Working Through an SSDI Application for Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases that are distinguished by normal cell growth and the potential to spread to or invade other parts of the body. Cancer may spread to nearly any part of the body, including the breasts, prostate, skin, intestines, bones, and lungs. Cancer is a grouping of 100 different diseases. The National Cancer Institute estimates 439.2 new instances of cancer per 100,000 men and women per year.

While cancer is very treatable in its early stages, the medicines may induce sickness that makes it impossible for a person to work. You may be eligible for Social Security Administration disability benefits if your sickness or treatment plan prevents you from working (SSA).

Cancer's Impact on Physical Work Capacity

Even if your cancer symptoms do not meet the disability impairments in the Blue Book of SSA, your Disability Examiner (DE) will look for symptoms that prevent you from performing daily functioning activity i.e., your residual functional capacity (RFC).

Many types of cancer may often need surgical intervention. The operation may temporarily restrict your ability to lift, bend, reach, squat, and stretch. You may require extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain your strength and flexibility and return to your daily activities. Cancer treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy, commonly produces fatigue, weakness, malaise, nausea, and other symptoms that make functioning difficult.

Cancer treatment might also have an adverse effect on one's mental function. Both radiation and chemotherapy can create fatigue, impairing one's capacity to think sensibly. It can lead to dizziness, difficulties concentration, and forgetfulness.

It might have a detrimental impact on one's capacity to work. It might take several months after therapy for a patient's mental functioning to return to normal. While receiving therapy, the patient may be unable to perform even sedentary chores, which are the lightest responsibility of employment.

Cancer patients may find it difficult to focus for long periods of time or to maintain a single posture for long durations of time. Doing repeated chores and using fine motor skills are likely to become challenging. If your disease meets the Blue Book requirements for cancer, your claim will be approved. You may be eligible for benefits if you can show that your disease and its symptoms are equivalent to those of another condition listed in the SSA Blue Book.

Much to your dismay, the Social Security Administration (SSA) rejected your disability benefits, leaving you wondering, "What's next?" The solution is to file an appeal Cancer disability claim.

Making the Most of a Cancer Appeal Denied

You should file an appeal with the SSA as soon as you learn that the SSA has refused your cancer disability claim. There are a few things you should do before submitting your appeal that may result in a favorable ruling by the SSA.

Demonstrate the Severity of Your Symptoms

The SSA's team of medical examiners reviewing your appeal wants to determine the severity of your cancer symptoms. The team of medical examiners confirms whether your diagnosis is actually cancer by consulting the Blue Book.

If your symptoms do not meet the severity standards, the SSA will issue you a refused Social Security with cancer appeal letter.

Cancer symptoms vary based on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease. General symptoms include high fevers, extreme fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Severe cancer symptoms might make it difficult to keep a consistent career or even work at all.

The SSA then wants to know if your symptoms match the severity requirements outlined in Section 13.0 of the Blue Book.

Cancer Diagnostic Tests

The process of proving the existence of cancer begins with a battery of diagnostic tests. The existence of malignant cells may be indicated by abnormally low and/or high amounts of specific chemicals in the body.

Although imaging tests such as an MRI and/or CT scan can detect the existence of tumors, the most effective cancer diagnostic test is a series of biopsies.

A biopsy includes the removal of tissue, which is subsequently analyzed using a high-powered microscope. The absence of a biopsy test result might result in a cancer disability appeal being refused.

Get Professional Help

Hearing the words "You have cancer" may dramatically change your life. However, in order to ensure that you and your family remain financially stable, you must file a claim for disability benefits with cancer.

Make an appointment with a Social Security attorney at the Law Office of Irene Ruzin in your state to examine your options for filing an appeal with the SSA.