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A cancer diagnosis can be devastating physically, mentally, and financially. Fortunately, if you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may be entitled to disability benefits. Disability benefits can provide you with much needed financial assistance and peace of mind as you deal with your ailment. In this article, we discuss the process of obtaining disability benefits after a cancer diagnosis. For additional information, please contact an experienced SSDI attorney.
What is SSDI?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a benefit for individuals who suffer from disabilities that prevent them from working. To be eligible for SSDI benefits for any ailment, it is necessary for the applicant to have held a job that required him or her to pay into Social Security. As of 2024, the maximum allowable SSDI benefit is $3,822 per month, and the average SSDI benefit is approximately $1,537 per month.
Qualifying for SSDI With Stage IV or Terminal Cancer
To qualify for SSDI for any reason, the ailment must meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) definition of disability. Disability according to the SSA is an ailment that:
- Renders a person unable to work using his or her physical and mental strength.
- Renders a person unable to continue working or unable to transition to a new job.
- Lasts for more than a year or results in death.
Any form of cancer that is Stage IV or terminal automatically qualifies a person for SSDI benefits as long as the applicant meets the other requirements for SSDI.
Cancers That Qualify for SSDI
Several types of cancer that are not Stage IV or terminal also qualify for SSDI benefits. Specifically, the following types of cancer qualify for SSDI benefits:
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Salivary cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Sinonasal cancer
- Small cell cancer
- Thyroid cancer
In addition, even if a person’s cancer diagnosis isn’t listed above, there are additional types of cancer that may qualify for SSDI benefits. Therefore, if you are suffering from cancer, and it isn’t listed above, please contact an experienced SSDI attorney for assistance.
What to Do to Qualify for SSDI for Cancer
To qualify for SSDI benefits for cancer, you must take several steps in addition to receiving a cancer diagnosis. Specifically, to qualify for SSDI for cancer, you must:
- Prove that you are unable to work
- Provide an employment history
- Provide medical evidence of your cancer diagnosis
- Demonstrate a financial need for SSDI benefits
Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney
If you are seeking SSDI benefits in the state of Michigan, please contact a Social Security Disability attorney for assistance. For more than two decades, Grech Law Firm has been helping clients obtain SSDI benefits. When you come to us for help, our experienced SSDI attorney will guide you through every step of the SSDI process, taking the steps necessary to ensure that you are afforded every possible opportunity to receive SSDI benefits. Please contact us today to schedule a meeting with an experienced family law attorney.