During 2017, greater than 1 million victims will be diagnosed with cancer. Most individuals and families have been impacted by cancer in one way or another. National Cancer Survivors Day was recently observed, and it is a good time for cancer sufferers and their families to make sure they are familiar with disability benefits that may help. Social Security disability and its Compassionate Allowances program provide resources and assistance for cancer sufferers.
Disability applications processed for conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list are medical conditions that are considered so severe that they obviously meet the Social Security Administration standards for disability. Additionally, disability applications processed for a medical condition on the Compassionate Allowances list are processed more quickly and with minimal medical information. Because medical conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list are considered so severe to qualify for disability benefits, they are processed on an expedited basis.
There are a number of cancers on the Compassionate Allowances list. Applying for disability benefits with a condition on the Compassionate Allowances list does not require the applicant to fill out a special application; once the application is identified as for a medical condition on the Compassionate Allowances list, the Social Security Administration will expedite the processing of the claim. In general, it is helpful for disabled individuals, including cancer sufferers, who are unable to work because of their medical condition to be familiar with the disability application process.
Cancer sufferers and other disabled individuals face a variety of challenges as they become sick and unable to work. Disability benefits are a resource that may be available to help them and an option disabled individuals and their families should be thoroughly familiar with.
