How To Get Social Security Disability Benefits & SSI: Cancer

Winning Your Case

Overview and Social Security and SSI Disability Cancer Listings

Cancer is a very severe impairment. It is the second leading cause of death in America. Cancer is a disease wherein the body develops abnormal cells that 1) divide uncontrollably (increase in mass), and 2) destroy normal cells. Most cancers can spread throughout the body. Generally, cancer cases are allowed by Social Security at the initial and reconsideration levels (a hearing is not needed). If your case has been denied at the initial and reconsideration levels (and you are requesting a hearing), it is usually denied for one of two reasons. First, Social Security did not obtain all your medical records. Second, your cancer impairment lasted less than 12 months or Social Security concluded your cancer wasn't expected to last twelve months or more (you did not meet the durational requirement).

There are many types of cancer, and there are 28 individual Social Security cancer Listings - Listings 13.02 to 13.29:

• Breast - Listing 13.10
• Esophagus or Stomach - Listing 13.16
• Female Genital Tract - Listing 13.23
• Kidney/Adrenal/Ureter Carcinoma - Listing 13.21
• Large Intestine - Listing 13.18
• Leukemia - Listing 13.06
• Liver or Gallbladder - Listing 13.19
• Lungs - Listing 13.14
• Lymphoma - Listing 13.05
• Malignant Melanoma - Listing 13.29
• Maxilla/Orbital/Temporal Fossa - Listing 13.12
• Multiple Myeloma - Listing 13.07
• Nervous System - Listing 13.13
• Pancreas - Listing 13.20
• Penis - Listing 13.26
• Pleura or Mediastinum - Listing 13.15
• Prostate - Listing 13.24
• Salivary Glands - Listing 13.08
• Skin - Listing 13.03
• Skeletal System Sarcoma - Listing 13.11
• Small Intestine - Listing 13.17
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma - Listing 13.04
• Soft Tissues Cancers of the Head and Neck - Listing 13.02
• Testicles - Listing 13.25
• Thyroid Glands - Listing 13.09
• Urinary Bladder Carcinoma - Listing 13.22
• Cancer, Site Unknown - Listing 13.27
• Cancers Treated w/Bone Marrow or Stem Cells - Listing 13.28

Symptoms are usually severe which Social Security is aware. Of course, cancer symptoms can be so severe that they can lead to death. Social Security will review your medical records to read about your symptoms which vary depending on the type of cancer suffered, but most commonly, one suffers the following:

1. Fatigue,
2. Sickness,
3. Body and joint pain,
4. Muscle atrophy and weakness, and
5. Weight loss.

Diagnosis

Social Security will need medical evidence of your diagnosis which is generally done with the following:

1. Imaging [MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, or x-ray];
2. Biopsy (tissue is removed from the body and examined); or
3. Blood or urine tests.

Treatment

Social Security will read about your cancer treatment. Primary cancer treatment is an initial attempt to remove or kill all cancer in your body. Secondary or adjuvant cancer treatment is an attempt to rid your body of all cancer that the primary treatment did not remove or kill. Palliative cancer treatment attempts to relieve symptoms. There are several types of all three types of cancer treatment.

Primary And Secondary Treatment

Surgery. The goal of surgery is to surgically remove the cancerous cells. With any surgery, a surgeon will frequently have to make a judgment call regarding how much tissue to remove. Sometimes, a surgeon will leave some tissue that has cancer cells. This is usually because removing the remaining cancerous tissue is a risk to your health or it simply cannot be removed. If you have cancerous tissue that was not removed, chemotherapy or radiation will be prescribed to eliminate the remaining cancer. In some cases, if chemotherapy and radiation is ineffective, repeat surgery may be performed again to remove the remaining cancerous tissue.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses powerful chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is administered by intravenous injection (infusion), pill, or direct injection or placement into a particular body site. Chemotherapy is usually done on an outpatient basis in a doctor's office or hospital. Side effects can be profound, and many cancer suffers find the side effects as or more disabling than the symptoms of the cancer itself. Social Security recognizes the significance of chemotherapy treatment in evaluating whether you are disabled.

Radiation (radiotherapy). High doses of radiation is directed at the site of your cancer. Usually, an external machine is used. However, internal radiation is sometimes used wherein a solid or liquid form of radiation is placed in a certain part of your body. Radiation therapy can be limited as your body can only handle a certain amount of lifetime radiation.

Bone Marrow Transplant. Bone marrow is the material inside your bones that creates red blood cells. A bone marrow transplant is really an injection of stem cells into the bone marrow. The stem cells contain high doses of chemotherapy - often higher than what can be injected into your body with other treatments.

Immunotherapy. Sometimes your body does not recognize cancer cells as a problem. Hence, your body does not fight against the cancer. Immunotherapy is an attempt to trigger your immune system to both recognize and fight the cancer cells.

Hormone Therapy. Cancer is sometimes caused by hormones in your body. Hormone therapy removes the hormones from your body in an attempt to limit or stop the growth of cancer cells.

Palliative Treatment

Palliative Treatment. This type of care is an attempt to alleviate your symptoms of cancer or cancer treatment. It generally consists of medication regimens that vary widely depending on symptoms suffered. Most commonly, pain medications are prescribed. Other medications are used to assist the functioning of affected body parts. Physical or occupational therapy may also be prescribed. Hospice care may be necessary.

Compassionate Allowance / TERI: Terminal Disease Case

Social Security can classify a cancer case as either a compassionate allowance or TERI case wherein the case is expedited for a quicker determination. A compassionate allowance is a case wherein Social Security finds that its disability standards are clearly met. A TERI case is a terminal condition - Expedited Cases.