If you have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) from the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you are eligible you should get compensation for all your medical treatment and any other expenses you face on a daily basis. The SSA does not make it easy to win a claim and you are asked to provide a vast amount of documentation before your application is approved.
Criteria for Applying for SSDI Benefits
As soon as the SSA has received your application, officials will use certain criteria to decide whether you qualify. These are both medical disability criteria and non-medical criteria. This criteria decides if you are eligible for Social Security disability (SSDI, the program based on work credits).
A key feature to deciding if you are eligible is the proof you provide to show that you have a medical disability. You will also be asked to show that you have earned enough work credits to be considered "insured" under the SSDI program or show your assets and income and are low enough that you qualify for the SSI program.
Medical Documents Needed in Your Application
If you have been off work for at least 12 months due to suffering from multiple myeloma you must provide any documents and proof that will support your claim. To begin with, you will require confirmation of your diagnosis from your physician, as well as the treatment you have been having and the symptoms you put up with. The diagnosis needs to be backed up with lab results.
The SSA will ask you for the names, phone numbers and addresses of any physicians or other health professionals, including hospitals, which you may have received treatment from.
Other Information You’ll Need
Other documents you will be asked for include your work record, which should show that you have been engaged in full-time work but due to multiple myeloma you had to give up work to get treatment for the condition. You will need to include a summary of your workplaces and the job that you did at each.
On top of that, you will need to include your most recent W-2 form. Your last tax return form, your Social Security number and your birth certificate need to be included if you classify yourself as being self employed.
How a Social Security Attorney Can Help You With Your Application
Do not take it for granted that the SSA will award you SSDI or SSI benefits. There is often some obstacle that you may meet which you cannot handle. However, if you ask a social security attorney to work on your behalf, you have a far higher chance of qualifying than if you submit your application on your own. Social Security attorneys make it easy for clients by working on a contingency fee arrangement, which means you are not subject to attorney fees until you qualify for benefits.
