If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer and are unable to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Once you submit your application for disability, Social Security will evaluate your condition and medical records in accordance with the listings found in the Blue Book.
Social Security Listing
Social Security evaluates colon cancer under listing 13.18, covering cancers in the large intestine. To meet the listing found in the Blue Book, you must have medical records and test results that show at least one of the following:
- Adenocarcinoma that is inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, recurrent after surgery;
- Metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes; or
- Oat cell carcinoma.
I Don’t Meet a Listing!
If you don’t meet the listing, you still may qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits. In this case, you will need medical records that show that you will be unable to work for at least twelve months, based on your condition, symptoms, medication side effects, or treatment schedule.
To prove your case, you may need colorectal screening reports/other reports showing the discovery of your cancer; biopsy reports indicating the type of cancer you have; surgical notes from any tumor removal surgeries (or reports from a surgeon stating why your cancer cannot be removed); a detailed history of your treatments; and information on the types of medication you take for the colon cancer, including chemotherapy.
If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer and are unable to work due to your condition, contact a local attorney today if you have any questions.