As a highly aggressive and rare form of cancer, Malignant Germ Cell Tumor (MGCT) automatically qualifies you medically for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). That being said, you must still apply for benefits, provide the SSA with the appropriate medical evidence, and also meet the technical eligibility requirements for receiving benefits through either or both of the SSA’s disability programs.
Disability Programs
MGCT typically develops in adults, but in rare instances can occur in children. If you are applying for benefits for yourself, you may qualify for two programs from the SSA:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which requires you are a disabled worker that has work credits built up from your previous employment.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has no work credit requirements, but does set strict limits on income and assets or financial resources.
If you are applying instead for benefits on behalf of a minor child, SSI is the program for which he or she is most likely to qualify.
In addition to these programs, MGCT also qualifies for the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program, which is intended to get applications filed on specific conditions reviewed more quickly. The average applicant waits four or more months for a decision on their initial application for disability. CAL designation for MGCT means you will have a decision on your application in just a few weeks instead.
Medical Evidence
Minimal medical evidence is required by the SSA for granting eligibility for disability benefits. The bare minimum that your medical records must contain includes:
- A thorough clinical history documenting the onset of the disease, the diagnosis, the methods used to obtain that diagnosis, and any treatments employed. The affects of treatments must also be included as should the prognosis.
- Physical findings and physical exam notes which describe the extent of the disease and its clinical features. The details of these reports will depend largely on the location of the tumor(s) and the body organs and systems affected.
- Pathology reports documenting the findings from biopsies performed.
- Results of imaging tests showing the extent of the MGCT and the size of the tumor(s).
Your other medical records can strengthen your claim for disability benefits and should also be included when applying. However, the documentation listed above is the essential information the SSA must have in order to grant eligibility for SSDI and/or SSI benefits.
Applying for Benefits
If you are applying for benefits on behalf of a minor child, you will need to call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment with your local SSA office. Applications for children are facilitated by an SSA representative who completes the forms required during an in person interview at the local office.
If you are instead applying for benefits for yourself, you can also schedule an interview and complete your application in person, or you can complete the application process online, via the SSA’s website, and follow up by providing copies of your Malignant Germ Cell Tumor and other medical records to your local office after submitting your application digitally.
