Applying for Social Security Disability with Brain Cancer
If you are diagnosed with Brain Cancer, you are likely to
qualify for financial assistance from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
You must prove that you are both medically as well as financially eligible in
order to qualify for benefits.
The Brain Cancer Listing
The SSA
maintains a manual known as the Blue Book, which contains listings of disabling
conditions. The brain cancer listing appears in Section 13.13 and requires that
your cancer is:
- Malignant, which means it must
be grade II or higher
And
- Progressive or recurs even
after initial treatment
Compassionate Allowances
It s
important to note that certain types of brain cancer qualify for expedited
review and processing under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program.
These include:
- Ependymoblastoma
– For more information visit: http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/compassionate-allowances/ependymoblastoma-and-social-security-disability
- Glioblastoma
Multiforme – For more information visit: http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/compassionate-allowances/glioblastoma-multiforme-and-social-security-disability
Medical Evidence Required
The SSA needs to see extensive medical evidence to determine
the severity level of your brain cancer. That evidence should include:
- physician notes from
doctor’s appointments
- clinic notes after
diagnostic tests and other procedures were completed
- radiology reports from
imaging exams, documenting the tumors present and their comparative size
- lab work reports,
documenting markers pertinent to your case
- biopsy results, including
the report and notes from operations
- a statement from your
doctor that includes information on your diagnosis and prognosis
Concurrent Conditions
Brain cancer often causes complications. These may include
psychological or intellectual impairments and neurological issues. The SSA
needs to see medical records related to these conditions and will take
concurrent conditions into account when making a determination on your claim
for benefits. Any complications are evaluated according to the listings for the
affected body system.
- Neurological complications
are reviewed under the appropriate listings in Section 11.00 of the Blue
Book.
- Intellectual and
psychosocial complications are evaluated under the applicable listings in
Section 12.00.
Qualifying without
Meeting a Listing
Even in cases where brain cancer does not meet the SSA’s
listing or does not qualify under the CAL program, Social Security Disability
(SSD) benefits may still be granted.
In order to be approved without meeting a listing, you must
show your “residual functional capacity” (RFC) is so profoundly affected by
your cancer and by the treatments you must undergo that you are unable to
maintain gainful employment in any position for which you would otherwise be
qualified.
Thorough documentation from your doctor regarding the
affects of your cancer and your treatments is essential. RFC report forms
completed by you and by your doctor will give the SSA much of the information
they need. Other details necessary for RFC analysis will be obtained through a
thorough review of your medical records.
If your RFC analysis shows you are severely limited in your
daily activities, including typical job functions, then you can be granted SSD
benefits under what is known as a medical vocational allowance.
The SSA’s Benefit
Programs
There are two benefit programs for which you may qualify
with brain cancer:
- Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) – which is available to qualified disabled workers.
- Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) – which is a need-based program available to disabled
individuals who have very limited income and other financial resources.
In general adults can qualify for both SSDI and SSI, whereas
children will only qualify for SSI due to their lack of work history. For more
information on qualify for the different SSD programs, visit: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/
Applying for Benefits
If you are applying for an adult, an application can be
submitted either online (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/)
or in person. Applications for children will have to be submitted in person.
In person applications are completed through an interview
process at your local SSA office. Online applications can be completed at any
time via the SSA’s website. Online application is usually the fastest method.
Either way, you should submit copies of as many of your medical records as
possible to your local SSA office at the time you apply or shortly after
submitting your application.
If you are applying with a compassionate allowance
exception, you should receive a decision on your claim within a few weeks. If
not, be prepared to wait between 3 and 6 months for a decision. It is not
uncommon for initial applications to be denied by the SSA. There is an
extensive appeals process through which you can go through in order to be
approved for benefits.
Article by Ram Meyyappan
Social Security Disability Help
Email Questions/Comments to ram@ssd-help.org
Social Security Disability Help
Email Questions/Comments to ram@ssd-help.org
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