A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. Understanding your disability benefit options can provide crucial financial support during treatment. Here's what you need to know.
In this article, we'll cover:
- When cancer qualifies for benefits
- Compassionate Allowances for cancer
- Applying during treatment
- What happens after treatment
1. When Cancer Qualifies for Benefits
Many cancers qualify:
- SSA has listings for most cancer types
- Based on location and stage
- Some automatically qualify
- Others evaluated case-by-case
Factors SSA considers:
- Type of cancer
- Stage at diagnosis
- Response to treatment
- Ongoing functional limitations
SSA's cancer listings (Section 13):
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colon cancer
- Brain tumors
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Many more specific types
What typically qualifies:
- Advanced stages (III, IV)
- Metastatic cancer
- Recurrent cancer
- Cancers not responding to treatment
- Treatment side effects preventing work
2. Compassionate Allowances for Cancer
Fast-track approval:
- Many cancers on Compassionate Allowances list
- Faster processing (days/weeks)
- Automatically identified
- No special application
Cancers on CAL list (examples):
- Acute leukemia
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Small cell lung cancer
- Stage IV cancers (most types)
How it works:
- Apply for SSDI/SSI normally
- SSA identifies qualifying cancers
- Fast-tracked automatically
- Approval much faster
Check the list:
- Over 270 conditions qualify
- Many are cancers
- Search ssa.gov/compassionateallowances
- See if yours is listed
Important: Even if your specific cancer isn't on the Compassionate Allowances list, you can still qualify through regular processing.
3. Applying During Treatment
When to apply:
- As soon as you can't work
- Don't wait until treatment ends
- SSDI has 5-month waiting period
- Earlier application = earlier benefits
What to provide:
- Pathology reports
- Oncology records
- Imaging (CT, PET scans)
- Treatment records
- Surgical reports
Stage and type matter:
- Include exact staging
- Use correct medical terminology
- Pathology is crucial evidence
- TNM staging if available
Treatment side effects:
- Chemotherapy effects
- Radiation side effects
- Fatigue
- Cognitive changes ("chemo brain")
- All limit function
Functional limitations:
- How treatment affects daily life
- What activities you can't do
- Energy levels
- Work limitations
4. What Happens After Treatment
If cancer is in remission:
- SSA conducts medical improvement review
- Usually 3 years after approval
- Evaluates current condition
- Benefits may continue or end
Residual effects:
- Many people have lasting effects
- Fatigue
- Neuropathy
- Cognitive changes
- Lymphedema
- Document these
If benefits stop:
- Can appeal if still disabled
- Residual effects may still qualify
- Different disability standard applies
- Get medical documentation
Continuing benefits:
- Must still meet criteria
- Report medical improvements
- Continue treatment
- Document ongoing limitations
Practical Considerations
Timing of benefits:
- SSDI: 5-month waiting period
- SSI: No waiting period if eligible
- Apply early
- Back pay available
Healthcare coverage:
- SSDI → Medicare (24-month wait)
- SSI → Medicaid (usually immediate)
- ALS/cancer exceptions may apply
- Plan for healthcare needs
Work during treatment:
- Can receive benefits while unable to work
- If you return to work, trial work period
- Report any work activity
- Rules designed to help
Getting Help
Hospital social workers:
- Help with applications
- Know disability process
- Free assistance
- Ask your cancer center
Cancer support organizations:
- American Cancer Society
- CancerCare
- Financial assistance programs
- Application help
Disability attorneys:
- Can help with applications
- Paid only if you win
- May speed process
- Consider if denied
How Purple Helps
Purple supports cancer patients:
- Track benefit deposits
- Manage medical expenses
- Simple banking
- Early access to payments
- Less financial stress