Cancer comes in all shapes and forms, with the forms varying by the degree of severity. You might have applied for Social Security benefits to make up for lost income and rapidly rising medical bills caused by a severe form of cancer.
Much to your chagrin, the Social Security Administration (SSA) denied disability benefits for you, which leaves you wondering, “What’s next.”The answer is filing an appeal Cancer disability claim.
Getting the Most Out of a Denied with Cancer Appeal
After receiving the news that the SSA denied your disability claim for cancer, you should act quickly by filing an appeal with the SSA. Before you submit your appeal, there are a few things to do that can lead to a favorable decision by the SSA.
Prove the Severity of Your Symptoms
The team of medical examiners at the SSA that review your appeal want to know the severity of your cancer symptoms. Referring to the medical guide called the Blue Book, the team of medical examiners verifies whether your diagnosis is truly cancer.
Then, the SSA wants to know if your symptoms meet the criteria for severity as the terms written into Section 13.0 of the Blue Book.
If your symptoms do not match the criteria for severity, then expect the SSA to send you a denied Social Security with cancer appeal letter.
Cancer symptoms differ depending on the type of cancer, as well as the stage of a particular cancer. General symptoms include sudden fevers, dramatic loss of energy, and unexplained loss of weight. Severe cancer symptoms can prevent you from holding down a steady job or even working for that matter.
Diagnostic Tests for Cancer
Proving the existence of cancer starts by going through a series of diagnostic tests. Abnormally low and/or high levels of certain substances in the body might indicate the presence of cancerous cells.
Imaging tests such as an MRI and/or CT scan can detect the presence of tumors, but the most effective diagnostic test for cancer is running several biopsies.
A biopsy involves the removal of tissue, which is then place under a high-powered microscope for analysis. The lack of a biopsy test result can lead to a cancer denied disability appeal.
The Importance of a Residual Functional Capacity Assessment
Most cancers go through four stages of development, with each stage increasing the severity of symptoms. By performing a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment, a physician from the SSA can determine whether your cancer symptoms warrant the approval of a disability benefits appeal.
Since poor stamina is one of the best indicators of cancer’s progression, an SSA doctor might put you through several physical stress exercises to determine whether cancer makes it difficult for you to continue working.
Next Steps to Take
Hearing the three words “You have cancer” can turn your world upside down. Yet, you have to move forward by applying for disability benefits with cancer to ensure you and your family remain financially strong.
Schedule an appointment with a state-licensed Social Security attorney to determine how to proceed with an appeal to the SSA.
You have 60 days from the day you received the denied cancer disability letter to file an appeal. The sooner you appeal the SSA’s decision, the quicker you can expect a response regarding your appeal.
