Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are a critical safety net for working professionals in California. Those who have adequate work credits from their prior employment and a debilitating medical condition can apply for SSDI when they can no longer work.
SSDI benefits provide people with a baseline monthly income that can help cover their cost-of-living expenses when medical challenges make earning a living prohibitively difficult. SSDI benefits are available to people with a variety of injuries and illnesses.
Cancer has the potential to be debilitating or even deadly. Thankfully, modern treatment has increased survival rates. Even so, many people with cancer struggle to continue working. Can those diagnosed with cancer qualify for SSDI benefits?
Every cancer case has unique factors
Not all people with cancer are eligible for SSDI benefits. Cancer ranges in severity from one case to the next. The type of cancer, the stage of its development and the underlying health issues of the person diagnosed are all important considerations when evaluating the severity of cancer.
When the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews SSDI applications from people with cancer, there are two factors that guide the decision-making process. The first is the severity of the worker’s impairments. Either the cancer or the proposed treatment plan must cause fully debilitating symptoms for the worker to be eligible for SSDI benefits.
The second consideration is the likely duration of the illness. Terminal cancer may qualify people for SSDI benefits. In some cases, they may even receive faster approval because of their prognosis. Those undergoing treatment and likely to survive generally need to be ill enough to be unable to work for at least 12 months for their cancer to make them eligible for SSDI benefits.
Individuals applying for SSDI after a cancer diagnosis generally need thorough medical documentation to prove that their condition qualifies them for benefits. Details, including the likely impact of treatment, can help people with cancer convince the SSA that their cancer diagnosis is a debilitating medical condition.
SSDI benefits can replace some of the professional’s lost wages when their cancer symptoms or treatment side effects render them unable to work. Getting legal assistance while applying for SSDI benefits can help people with cancer to resolve these concerns as efficiently and effectively as possible.
