one of the following criteria:

• Spread beyond the area of origin
• Inoperable cancer
• Recurrent cancer despite treatment

If your condition meets one of these criteria, you should file a claim for benefits as soon as possible. Your attorney can help you gather the supporting medical records to file your claim. It will be flagged by the SSA for the Compassionate Allowance program based on your diagnostic severity.

Qualifying Based on Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)

Does cancer qualify for Social Security Disability if your condition doesn’t meet a section 13.00 impairment listing? Even if your condition doesn’t meet a Blue Book listing, you might still qualify for benefits with a Residual Functional Capacity (RCF) exam and supporting documents. The RFC evaluation is conducted by the SSA to determine whether your condition meets the criteria for a severely disabling condition that’s expected to last 12 or more months and that prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity. The SSA will evaluate your skills, experience, physical condition, and education to determine whether you can perform any type of full-time work. If they decide you can’t reasonably be expected to perform full-time work, you might qualify for SSDI.

Speak to Our Compassionate Disability Lawyers

Filing a claim for SSDI can be complex. If you have cancer and are unable to work because of your condition, you should speak to the experienced Social Security disability lawyers at Ellis & Associates. Our attorneys can review your medical records and let you know how we might help. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today by calling 800-MR-ELLIS or sending us a message online.