Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) can occur in any of the body’s soft tissues, and regardless of where it begins, it can automatically qualify you medically to receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits through either or both of the SSA’s disability programs.
SSA’s Programs
You may be able to receive disability benefits through:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a need-based program with strict income and financial resource eligibility criteria.
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which provides benefits to qualified disabled workers who have enough work credits built up from their previous employment.
Additionally, LMS is included in the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program. CAL designation means your application will be reviewed as quickly as possible. Rather than having to wait four or more months for an initial determination, you should have an answer in just a few weeks.
Although CAL designation means a quicker decision, it does not remove the application and documentation requirements of proving disability. You must still submit thorough medical records and complete the full application process.
Medical Records Required
The SSA needs to see certain documentation in order to approve your disability claim, even under the CAL program. That documentation should include:
- Physical examination reports that note the features of the disease as well as the treatments utilized and their effects.
- Imaging exams required to determine and show the extent of the disease, including x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and/or MRIs
- Endoscopy results, if tumors are located in the abdomen or within the gastrointestinal system
- Lab results, including blood tests and biopsy results that confirm the diagnosis of LMS
In addition to these medical records, the SSA must also be able to record the severity level of your LMS. To do so, they may compare your records to two listings in the SSA’s Blue Book:
- Section 13.04 – Soft Tissue Sarcoma
- Section 13.23 – Uterine Cancer
The Application Process
While LMS usually occurs in adults, it can also affect children. If you are applying for benefits for yourself, you can submit your application online via the SSA’s website or complete it in person at your local SSA office.
If however you are applying for benefits on behalf of a minor child, then you must complete the application in person during an interview with an SSA representative.
If you need to apply in person, call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. Utilize the time before your interview date arrives to collect as many medical records as possible. By submitting those records at the time you apply, you decrease your wait for a decision on the claim.
