The headaches started out as mild and infrequent, but they have gotten much worse over the past couple of months. Concerned, you visited with your physicians and at the end of the consultation, you received some startling news.
You have an early stage of brain cancer.
Although an early-stage diagnosis does not prevent you from working, the radiation treatments that you go through can limit your effectiveness in the workplace. If you suffer from brain cancer at any stage, you should file a claim for Social Security disability benefits.
Here are the five signs that you will be approved for disability benefits.
You Have Accumulated Enough Work Credits
The SSA requires workers that have received a diagnosis for brain cancer to earn a certain amount of work credits. For 2021, workers gained one work credit for every $1,470 generated in wages or self-employment income.
When you reach earnings of $23,520, the SSA gives you 16 work credits. The number of work credits that you need to earn for Social Security disability benefits depends on your age and how long you have worked.
You Have Enough Persuasive Medical Evidence
A team of medical examiners from the SSA reviews your claim for disability benefits. You need to convince the team of medical examiners that you suffer from brain cancer. Medical documentation in the form of diagnostic tests represents the most effective way to gain approval of a claim for Social Security disability benefits.
Your medical evidence should include the results of a neurological examination that checks the status of your vision, hearing, and balance. Brain cancer can disrupt the normal functioning of the body’s movements.
An MRI is frequently used to detect the presence of cancerous tumors, as well as confirm the size of the tumors. Your oncologist should also send a prognosis report to the SSA that describes your chances of making a full recovery.
You're Out of a Job for 12 Months
Filing a claim for Social Security disability benefits is done to bridge the financial gap caused by a disease like brain cancer. The SSA requires all claimants to prove they have missed work for 12 consecutive months.
Your employer should provide you with the copies of timekeeping records that validate you missing time from work for 12 consecutive months. You can support your claim by attaching copies of your monthly bank statements.
You're Able To Prove Severity of Symptoms
The SSA wants to see evidence that you suffer from the severe symptoms of brain cancer. A team of medical examiners from the SSA reviews the medical evidence that you submit and compares it to the severity of symptoms guidelines listed in the medical guide called the Blue Book.
Brain cancer has the potential to trigger several different severe symptoms, with prolonged migraine headaches at the top of the list for severity. Difficulty maintaining your balance and losing part, if not most of your vision, can lead the SSA to conclude that you deserve financial assistance for brain cancer.
Contact a Social Security Disability Lawyer
Getting disability benefits approved for brain cancer can be a difficult thing to do. After all, the SSA denies a majority of claims. Improve your chances of receiving approval for your claim by hiring a Social Security attorney. Most Social Security lawyers waive legal fees when providing a free case evaluation.
