Finding out that you have a rare or serious disorder can be very stressful. If you are unable to go back to work, the bills could to start to pile up. Fortunately, Social Security disability benefits are always an option, but the disability application process can be rather long and tedious. If your initial application for disability benefits is denied, it could take up to 2 years to get approved. Thankfully, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has recognized that there are certain cases in which a more rapid timeline is necessary.
The SSA has created the Compassionate Allowances list, which are a collection of severe or rare disorders that automatically qualify a person for disability benefits. If you have been diagnosed with a disease that is listed as a Compassionate Allowance, you will be able to go through a hastened process when applying for benefits. This means that instead of the usual three to six months that it would normally take for the application, you will be able to complete it in just a few weeks. Under normal circumstances you would still have to wait to start collecting your benefits, but with a Compassionate Allowance disorder you can start receiving your disability pay as soon as the next benefits cycle begins.
One of the conditions that qualify for a compassionate allowance exception is Salivary Tumors.
Salivary Tumors – Condition and Symptoms
Salivary Tumors are a rare type of cancer that forms in the salivary glands on and under the floor of the mouth and throughout the salivary glands located at the back of the throat, near the mouth, and at the back of the cheek, near the ear. There are two particularly atypical forms of this cancer known as anaplastic small cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. These two types have much worse prognoses than the more common forms of Salivary Tumors.
Anaplastic Small Cell Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands is a neuroendocrine tumor that metastasizes rather aggressively. Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands is an extremely rare tumor that forms in the cells lining the mouth and salivary glands. Adenosquamous Carcinoma causes visible changes to the lining of the mucus-secreting areas of the mouth, including patchy reddening, thickening or hardening and formation of ulcers. The ulcers are usually painful.
Symptoms of Salivary Tumors include a lump in the cheek, lip, jaw or ear area, difficulty swallowing or opening up one’s mouth widely, fluids draining from the ear, and numbness or weakness in the face that does not go away.
Prognosis is poor for both types of carcinomas, with patients exhibiting Small Cell Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands faring only slightly better than those with Adenosquamous Carcinoma.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Salivary Tumors
If you have been diagnosed with Salivary Tumors that are of either of the two aggressive types of carcinomas, then you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits under the Compassionate Allowances act. Thus, you will not have to spend several months waiting to be approved for benefits.
Although you can feel confident that you will be approved for benefits if you have a disorder listed as a Compassionate Allowance, it is still a good idea to get in touch with a qualified Social Security disability lawyer. A Social Security disability lawyer can help by reviewing your case and making sure all of your paperwork is in the correct order. More often than not, a claim may be delayed or denied simply because your paperwork is out of order or the correct medical documentation is not given.
Every Compassionate Allowances disorder requires a different sort of medical documentation as proof of the disease. For Salivary Tumors, it is important to have a pathology report of a needle biopsy or surgical specimen that shows Anaplastic Small Cell Carcinoma or Adenosquamous Carcinoma.
Your Salivary Tumors Social Security Disability Case
It is extremely stressful to be diagnosed with such a serious disorder and also have to worry about applying for Social Security disability benefits. This is why your best bet is to retain the services of an experienced disability lawyer. He or she will be well-versed in the ins and outs of the system and will be able to help you throughout each step of your case.
If you have already begun the process, you can still seek help from a Social Security disability lawyer at any time. If you have denied, a disability attorney will be represent you at your disability hearing. Statistics show that your chances of being approved at the hearing stage are improved if you have legal representation.
