Each and every week millions of Americans rely on their paychecks to make ends meet. When one of these hard-working citizens is suddenly unable to work due to a disability, those paychecks stop and the bills can quickly begin to spiral out of control.
Fortunately, in cases such as these, Social Security Disability benefits may be able to help.
While many disability applicants must wait months or even years before being approved for benefits, those who suffer from certain conditions can be approved in a matter of weeks thanks to the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
If you have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma with metastases, then you may be one of the applicants who can qualify under these guidelines as the SSA has included this condition in its listing of Compassionate Allowances conditions.
The following information will help you understand the condition and how it may qualify you for expedited disability benefits through Compassionate Allowances.
Malignant Melanoma with Metastases Condition and Symptoms
In a normal and healthy body, the melanocyte cells are the cells that are responsible for producing melanin, which is a dark pigment that is responsible for the color of a person’s skin.
When a person develops melanoma, these melanocyte cells begin to grow out of control and produce a malignant tumor. When the cancerous cells of the tumor spread to other parts of the body, it is considered to be metastases.
If caught early Melanoma is much easier to treat. If not caught early, prognosis is poor as this disease is very aggressive. In fact, melanoma causes up to 75 percent of skin cancer-related deaths each year.
Symptoms of malignant melanoma with metastases can vary. Common symptoms include “moles” that are asymmetrical in nature, have varied colors, grow over time and are firm to the touch.
It is not the symptoms of the condition itself, however, that cause a person to become disabled. The side effects of common treatment can also be debilitating in their nature.
Malignant melanoma with metastases is usually the result of environmental factors. For example, exposure to UV and sunlight can cause damage to the DNA of a cell, resulting in malignant melanoma which, untreated, can metastasize.
Filing for Social Security Disability
Each and every year the Social Security Administration receives millions of disability claims. Approximately 70 percent of the initial claims that the SSA receives are denied. When an applicant is denied benefits, they must add their appeal to the millions of denied disability applicants in the system if they hope to receive disability benefits in the future.
The disability appeal process normally consists of a request for reconsideration and a disability hearing. Because there is such a large backlog of appeals in the Social Security system, it can take two years or more for a disability applicant to obtain a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
Fortunately, for those who have a condition that is covered under the Compassionate Allowances program, this wait time is much shorter and Compassionate Allowances appeals are given priority over standard disability appeals.
Under the Compassionate Allowances program, an applicant may be approved for disability benefits in a matter of weeks rather than having to wait months or even years for benefits to be approved.
Those who have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma with metastasis are among the applicants who may qualify for processing under these expedited guidelines.
It is important to note that even though malignant melanoma with metastasis has been included in the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances listings, diagnosis of the condition does not mean you will receive an automatic approval of your disability application.
In order to qualify for disability benefits, you will need to fill out disability application forms in their entirety and you will also need to supply the SSA with enough medical evidence to support your disability claim.
Malignant Melanoma with Metastasis and Your Social Security Disability Case
If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits due to a case of malignant melanoma with metastasis, you may want to consider retaining the services of a disability attorney.
Applying for disability benefits can be overwhelming and the paperwork involved can be very detailed and confusing. You must fill this paperwork out properly in order for your claim to be approved. By working with an attorney, you can ensure that your disability claim is submitted to the SSA in the best light possible.
