March is kidney cancer awareness month. If you have been diagnosed with kidney disease and now you can’t work because of the cancer or because of the treatment that you need you can apply for Social Security disability benefits.
If you have worked before and you expect that you won’t be able to work for at least a year you are eligible to apply for disability benefits. The money from disability benefits can be used to pay for your living expenses or medical expenses.
What is Kidney Cancer?
Kidney cancer is cancer that forms in the renal cells, or the kidney tissues. In most cases this type of cancer only affects people over 40. While there is no proven cause for kidney cancer smoking and other carcinogens can contribute to the development of this cancer. Symptoms of kidney cancer include:
- Fever
- Blood in the urine
- A lump in the abdomen
- Pain in the side that does not go away
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Anemia
When you apply for Social Security disability benefits you should include as much medical evidence of your condition as you can. Including your medical records and a letter of diagnosis of kidney cancer will increase the chances that your application will be approved.
How Does Kidney Cancer Qualify For Disability Benefits?
Kidney cancer is one of the cancers that qualifies someone to receive Social Security disability benefits. But, you must submit medical evidence that shows that the cancer meets the requirements that the SSA has set.
All of the conditions that qualify for disability benefits are listed in the SSA’s Blue Book along with the requirements for that condition. The listing for kidney cancer says that kidney cancer qualifies for disability benefits if it is:
Inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent
OR
Metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes
You will need to show that your cancer meets one of those requirements in order for your application to be approved. You can do that by submitting medical records like:
- Biopsy
- Clinical note from a surgeon that the cancer is inoperable
- Surgical pathology report that the cancer was not completely removed and that the surgical margins were positive for malignancy
If you have questions about what supporting documents should be included you should talk with an experienced attorney who works on disability cases.
Get Help With Your Disability Claim
If you can’t work because you have kidney cancer you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay your bills.
Talk to a lawyer that specializes in disability cases for personalized advice on how to make sure your application for disability benefits is complete so that you have a better chance of being approved the first time you apply.
Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
