Wednesday, October 3, 2012

How SSA Determines Disability among Cancer Patients

Generally, in order to qualify for social security disability benefits, cancer patients must first provide proofs that their malignant neoplastic disease is indeed disabling and prevents them from engaging in stressful activities.

However, the types of evidence needed to support such claims vary depending on the type of disabling condition that an applicant claims.

Necessarily, in cases of cancer, there are some factors that the Social Security Administration (SSA) takes into consideration before approving a claim. These include the following:

•    Origin of malignancy
•    Range of impact of the disease on your health
•    History treatment
•    Current treatment’s effect

Any evidence to support the above-said factors should come from a licensed medical professional. Several medical certificates to support evidence that may help a disability benefit claim include diagnostic reports, lab results, surgery notes, pathology reports, and official statements from physicians.

Subsequently, other than providing evidence of the cancer type, its duration, and treatment, an applicant may also use the treatment’s effect in order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Incidentally, cancers that resist treatments and patients who experience severe side effects of chemotherapy are absolutely qualified for the claim.

In its list of Compassionate Allowances Conditions, the SSA includes more than 20 types of cancers that are assessed for Social Security disability. Nevertheless, even if an applicant’s disease is not listed in the said classification or the condition does not meet the standards, an applicant may still pursue a claim with the help and guidance of a legal representative, like a Los Angeles permanent disability.