Is it Hard to Get SSDI While Going Through Cancer?

 Posted on February 07, 2025 in Social Security Disability

Cancer and the medicine used to treat it can be debilitating. Many people who are fighting cancer - or who have elected to stop treatment - require around-the-clock care and assistance with the normal activities of daily living - they certainly cannot keep working outside the home. However, it can be frustratingly difficult to get the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits you need as quickly as you need them. Cancer tends to come on very suddenly. Many people are unable to work due to the effects of chemotherapy or radiation within a week of diagnosis. Your need for benefits may be urgent, but delays in the SSDI application process are common. An experienced Dallas, TX SSDI lawyer can fight for you to receive the disability benefits you need while you focus on fighting cancer.

You Must Show That Your Disability Will Persist For a Year 

To qualify as disabled for the purposes of receiving SSDI, you must be able to show that you will be unable to work due to your cancer for at least one year. Depending on the type of cancer you have, your individual prognosis, and the prescribed course of treatment, you may or may not meet this requirement. Some forms of cancer - especially when caught early - can be successfully treated with surgery or a short course of radiation. In these cases, a person might not be too sick to work for more than six or eight weeks rather than a full year.

You will need to provide some medical evidence showing that your illness or course of treatment is expected to last at least a year. If your cancer is complicated, late-stage, or has metastasized, you are more likely to be able to show that your disability will persist for a full year. The problem is that there is no easy way to predict which cancer patients will recover quickly and easily and which will have serious and long-lasting complications that lead to prolonged disability.

Terminal Cancer and SSDI Benefits 

People who have been diagnosed with incurable cancer may qualify for SSDI and additional benefits. Your case can likely be expedited through the TERI program if your cancer is considered terminal. You may be able to start receiving benefits promptly and with minimal hassle.

Contact a Dallas, TX SSDI Lawyer 

The Law Offices of Coats & Todd is experienced in helping cancer patients start receiving SSDI benefits. Wherever you are in your fight against cancer, our dedicated Collin County, TX SSDI lawyers will do all we can to get you the benefits you need quickly. Contact us at 972-671-9922 for a complimentary consultation.