Cancer is a frightening word for good reason. If you have been diagnosed with a serious cancer, then it is likely you have had to stop working and that your chances of returning to work within the next year or so are slim. However, you may be able to get some financial benefits through the Social Security Disability program.
Social Security will need you to submit several things to show them information about your cancer. One of these things is evidence concerning your method of treatment. If you have lung cancer, sarcoma or cancer in the neck or head, you will need to show documentation that you have started a “multimodal anticancer therapy” treatment. For other types of cancer, you will also need to show that you have begun the treatment process, whether that includes cancer drugs, chemotherapy or other methods. If your cancer has distant metastases, you may need to gather records for at least three months to show how the treatment has helped or whether there has been any change at all.
Additionally, you will need to gather together a collection of the medical tests, diagnosis and other evidence relating to your cancer. This can also include any hospitalizations you have undergone in connection to the cancer. If you have had a needle aspiration or a biopsy performed, the agency requires a pathology report and the operative note. The medical records you provide should give Social Security a clear picture of the type of cancer you have, where the cancer is located and whether it is recurrent. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
