If you have Pericardial Mesothelioma and you can’t work any longer you may be very worried about you are going to make ends meet. But you don’t need to worry. Anyone that has been diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma can apply for Social Security disability benefits.
Pericardial mesothelioma can qualify for disability under the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowance program. The Compassionate Allowance program makes it possible for people to start receiving disability benefits quickly after their application for benefits is approved.
What is Pericardial Mesothelioma?
Pericardial Mesothelioma is an asbestos -related cancer. It’s rare and makes up less than 1% of malignant mesothelioma cancers. But this cancer is serious because it starts in the pericardium, the protective sac around the heart. Often this cancer is not diagnosed until it’s too advanced to treat.
Usually when this cancer does occur it’s primarily in men between the ages of 50-70 who have had exposure to asbestos.
Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma include:
- Compression of the heart by fluid
- Inflammation of the pericardium
- Night sweats
- Heart palpitation
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin of the chest
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dry unproductive cough
In many cases the prognosis after diagnosis is about six months. Which is why it’s important to get an application submitted for disability benefits as soon as you are diagnosed.
What Is A Compassionate Allowance?
The Social Security Administration sends some application for disability benefits to the front of the processing line because the people who submitted those applications have serious or terminal medical conditions that require help right away.
The SSA’s computer system automatically flags applications for medical conditions on the Compassionate Allowance list and processes them quickly. Often benefits can be received within weeks of being approved. And there is a relaxed burden of proof needed to show that the person meets the SSA’s Blue Book requirements to get approval.
Typically the conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowance are late stage cancers, terminal cancers, or other very serious conditions. There are dozens of conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowance.
In order for an application for disability benefits for Pericardial Mesothelioma to be approved by the SSA the application must contain a letter of diagnosis from a doctor and medical records showing that there is malignant mesothelioma of pleura as listed in the Blue Book in 13.15A.
To prove that your meet this requirement you should submit X-rays, MRIs, PET scans, blood tests, biopsies, and other medical records with your application. When a condition qualifies for Compassionate Allowance the standard of proof is lower so there’s very little chance your claim won’t be approved on the first try but the more evidence you submit the greater your chances of having your application approved the first time are.
Get Help With Your Pericardial Mesothelioma SSD Claim
Time is of the essence if you have Pericardial Mesothelioma. Start your application for disability benefits today and get help from an experienced disability attorney. Talking to an attorney may help you navigate the application process more easily. Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating attorney.
