THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK

If you are a legal US resident, are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and expect to be out of work for a year or longer as a result, you may qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits Due to Prostate Cancer

When applying for Social Security disability benefits, the SSA will compare your condition and symptoms to the conditions that have been included in the SSA’s Blue Book. The Blue Book is a publication that lists all of the conditions that could qualify an individual for disability benefits through the SSA, along with the criteria that must be met with each condition.

Prostate cancer is included in the Blue Book under Section 13.24. According to this section of the Blue Book, you can qualify for disability benefits due to prostate cancer if the following criteria are met:

• The prostate cancer is progressive or recurrent despite initial hormonal intervention or
• The prostate cancer has metastasized to other internal organs

For more information on qualifying with prostate cancer, please click here.

The Technical Eligibility Requirements

In addition to proving that you are disabled according to the SSA’s guidelines, you must also meet the technical requirements of the disability program that you are applying for. There are two disability programs administered by the SSA. These include

• the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and
• the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program

In general SSDI benefits are meant for individuals who have a strong work history at a job in which they paid Social Security taxes. SSI, on the other hand, is a need-based program that does not take your work account into history. You need to have very limited income and assets in order to qualify for SSI.

For specific qualification requirements on SSDI and SSI, please click here.

Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits

You can apply for disability benefits online via the SSA’s web site — or in person at your local Social Security office. When applying, you will be asked to fill out a number of forms including the Adult Disability Report and the disability application. In addition to filling out these forms, you will also need to be able to supply the SSA with the medical evidence that you have gathered to support your disability claim, such as copies of your treatment history, laboratory reports, imaging results, and written statements from your treating physicians.

This article has been kindly provided by Ram Meyyappan of Social Security Disability Help. Since 2009, Social Security Disability Help has provided information to individuals who are seeking to apply for Social Security Disability benefits or have been denied after applying for Social Security Disability.

Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer | Tagged: application, disability, help, Social Security |