Can You Get Disability For Breast Cancer

Qualifying For Ssdi As A Cancer Patient

Chemo and radiation can have many unpleasant side effects, including vomiting, cognitive impairment, and chronic fatigue. While theres no doubt that these symptoms can make working difficult, you wont be approved for benefits simply because you are undergoing cancer treatment.

To qualify for SSDI, your condition must be expected to last one year or longer or result in your death. Cancer treatment symptoms typically last less than one year and are not severe enough to prevent you from working the entire time.

Cancer that is caught in the early stages and responds well to treatment wont qualify for disability benefits. Only advanced cancers that meet one of the following criteria are eligible for SSDI benefits:

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Va Disability Ratings For Cancer: How Does Va Rate Cancer

If a veteran is service-connected for an active cancer, VA should automatically assign a 100 percent disability rating. This rating continues for as long as their cancer is active, and then for another six months following the successful completion of a treatment program . Six months after cancer treatment ends, VA will schedule the veteran for a Compensation & Pension examination to evaluate the current status of their condition. If the C& P examination shows that their cancer is no longer active, but in remission, VA will then evaluate the cancer based on its residuals, if any. For example, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are common residual symptoms of prostate cancer. If prostate cancer is no longer active, VA will likely reduce the disability rating for that condition and assign new ratings based on the severity of the veterans erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence if present.

Returning To Work After Breast Cancer Treatment

If youve taken time off or reduced your working hours during your breast cancer treatment, when you decide to return to work will depend on how youre feeling, what your job involves and your financial situation.

If your job is physically or mentally stressful, you may also need more time off before you feel ready to return.

Returning to work can be a very positive step and may help some people move forward by regaining some normality. However, many people feel disappointed and frustrated that it isnt as easy as they imagined. This may be because they are experiencing side effects of their treatment such as fatigue, or are adjusting to life after a cancer diagnosis and the emotional changes this can bring.

It can be helpful to discuss your plan to return to work with your treatment team, occupational health or Human Resources department and your manager. Your employer is required to make to help you return to work and manage work long term.

You may be able to get financial support and childcare support during and after treatment.

Although it is not possible for everyone, some people .

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Compassionate Allowances And Breast Cancer

When a disability severe and an applicant clearly needs assistance, the SSA will expedite the application process. Instead of having to wait for 5+ months to be approved like the typical applicant, conditions that qualify for a Compassionate Allowance will be approved in as little as ten days.

Breast cancer that is advanced can usually qualify for a Compassionate Allowance if it meets one of the three following conditions:

• Your breast cancer has metastasized .
• Your breast cancer has returned despite undergoing chemotherapy or another cancer treatment.
• Your breast cancer is inoperable.

Applying for disability benefits successfully typically requires a wealth of medical history or paperwork, but if you can have one piece of medical evidence showing that you qualify for a Compassionate Allowance, you should be approved quickly.

Examples of qualifying medical records could include a surgeons testimony stating that your cancer is inoperable, or an oncologists record of your cancer returning despite you successfully undergoing a year of chemotherapy. You could also provide a biopsy report that shows that your cancer has spread to nearby organs, such as the lungs.

What If You Dont Qualify Through One Of The Blue Books Listings

Although the requirements listed above are more likely to get your Social Security disability claim approved, it is possible to receive benefits even if you dont qualify through the SSA Blue Books listing of impairments. If your residual functioning capacity is hindered by your cancer to the extent that you are unable to work for a year or more, you may be deemed disabled.

It is up to the SSA to determine your RFC, then consider your RFC in light of your age, education, and past work experience to determine if you are disabled under the law. SSA will consider not only your statements, but also the medical evidence. In addition to your physical capabilities, your mental functioning may be impacted by your illnesses, and also is a factor in determining whether you are able disabled under the law.

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Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer screening tests include MRI imaging, mammograms, and biopsies. While these tests are useful in detecting most kinds of breast cancer, they cannot accurately diagnose inflammatory breast cancer. If there is a possibility of inflammatory breast cancer, a surgical biopsy should be done that includes a larger breast skin sample, as well as a sample of the underlying breast tissue. Oncologists are leaning toward PET scans as the preferred testing technique for inflammatory breast cancer, because it allows them to see more of the disease.

