Social Security Disability for Cancer Patients

Scripture of the Day:

Psalm 97:1

The Lord reigns, let the 

earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

From “Jesus Daily” on Facebook:

I said the path is too steep. Jesus said, “I will not let your feel slip.”

I said the road is dark. Jesus said, “I am your light”.

I said I don’t know the direction. Jesus said,” I am the way.”

I said I am weak and tired. Jesus said, “I will carry you.”

Drawn by my son Evan. 

Certain stages of breast cancer among other cancers qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. If you have stage 4 breast cancer it is something you should look into, as stage 4 qualifies.  The following is the website to go to for this information and the allowance for breast cancer I specifically searched out.  If you have or know someone that has another form of cancer you could look here as well. Breast  cancer is not the only cancer that qualifies.

https://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/

Compassionate Allowances (CAL) are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. Compassionate Allowances allow Social Security to target the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly.

CAL conditions are selected using information received at public outreach hearings, comments received from the Social Security and Disability Determination Services communities, counsel of medical and scientific experts, and our research with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Also, we consider which conditions are most likely to meet our current definition of disability.

DI 23022.125 Breast Cancer

COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCE INFORMATION
BREAST CANCER
DESCRIPTION	Breast cancer forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts and lobules. It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. Individuals with breast cancer meeting the criteria under the Listing of Impairments have a poor prognosis.
ALTERNATE NAMES	Breast Carcinoma (Stage IV), Metastatic Breast Carcinoma, Metastatic Breast Cancer, Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast (Stage IV), Metastatic Ductal Carcinoma, Metastatic Ductal Cancer, Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast Stage (IV), Metastatic Lobular Cancer, Metastatic Lobular Carcinoma, Recurrent Breast Cancer
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND CODING	The following may be used to diagnose the disease: mammogram, clinical breast exam, ultrasound, MRI, or biopsy (needle or incision).
TREATMENT	Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy.
PROGRESSION	If the cancer is inoperable or unresectable, treatment with radiation or radiation and chemotherapy/hormonal therapy can be employed for palliation. The 5-year survival rate for individuals with stage IV breast cancer when appropriately treated is 20%. Prognosis is usually poor.

SUGGESTED PROGRAMMATIC ASSESSMENT*
Suggested MER for Evaluation: A pathology report and an operative report are the preferred methods for documentation. In the absence of these reports, the adjudicator may use a physician's opinion that indicates the cancer is inoperable or unresectable based on described objective findings. “Inoperable” refers to a physician's opinion that surgery would not be beneficial based on a review of imaging studies, laboratory results, and physical examination findings. Unresectable cancer is established when the operative report indicates that the cancer is not completely removed or the pathology report notes that the surgical specimen has positive margins.
Suggested Listings for Evaluation:
DETERMINATION	LISTING	REMARKS
Meets Listing	13.10A, B, or C
Medical Equals	13.10 A	Inoperable or unresectable Breast Cancer equals Listing 13.10A as its prognosis is similar to this listing. (A physician's opinion stating that the cancer is inoperable or an operative note stating that the cancer was not completely resected is required. In place of an operative note, a pathology report indicating positive margins may be substituted.)

* Adjudicators may, at their discretion, use the Medical Evidence of Record or Listings suggested to evaluate the claim. However, the decision to allow or deny the claim rests with the adjudicator.

Last Updated: 9/30/08

Office of Disability Programs

If you are making this journey as I am, may God bless you and keep you as you travel this road.