Breast cancer that has spread or metastasized can be devastating. Dealing with the required treatments and living with an uncertain prognosis can certainly affect your ability to work. The Social Security Administration (SSA) understands this and has processes in place to quickly review and approve disability applications that clearly meet program requirements.
Types of Disability Benefits Available for Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Disability benefits come in two forms:
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is available to qualified disabled workers that have paid into the Social Security system and have accumulated” work credits.” SSDI sometimes pays benefits to the dependents of disabled workers as well. Learn more here.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is available to qualified disabled individuals or any age, regardless of work history. SSI is for those with a dire financial need, so it does have income and other financial resource limitations. Learn more here.
Each program has its own technical eligibility requirements, but medically qualifying for one means you are also medically qualified for the other. Many applicants are able to receive benefits through both of these programs if they’ve worked throughout their lives, but do not have a high amount of financial resources.
Medically Qualifying for Disability Benefits With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a listed disability with the SSA, and appears in the Blue Book manual under Section 13.10. The Blue Book is a medical guide that the SSA uses when evaluating all disability claims. Breast cancer that has metastasized to lymph nodes, bone, or other tissues that are near the original tumor site qualify under this Blue Book listing. More advanced cases of breast cancer, including those with distant metastasize also qualify under this listing, but additionally qualify for quick review and approval under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program.
The CAL process flags your application as soon as it’s received and sends it through abbreviated review procedures. The SSA must still look at your application, medical records, and other documentation, but they only require minimal medical evidence to approve you medically for SSDI and/or SSI benefits. The entire application process is expedited due to the increased need of a condition like metastatic breast cancer. Instead of waiting a year or more to be approved, applicants with metastatic breast cancer can expect to be approved in as little as 10 days.
Applying for Benefits With Metastatic Breast Cancer
When you’re ready to apply for benefits, you should understand the SSA has separate forms and processes for SSDI and SSI benefits.
• The SSDI application can be completed on the SSA’s website at any time, or you can apply with assistance from an SSA representative by scheduling an appointment at your local Social Security office.
• To apply for SSI benefits, you must meet or speak with an SSA representative. SSI applications are completed during a personal interview, with the SSA rep filling out all the required fields by using the information you provide.
You can find the online SSDI application here, or you can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment to apply for SSDI and/or SSI.
Deanna Power
Community Outreach Manager
Social Security Disability Help