A Third Gene Whose Mutations Cause Breast Cancer

Recently, according to The New York Times, doctors are warning that there is a third gene whose mutations cause breast cancer. The third gene is the PALB2 gene. The risk of breast cancer for women who have mutations in the PALB2 gene is almost as high as it is for those with the BRCA mutations. Doctors have known about this gene since 2014, but some women who got genetic screening before 2014 were likely not tested for this gene. If you had genetic testing prior to 2014, ask your doctor for further genetic testing for breast cancer.

People who have the PALB2 mutation have almost as great a risk of getting breast cancer as those who have the BRCA mutations. Like the BRCA mutations, this mutation also increases the risk of ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Anyone who gets genetic testing for breast cancer now will likely also be screened for PALB2 mutations. But many patients screened before 2014 were not tested for it. They may have a false sense of security if they were found to be free of the BRCA mutations, breast cancer experts said. If you have the PALB2 gene, you need to be monitored as regularly as those with BRCA mutations.

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Where To Find Information About Benefits And Financial Support

In the first instance, you may find it useful to speak to your employer or HR department, to find out what sick pay you are entitled to. Its also worth talking to your treatment team, as they may be able to refer you to a welfare adviser at your local hospital .

Your local Citizens Advice is also a good place to go for guidance. They can tell you what local government assistance and benefits may be available to you, your family and carers. They can also help you fill out benefit claim forms.

Macmillan Cancer Support offers free financial guidance and support to people with breast cancer. They also produce a booklet Help with the cost of cancer, which includes information on the benefits available for carers, help with housing costs, childrens needs and transport. For more information, speak to the financial guidance team on 0808 808 00 00.

When Surgery Or Treatment Is Not Successful

If you had surgery to remove your tumor but it was not able to be fully removed, it is termed “unresectable.” Under the SSA’s impairment listings for most types of cancer, this will qualify you for disability benefits. In addition, if your surgical margins are positive following surgery, your cancer should be termed unresectable, qualifying for benefits under most of the cancer listings.

If your tumor is removed but then returns in an area near the site of the original surgery, or if a tumor returns after chemo ro radiation, your cancer will be considered “recurrent” under the listing for your particular cancer. An recurrent cancer automatically qualifies for disability benefits under most of the cancer listings, including lung cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and uterine and ovarian cancer . This is applicable even if there is a considerable time lapse between when you first underwent surgery or treatment and the time the cancer returned.

If your tumor is considered inoperable, you will qualify under most of the cancer listings.

If you underwent surgery to remove your cancer and you suffer from lymphedema as a result, your condition may be evaluated under the musculoskeletal or cardiovascular listings, depending on your symptoms. Lymphedema can occur after any cancer, especially breast cancer and melanoma.

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A Guide To Disability Benefits And Breast Cancer

When youre dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer, or already going through treatment, your health is obviously top priority. But making sure you have financial support is also crucial.

Disability benefits can give you some much-needed peace of mind when youre dealing with treatment side effects and taking time to heal, but navigating the system and understanding if you qualify can be a challenge.

This is especially true for those with early stage breast cancer, according to Sophie Summers, a human resources manager at software firm RapidAPI.

In the initial stage of breast cancer, you have to cross more miles to get disability benefits, she says. Those suffering from stage 3 or above are more likely to medically qualify, but there are still ways to get some benefits, such as coverage of medications.

American Cancer Society , those who have any type of cancer may be able to have an SSDI application processed more quickly.

Benefits are limited to those who are unable to perform substantial gainful activity, according to Liz Supinski, director of data science at the Society for Human Resource Management.

There are limits on how much a person can earn and still collect, she says. Its about $1,200 for most people, or around $2,000 per month for those who are blind.

You should also be able to prove that your breast cancer affects whats called your residual functional capacity for work.

• stage 4 breast carcinoma

How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits

Speak with your oncologist about whether or not you meet the SSAs Blue Book listing and your chances of qualifying for disability benefits. The application process can take a long time, so you will not want to waste any time applying if you do not have a chance of being approved.

A quick way to get approved is to actually submit all of your medical records to the SSA. The SSA does have the ability to gather them itself, but submitting them will increase the speed of your approval. Some important tests to submit would include:

• Mammograms

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Blue Badge Parking Permits

You may be able to get a Blue Badge if your mobility is affected. You may be given it temporarily if you have primary breast cancer.

