If you’ve been diagnosed with Desmoplastic Mesothelioma and you can’t work because of your illness but you have worked in the past, you can apply for Social Security disability benefits. Disability benefits can help bridge the financial gap when you can’t work because they can help you make sure that you can pay for living expenses like housing, food, utilities, etc.. So long as you have worked in the past, and you anticipate that you will not be able to continue working for at least 12 months (1 year), you can apply for Social Security disability benefits.
What is Desmoplastic Mesothelioma?
Desmoplastic Mesothelioma is a very aggressive and rare cancer. It usually presents in adults over the age of 40, although it can develop in younger people too. This type of cancer grows in the pleura, which are the membranes around the lungs. It can also develop in the linings of the heart and other visceral organs.
Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath;
- Pain in the chest or abdomen;
- Lumps or swelling at cancer site; and
- Sudden weight loss.
Because Desmoplastic Mesothelioma is a serious, and usually terminal, disease, it qualifies for the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowance program.
What Is A Compassionate Allowance?
The Compassionate Allowance program was created to help people who need benefits most get them quickly. Applications for disability benefits that are due to a condition that is on the Compassionate Allowance list go to the front of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) line for processing. They are usually approved quickly with minimal medical evidence and then benefits can start being paid. Most people who are approved for benefits with a condition on the Compassionate Allowance list start receiving benefits in just weeks.
But, when you submit an application for disability benefits, you need to include medical evidence showing that you meet the requirements in the SSA’s Blue Book for that condition. The Blue Book requirements for Desmoplastic Mesothelioma say that you must have:
A. Malignant mesothelioma of pleura.
OR
B. Tumors of the mediastinum, as described in 1 or 2:
1. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
2. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
OR
C. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
Medical Evidence For Desmoplastic Mesothelioma
When you submit your claim for disability benefits due to Desmoplastic Mesothelioma, you should include a letter of diagnosis and medical evidence such as:
- Clinical history and examination that describes the diagnostic features of the impairment
- Imaging reports such as CT scan or MRI scan
- Operative reports
- Pathology/biopsy reports
You should also be sure to include any relevant medical history and records with your application for disability benefits.
Get Help With Your Desmoplastic Mesothelioma Claim
If you need help completing your application for disability benefits, you can talk with a lawyer who specializes in disability benefit cases. A disability lawyer can help you figure out what medical evidence to include to make sure that your claim is complete. You can also get answers to your questions about the approval process by working with a disability attorney. Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected and speak with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
