If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your primary focus should be on getting healthy and receiving proper treatment—not worrying about maintaining a job to pay for medical costs. For that reason, the government gives people the option to file for social security disability benefits. However, for a successful outcome, you need to prove the deep impact the condition has had on your life. The following guide explores the process involved. 

Aggressive Cancers

The Social Security Administration has a list of requirements all applicants must meet to be awarded benefits. When it comes to cancers, you must prove your condition is severe enough to warrant financial assistance. The level of severity varies depending on the type of cancer you have. Some types may automatically qualify you for disability benefits based on the inherent danger associated with the areas affected. This includes esophageal, gallbladder, brain, inflammatory breast, liver, and pancreatic cancers.

In other cases, you will need to prove that your cancer is terminal. If it is not, applicants might show that the cancer is inoperable, continues to return after treatments, or has spread to other parts of the body.

Non-Aggressive Cancers

In some cases, cancer itself is not the most debilitating part of your medical situation. Instead, it’s the treatments or side effects associated with it. In these cases, individuals need to file for Social Security Disability Benefits for evaluation of the severity of symptoms and the effect that they have on day to day functioning.   The analysis will take into account factors like your age, education, past relevant work and the severity of the impact that your symptoms have on your ability to sustain 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week of work.  

Keep in mind, if the SSA finds you are able to maintain any kind of job—not just the one you currently or previously held—you may not be awarded compensation. If you are over 50 years old the rules change and you only have to prove that you cannot do what you were used to doing in the workplace.  It is critical to your ultimate success to consider working with a disability claim consultant to outline all the ways your abilities are hindered because of the medical condition and resulting symptoms.

Need help applying for Social Security disability benefits after receiving a cancer diagnosis? Turn to the compassionate professionals at Disability Claim Consultants. Located in Omaha, NE, these Social Security representatives have over 40 years of experience helping those in need recover the compensation to seek treatment. Visit their website to learn more about their services, or call (402) 422-1000 to schedule a consultation today.