The chronic fatigue, the incredibly high fever, the intense pain in the groin area can overwhelm the most dogged lymphoma patients. Symptoms of the illness can reach a level that makes it difficult to swallow, which leads to a significant amount of weight loss. If you have received a lymphoma diagnosis, you understand how the symptoms disrupt your daily routine, including negatively impacting your performance at work. Many lymphoma patients find it difficult to hold down a steady job during the period when the symptoms reach the strongest point.
However, good news awaits many lymphoma patients that lean on the Social Security Administration (SSA) for financial assistance. There is also good news because of the high recovery rate associated with the disease.
What is in the Blue Book?
The SSA created the Blue Book to act as the resource for determining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance. Changed every year online and once every 10 years in print, the SSA Blue Book lists every medical condition that qualifies applicants for SSDI benefits. As a form of cancer, lymphoma lists in the Blue Book as an eligible medical condition in section 13.05. The medical conditions listed in the Blue Book represent the most common diseases and illnesses that are treated at American hospitals and medical centers. One section of the Blue Book addresses adult medical conditions, while a second section presents childhood diseases and illnesses. The Blue Book also describes the severity requirement for the symptoms that cover every medical condition.
How Do You Know If You Qualify for SSDI Benefits?
Even the most patient applicants get frustrated going through the SSDI benefits application process. This is because you have to do much more than meet the medical criteria established by the SSA. In fact, before the SSA reviews your application to confirm the presence of a debilitating illness or disease, the agency first ensures every applicant is either an American citizen or a legal resident of the United States. You also have to meet the minimum income standard established by the SSA to be eligible for receiving SSDI benefits. The SSA requires documents that verify how long you have worked in the United States as well.
Finally, the most important documents are the paperwork that present convincing evidence concerning your medical condition. A panel of disability experts reviews your application to determine SSDI eligibility. Lymphoma is typically not a disease that triggers a high mortality rate. The survival rate for the disease at one year is around 92 percent, with a five-year survival rate of nearly 86 percent. This means that unlike a terminal illness, the SSDI benefits received for lymphoma might not continue indefinitely.
Applying for SSDI Benefits
The SSA offers applicants an online method for submitting an SSDI benefits application. Considered much faster to process than a paper application, a digital application can still take a couple of months to make its way through the SSA system. Working with an experienced disability lawyer can help you nudge the SSA along towards a decision. You can also visit the closest SSA office to submit an SSDI benefits application in person. If your SSDI benefits application comes back denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You should consult with an accomplished disability attorney who can help you file a highly persuasive appeal.
Schedule a free initial consultation today with a state licensed disability lawyer.
