Every year, the Social Security Administration receives more Social Security Disability claims than it can deal with in a timely manner. In most cases, it takes more than three months before a disability claim is even considered for the first time. Often, claims are denied and the disabled person is left with the painful choice of dropping his disability claim (and forfeiting his rights to disability benefits) or trudging through the Social Security Disability appeals process.
The appeals process can sometimes take years. Most cases take between six and eighteen months, depending on what level of the appeals process finally yields an approval. This often necessitates getting a Social Security Disability lawyer, if you aren’t already working with one.
For those with serious and obviously debilitating conditions like inoperable or unresectable head and neck cancers, the Social Security Administration has made provision for a shorter process. Those who qualify can start receiving Social Security Disability benefits within a month.
The conditions that qualify for the accelerated benefits are listed under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowance listings. Originally, the SSA chose 80 medical conditions that qualified for the program, and they have since expanded the listings to total 88 Compassionate Allowances. More medical and mental conditions continue to be considered.
Head and Neck Cancers - with distant metastasis or inoperable or uresectable – Condition and Symptoms
It’s always heartbreaking to receive a diagnosis of any kind of cancer. Those who are diagnosed with one of the various head and neck cancers often face an especially difficult situation, as most types of head and neck cancers are difficult to treat if they have metastasized to any significant degree.
Head and neck cancers include all cancers that arise in the head or neck except brain cancer. Common forms of head and neck cancer include larynx cancer, throat cancer, cancer of the nasal cavity or sinuses, lip cancer, mouth cancer and tongue cancer.
Depending on the exact location of the cancer, a variety of tests can be used to diagnose head and neck cancers. The most common tests used include MRIs, PET scans, biopsies, x-rays, blood tests, urine tests, and endoscopy. Head and neck cancers are generally treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Unfortunately, because of the location of head and neck cancers and the body functions those parts of the body affects, treatments may negatively affect speaking, eating, breathing and a number of other bodily functions.
While these forms of cancer can often be treated if they are diagnosed early, the prognosis is generally very poor for anyone suffering from an advanced stage of head and neck cancers.
Because head and neck cancers are often terminal, and because the treatments for such cancers generally cause term disabling conditions, head and neck cancers often qualify for a Compassionate Allowance. If you have been diagnosed with a form of head or neck cancer that is determined to be inoperable or unresectable (meaning they have performed an operation and were unable to remove all of the cancer), you are entitled to a Compassionate Allowance, which will allow you to start receiving Social Security Disability benefits significantly faster than most other claimants.
Filing or Social Security Disability with Head and Neck Cancers - with distant metastasis or inoperable or uresectable
When you file for Social Security Disability because of an inoperable or unresectable head or neck cancer, you are virtually assured of winning your claim and receiving Social Security Disability benefits. As a matter of fact, because you qualify for a Compassionate Allowance, your claim should be approved within a month of your initial application for benefits. If you have not received an approval letter by then, contact the Social Security Administration to make certain your claim is in the Compassionate Allowance program, as it should be.
Often, Social Security Disability claimants find it beneficial to have a Social Security Disability attorney review their claim before turning it in. This helps to eliminate any potential problems with the documentation and paperwork right from the start.
Regardless of who handles your claim, you will want to make sure that your documentation includes the results of any biopsies, lab tests, MRI, x-rays or other tests used to confirm your doctor’s diagnosis of head or neck cancer. You should also have a doctor’s report laying out the symptoms or problems you were having leading up to the eventual diagnosis of cancer.
Your Head and Neck Cancers - with distant metastasis or inoperable or uresectable Social Security Disability Case
While the eventual outcome of your Social Security Disability case is fairly clear by virtue of the fact that you qualify for a Compassionate Allowance (and are therefore automatically eligible), that doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed that your claim will sail through without some issues.
The system is designed to make sure that people like you are moved through the claims process quickly, but for a variety of reasons (the most common being missing documentation or paperwork that is filed incorrectly) your claim could be delayed. Having a Social Security Disability lawyer handle your claim helps ensure that doesn’t happen to you.
For more information, or to have a SSD lawyer or advocate review your case, fill out the request for a free evaluation.
