Cancer SSDI Lawyers in AZ

If you have a cancer diagnosis, you may qualify to receive Social Security Disability payments. An experienced Arizona SSDI lawyer at Pekas Smith Disability Attorneys can assist you in applying for cancer disability benefits.

Lawyers Helping People with Cancer to Get SSDI

At Pekas Smith Disability Attorneys, we help individuals with cancer navigate the complexities of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims. Our services include:

• Assessing eligibility
• Benefits calculations
• Preparing and submitting your application
• Reconsiderations
• Appeals
• Court actions

If you believe that you qualify for SSDI because of a cancer diagnosis, we invite you to contact ourSSDI lawyers in Arizona to discuss your situation.

Social Security Disability for Cancer

Cancer and its subsequent treatment significantly affect one’s ability to work, making Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) a crucial benefit. You or a family member with an eligible work history and sufficient contributions may qualify for SSDI payments with a cancer diagnosis.

With experience assisting over 10,000 clients, our team of SSDI lawyers understands the information and medical evidence required for cancer applicants and cancer-related claims.

Contact our law firm and a qualified Arizona SSDI lawyer will provide comprehensive representation and a manageable application process.

Compassionate Allowances for Cancer Cases

The Social Security Administration’sCompassionate Allowances identifies certain types of cancer that may automatically meet disability eligibility criteria. This program expedites the review process for these severe medical conditions, ensuring that individuals with qualifying cancers can access their benefits as quickly as possible.

Conditions such as aggressive, late-stage, or terminal cancers are typically flagged for faster processing, allowing applicants to receive vital financial support without unnecessary delays.

Our team of cancer SSDI lawyers in AZ can help ensure your claim qualifies for this expedited process. Contact us to learn more.

Qualifying for SSDI Based on Cancer

The key to qualifying for SSDI cancer benefits is to provide thorough documentation of your diagnosis, treatment, and how it affects your daily functioning. This may include the side effects of treatment. Factors like metastasis, treatment side effects such as nausea, and a poor prognosis can support your claim

When applying for SSDI due to cancer, it is essential to gather all relevant medical records, including pathology reports, treatment plans, documentation of surgery, medications, physician notes, and related conditions like kidney disease. These documents will help support your claim and demonstrate the severity of your condition. Additionally, you will need to provide detailed information about how your cancer symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, or cognitive issues, limit your ability to engage in “substantial gainful activity.” 

It is recommended that you work with a professional who specializes in SSDI claims. Lawyers at Pekas Smith will help ensure that your application is complete and thorough. They can also assist you in understanding the specific criteria and requirements for qualifying based on a specific cancer diagnosis. By presenting a strong case with the necessary evidence, you increase your chances of receiving the financial support you need during this challenging time.

When evaluating cancer as a disability, the Social Security Administration considers the following medical information:

• Origin
• Extent of involvement
• Duration, frequency, and response to treatment and anti-cancer therapies
• Effects of post-therapeutic residuals

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and consults with Disability Determination Services (DDS) to evaluate whether cancer symptoms, including stress, brain damage, or lymphatic system complications, prevent a patient from maintaining employment. Our cancer SSDI lawyers in AZ can help you with documentation to help prove your case. 

Types of Cancer that May Qualify for SSDI Benefits

Section 14, which discusses immune disorders, evaluates some cancers associated with HIV separately. Our cancer disability lawyer can help you determine your eligibility for benefits.

TheSSA Blue Book Listing of Impairments, Adult Listings (Part A), Section 13 discusses how cancers (malignant neoplastic diseases) are evaluated in SSDI applications. There are 29 subsections discussing various types of cancer and what qualifies a person to receive benefits.

These include:

• Soft tissue cancers of the head and neck
• Skin cancer
• Soft tissue sarcoma
• Lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Cancer of the salivary glands
• Cancer of the thyroid gland
• Breast cancer (except sarcoma)
• Skeletal system sarcoma
• Cancer of the maxilla, orbit, or temporal fossa
• Cancer of the nervous system
• Lung cancer
• Cancer of the pleura or mediastinum
• Esophagus or stomach cancer
• Cancer of the small intestine
• Cancer of the large intestine
• Liver or gallbladder cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Kidneys, adrenal glands, or ureters cancer
• Urinary bladder cancer 
• Cancers of the female genital tract (including uterine and ovarian cancer)
• Prostate cancer 
• Testicular cancer
• Cancer of the Penis
• Cancers where the primary site is unknown
• Cancer treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
• Malignant melanoma

Some cancers associated with HIV are evaluated separately in section 14, which discusses immune disorders. Our cancer SSDI lawyers in AZ can help you determine what you could be eligible for. 

Complications and multiple problems

Cancer sufferers often have complications from treatment. They may have problems with internal organs, the nervous system, and osteoporosis. Chemotherapy may cause cognitive difficulties. For people who do not automatically qualify based on the nature of their cancer, they may apply based on any medical condition or combination of conditions that they have. They may show how their medical condition is functionally equivalent to a condition in the Listing of Impairments.

Applying for Disability Benefits Based on Cancer: What You Should Know

Whenapplying for disability benefits based on cancer, our SSDI lawyers want you to keep the following in mind:

• Examiners require detailed evidence. The exact medical information you must present depends on the specific situation. It may include the type, extent, and site of the cancer.
• The effects of treatment may vary significantly from patient to patient. In addition, the effects on a person may change over time. For these reasons, it may be necessary to describe therapy, including medications, operations, and complications.
• When treatment is successful, post-therapeutic residual impairment is considered for the body system impacted.
• For some listings, the impairment is considered disabling until a particular point in time. In addition, some cancers are considered disabling for three years after the onset of complete remission.

Consultations Available – Talk to a Lawyer

Talk toPekas Smith Disability Attorneys about SSDI for cancer. We invite you to request a no-fee consultation for legal advice about your case. Learn about the process, get answers to your questions, and see how our knowledge and expertise can assist you.

Our cancer SSDI lawyers in AZ assist with every step of the process, from applications and evaluations to appeals. They ensure that consent forms, medical records, and expert testimony meet SSA policy requirements and help navigate complex legal standards, including those under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

Contact our law office today.

FAQs About Social Security Disability for Cancer