Social Security Disability and Cancer
Cancer is characterized by abnormal and out of control cell growth and is thought to be related to damaged DNA which can be inherited or acquired due to exposure to toxins in the environment.
Social Security will not consider most cancers disabling unless they are inoperable, unresectable, persistent despite treatment (chemotherapy or radiation) or recurrent after treatment (metastases).
However, the agency does recognize that chemotherapy (which is toxic itself) can be debilitating and radiation can cause damage, which may be permanent.
Unfortunately, most oncologists don’t document side-effects to treatment or lasting damage. To show Social Security that your treatment is disabling, talk to your doctor about documenting your symptoms and complications in the medical record.
Conditions covered under the Listing of Impairments include
- All cancers except those caused by HIV.
Helpful Questions
- When were you diagnosed?
- How was it treated, i.e. surgical removal, chemotherapy, radiation?
- Have you had a recurrence?
- If so, is it localized or has it spread?
- Did you have significant side effects to treatment and if so, will your doctor confirm this?
- Do you have any diagnosed residual problems attributable to treatment
such as bone density loss?
Malignant Neoplastic & SSA disability
Changes to Cancer Listing (12/15/04) include new sections that allows consideration of the affects of treatment!
13.00 G2. How do we consider the effects of therapy?
Effects can vary widely.
- Because the therapy and its toxicity may vary widely, we consider each case on an individual basis. We will request a specific description of the therapy, including these items: Drugs given, Dosage, Frequency of drug administration, Plans for continued drug administration, Extent of surgery
Schedule and fields of radiation therapy.
- We will also request a description of the complications or adverse effects of therapy, such as the following:
Continuing gastrointestinal symptoms
Persistent weakness
Neurological complications
Cardiovascular complications
Reactive mental disorders
The Law offices of Suzanne Villalon-Hinojosa are located in Schertz, San Antonio and Edinburg Texas, serving all disabled Texans.
Copyright 2010 Law Offices of Suzanne Villalon-Hinojosa: Texas Social Security Disability. All Rights Reserved.
1-800-481-0302
Click on the CatScan to see a list of conditions SSA considers obviously disabling. Many Cancer diagnoses are listed.
