Most of America lives from paycheck to paycheck. They count on their weekly or bi-weekly income in order to make ends meet. When such an individual is suddenly faced with a debilitating disability that leaves them unable to work, those paychecks stop and the financial stress begins. Fortunately, in some cases, Social Security Disability benefits can help alleviate some of this financial burden. The only problem is that it takes most disability applicants months, if not years, to see their first check from the Social Security Administration. The SSA has now recognized the fact that some conditions are so severe that they warrant faster claim processing due to the nature of the condition. As a result, the SSA has implemented the Compassionate Allowances program. Under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines, some applicants are able to receive benefits in a matter of weeks instead of having to wait months or years for benefits to begin. Peripheral nerve cancer that is metastatic or recurrent is one of the conditions that are being added to the Compassionate Allowances listings. If you have been diagnosed with this condition the following information will help you understand how you can receive benefits from the SSA in a timely manner.
Peripheral Nerve Cancer (Metastatic or Recurrent) Condition and Symptoms
Peripheral nerve cancer, also referred to as peripheral nerve sheath tumors, involve the peripheral nervous system that consists of nerves that travel from the brain and spinal cord to the other parts of your body. The nerve sheath that covers the nerves can develop malignant tumors, in which case a diagnosis of peripheral nerve cancer is given.
While this particular type of cancer rarely causes symptoms during the early stages of the disease, common symptoms as the disease progresses include pain and/or nerve loss.
When these tumors metastasize to other areas of the body or become recurrent, they qualify a disability claimant for processing under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
It has not yet been determined exactly what causes peripheral nerve cancer. Undiagnosed cases can result in metastasis of the cancer, in which the cancer travels to other parts of the body. Once a person has had this cancer and the cancer goes into recession, it is possible for the cancer to reoccur, which results in recurrent peripheral nerve cancer.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Peripheral Never Cancer (Metastatic or Recurrent)
This year alone the Social Security Administration will receive millions of disability claims from disabled workers. Nearly 70 percent of the initial claims received will be denied by the SSA. The applicants who are denied must add their appeal to the already-overwhelming backlog of appeals that are currently in the Social Security system, resulting in a wait of months or years for benefits to begin.
If you have been diagnosed with peripheral nerve cancer that is metastatic or recurrent, you do not have to endure the standard disability application and appeal process. Because your condition falls under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines, you can be approved for benefits in a matter of weeks. You must, however, prove the validity of your claim to the Social Security Administration.
In order to prove your case to the SSA you need to be sure to fill out all of the SSA’s application paperwork properly. This means providing detailed answers to all of the questions on the application forms. In addition, you need to provide the SSA with sufficient medical evidence to support your claim. This medical evidence may include your medical records, lab results, imaging results and written statements from treating physicians. All of these things combined are what the SSA will use to determine whether or not you qualify for benefits from the Social Security Administration.
Peripheral Nerve Cancer (Metastatic or Recurrent) and Your Social Security Disability Case
If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits due to a case of recurrent or metastatic peripheral nerve cancer, you may want to consider retaining the services of a disability attorney to help you with your claim. Applying for disability benefits can be a confusing process and the paperwork involved can be very overwhelming. You must fill this paperwork out properly in order for your claim to be approved during the initial stage of the application process. By working with an attorney, you can ensure that your disability claim is submitted to the SSA in the best light possible and that it is processed according to the Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
