If you are diagnosed with cancer, you may qualify for Social Security Disability. In Illinois, federal benefits are available through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for people who are diagnosed with certain types of cancer. So, what types of cancer qualify for disability?
If you’re diagnosed with cancer, Ankin Social Disability attorneys in Chicago can help with benefits. Call us for a free consultation at 872-529-9377.
Disability Benefits in Illinois
In Illinois, Social Security Disability is available to eligible applicants through two federal programs – Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Disability benefits through both programs are available for people with disabilities, including certain types of cancers, that qualify for financial support.
To determine who is eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews each applicant’s determining factors and medical information based on medical records from a licensed physician. In some cases, they may schedule a consultative examination (CE), a medical exam conducted by a licensed physician appointed by the SSA. This is to ensure that the applicant’s medical condition meets all eligibility requirements or is included in the Blue Book Listing of Medical Conditions.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI pays disability benefits to workers and their family members when the worker has accumulated a sufficient number of work credits through an employment history. The worker must also have worked long enough to pay Social Security taxes. This program is financed with Social Security taxes that are paid by workers, employers, and self-employed individuals.
To be eligible for SSDI benefits, a worker must earn sufficient credits based on a taxable work history to be “insured” for Social Security purposes. If benefits are approved, they are payable to (1) disabled or blind workers under 65 years old, (2) their spouse or widower, (3) their children, and (4) adults disabled since childhood. The amount of monthly disability benefits is based on the Social Security earnings record of the insured worker. After receiving disability insurance benefits for two years, the worker will automatically get Medicare coverage.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability is based on financial needs rather than a prior work history. SSI benefits are available to low-income individuals who have a prior work history or who have no work history. This program is financed through general tax revenues and does not relate to work credits.
To be eligible for SSI benefits, a person must be a United States citizen or national and have limited income and resources for living requirements. Benefits are payable to people who meet these conditions and are (1) adults who are 65 years old or older, (2) adults who are disabled or blind, and (3) children who are disabled or blind. The monthly benefit payment varies up to the maximum federal benefit rate, which may be supplemented by the state. In most states, beneficiaries are also automatically eligible for Medicaid.
In Illinois, you can get disability if you have cancer. If you are diagnosed with cancer, you can apply for SSDI or SSI benefits based on your eligibility requirements. Social Security disability attorneys can determine your eligibility and help you through the right application process based on what types of cancer qualify for disability.
How Does the Application Process Work?
In Illinois, Social Security disability claims are handled by the Bureau of Disability Determination Services (DDS), a state department that determines eligibility for all applicants. When your application for benefits is submitted, DDS reviews the application and your qualifications for either SSDI or SSI benefits. If you are diagnosed with cancer, DDS must review all pertinent information that impacts your disability claim, including personal information, work history and income, medical diagnosis and prognosis, and SSA Blue Book listings. If DDS does not approve your claim, find a good disability lawyer who can file an appeal.
Many types of cancer respond well to treatment, especially if they are diagnosed in the early stages. Other types of cancer are difficult to treat, especially if they are not caught until later stages. Typically, late-stage cancers become more aggressive and are more likely to spread to different parts of the body.
The Social Security Administration approves SSDI and SSI claims based on cancer in one of two ways: 1 – The cancer meets the requirements of a cancer listing in the Blue Book, or 2 – the SSA grants a “medical-vocational allowance” when the applicant can’t return to work. The SSA will also expedite claims for advanced cancers that are on the Compassionate Allowances list.
Does a Cancer Diagnosis Ensure Disability Approval?
Although a cancer diagnosis is serious, it does not guarantee approval for SSDI or SSI benefits. With many types of cancer, guaranteed approval requires the following:
- An inoperable type of cancer that can not be controlled with treatment
- A cancer that has metastasized and spread to other parts of the body
- A cancer that recurs after a surgical procedure or radiation treatment
According to the SSA Blue Book listings, certain types of cancer are entitled to immediate approval for disability benefits, whether they are inoperable, metastatic, or recurrent. At least 27 cancer listings in the Blue Book qualify for disability without evidence of the cancer’s progression. The following types of cancer meet one of the SSA official listings based on a medical diagnosis and documentation that includes the attending physician’s office notes, medical reports, imaging studies, and admission and discharge summaries from hospitals.
- Esophageal cancer
- Gall bladder cancer
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma
- Brain and spinal cord cancers
Does Metastatic Cancer Automatically Qualify for Benefits?
When a person’s cancer has spread beyond the regional lymph nodes, he or she will likely be automatically approved for expedited disability benefits under the SSA Compassionate Allowances Program. Many progressive cancers are eligible for expedited benefits as “compassionate allowances.” Every condition on this list will automatically qualify for expedited approval of benefits within 30 days.
What If a Cancer Doesn’t Meet a Blue Book Listing?
Many cancers, especially those that are detected early, will not meet the requirements of a disability listing. Determination for benefits will be based on the applicant’s work history, ability to perform full-time work, and medical records. The SSA will also look at the applicant’s long-term side effects from cancer treatment such as cognitive issues, memory disorders, and problems with thought processes that may impair work skills.
Do Cancer Cases Qualify for Permanent Disability Benefits?
If an applicant has a chance for medical improvement, SSA approvals for disability benefits will not be considered permanent. In these types of cancer cases, the SSA will set up a continuing disability review every three years after benefits begin to re-evaluate the person’s disability. If the original cancer and any metastatic disease appear to have disappeared and have not been evident for three years, the impairment may no longer meet the disability criteria for cancer.
Types of Cancer That Qualify for Disability
Under the Social Security Compassionate Allowances Program (CAL), people with cancer may qualify for expedited financial help through SSDI benefits or SSI benefits with minimal required medical information. Due to advanced technology, CAL can quickly evaluate disability claims for cancer victims and identify what types of cancer qualify for disability.
The CAL program includes more than 90 types of cancer that qualify for disability benefits. This list includes familiar types of cancers that are commonly diagnosed in patients, as well as rare cancers that are diagnosed less frequently.
Common Types of Cancer
- Acute Leukemia
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Malignant Melanoma
Rare Types of Cancer
- Alstrom Syndrome
- Batten Disease
- Canavan Disease
- Lewey Body Dementia
- Menkes Disease
- Pearson Syndrome
The CAL Program addresses different types of cancer that afflict adults and children, and both adults and children may qualify for disability benefits under SSDI and SSI. Illinois Social Security disability attorneys handle physical disabilities, mental and neurological disabilities, and chronic illnesses that are listed in the SSA Blue Book for qualifying conditions.
According to the American Cancer Society, it’s estimated there will be more than 2,000,000 new cancer cases in the United States in 2024 and more than 211,000 cancer-related deaths. These statistics equate to about 5,480 new cases and 1,680 deaths every day. Statistics are also broken down by state. In Illinois, the American Cancer Society predicts 78, 200 cancer cases and 23,280 cancer deaths in 2024.
If you are diagnosed with cancer and need disability benefits, contact us to find out what type of cancer qualifies for disability. Call our Chicago attorneys at 872-529-9377 for a free consultation.
