Finding out that you have cancer is probably one of the scariest experiences possible at a doctor’s office. Cancer can kill you, although advances in modern medicine have drastically reduced cancer-related fatalities in recent decades.
Even if treatment is successful, it can be expensive and exhausting to undergo. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can do a lot of damage to your health while killing the cancer in your body. Surgery or bone marrow transplants could require weeks in the hospital.
Many people find themselves unable to work while dealing with cancer or undergoing treatment. Will a cancer diagnosis qualifies someone for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits because they cannot work?
The situation must meet certain standards
For someone to receive SSDI benefits because of a cancer diagnosis, they must be under the age of 65 and have a recent work history. Your cancer — or the treatment that it requires — must cause symptoms severe enough that the individual cannot reasonably expect to work while going through treatment.
Finally, the Social Security Administration only considers someone to be disabled if their condition is expected to last for 12 months or longer or end in death. If you’re fairly early into your diagnosis and treatment, you may not qualify for benefits. If your doctor’s prognosis for you is clear and you’re expected to be struggling for a year or longer with this condition, you may have better chances.
Talking with your doctor about your prognosis and treatment can give you a better idea about whether SSDI benefits could help you after your cancer diagnosis. It may also be wise to seek experienced legal guidance when you file.