People with secondary breast cancer may be eligible for a Blue Badge long-term due to ongoing symptoms such as fatigue or pain. You will need to renew your Blue Badge every three years.

The Blue Badge scheme provides parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems. It can help the holder park close to a destination, whether they are the driver or passenger.

In England and Wales you can apply for a Blue Badge through your local authority and at gov.uk

There are separate websites for applications in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.

Your local Citizens Advice or Macmillan benefits adviser may be able to help you apply for the Blue Badge.

There are alternative badge schemes for people with restricted mobility who are in areas where the Blue Badge scheme doesnt apply.

How Can I Find Out More About Ssdi

• Visit www.ssa.gov online choose disability
• Visit ssabest.benefits.gov to learn about Social Security benefits you might be eligible for including SSDI
• Go to your nearest Social Security office

You can find out how much you would get from SSDI by looking at your Social Security statement. The statement shows your work history and an estimate of what your benefits would be at this time. To get a Social Security statement:

• Request a statement online through Social Securitys website at www.ssa.gov. Click on My Social Security on the left side of the page.

Note that SSDI is different from SSI . SSI is for people with disabilities or who are at least 65 years old and who have limited income and resources. See our information on Supplemental Security Income .

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Dyego Leandro Bezerra De Souza

4Departament of Collective Health, Graduate Program in Collective Health, Northeast Brazil

Graduate Program in Public Health, Northeast BrazilDepartament of Collective Health, Graduate Program in Collective Health, Northeast BrazilFederal University of Rio Grande do Norte , Northeast BrazilState University of Rio Grande do Norte , Northeast Brazil

Applying For Social Security Disability With Breast Cancer

Each year, almost 300,000 women and over 2,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer, BreastCancer.org reported. The illness, which affects one in eight women in the United States is the second leading cause of death in women, second only to lung cancer. In 2015, almost 3 million will were either going through treatment or in remission.

If you or a loved one is suffering from breast cancer, there may be assistance available. The Social Security Administration offers two benefit programs for those who are unable to work due to a disabling condition.

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When Will You Be Considered No Longer Disabled From Cancer

If your original cancer have been successfully treated, and there is no evidence of their recurrence for three or more years, then your cancer will no longer meet any of the SSA’s impairment listing requirements. This is durational rule for cancer is known as the “three-year rule.”

Alternatively, the three-year rule also means that if disability benefits are awarded to an applicant because of his or her cancer, the disability award will stand for a minimum of three years, even if the cancer seems to have been successfully treated prior to the end of the three-year period.

Note that cancer is subject to the same one-year duration requirement for getting disability benefits as any other medical condition.

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Who Qualifies For Ssdi

• People who have worked for a number of years and had enough money taken out of their paychecks for Social Security
• Self-employed people who paid self-employment taxes
• You must meet Social Securitys very strict definition of disability to qualify for SSDI.
• Having a low income or financial needs do not affect whether you can get SSDI.

If you get turned down for SSDI, reapply, and appeal if necessary. Many cases end up being approved after an appeal. The amount you get from SSDI will be based on how long you worked, and how much Social Security tax was taken from your pay. Once you apply for SSDI, the disability clock starts running.

If your disability application is approved, you will usually receive your first benefit payment six months after the date the Social Security Administration finds that your disability began. You will also become eligible for Medicare after you’ve received SSDI benefits for 2 years.

If you qualify and start getting SSDI, your spouse and any eligible children can also apply for SSDI. If you find you dont qualify for SSDI, but you are disabled and have limited income and resources, look into Supplemental Security Income . This program also can pay benefits to the disabled, but is based on your income and need.

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How To Qualify For Disability With Breast Cancer In 2021

Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the US. According to breastcancer.org, 1 in 8 women in the US will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, there could be help available for you. The Social Security Administration offers financial resources for men and women with breast cancer who are no longer to work due to their condition.

Reasonable Adjustments At Work

Your employer must make reasonable adjustments. Reasonable adjustments are changes to your workplace or job role that make working more realistic for you, or that help you return to work.

Although every employer is different and will have different policies and procedures, the suggestions below may help you talk to your employer about reasonable adjustments.

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