If you have pancreatic cancer it is included as part of the Social Security Administration’s list of compassionate allowances and should qualify you to receive disability benefits.
This compassionate allowance was installed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2008 so as to decrease the time often taken to consider a social security disability benefits claim for anyone diagnosed with specific conditions, including pancreatic cancer.
Despite the presence of a compassionate allowance list and even though the claim should take no more than 10 days to be approved by the SSA you must still submit reliable evidence that shows you have pancreatic cancer.
What is The Compassionate Allowance List?
The SSA has compiled a list of more than 200 disabling conditions that it allows to qualify for the compassionate allowance program including pancreatic cancer. You must have enough medical documentation that provides the proof that you have pancreatic cancer.
Your disability benefits claim will be automatically be given priority by the SSA and should be fully processed and approved within 10 days of the submission of the claim. This is much shorter than most disability benefits claims which can often take months and even years before a final decision is reached.
Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Pancreatic Cancer
Medical qualification for a compassionate allowance if you have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer isn’t too difficult as long as your doctor diagnosis confirms the that the condition is present. The symptoms that may help to confirm that you have pancreatic cancer could include the following:
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes);
- dark urine,
- pain in the abdomen or back;
- weight loss;
- loss of appetite.
Medical Evidence Needed to Qualify for Disability Benefits
Pancreatic cancer may qualify for a compassionate allowance, but you must provide medical records which support your disability benefits claim for pancreatic cancer. Tests that can be carried out which detect the presence of pancreatic cancer include:
- Blood test;
- Biopsy when a sample of the pancreas is analyzed for abnormalities;
- CT scan of the abdomen which provides detailed images of the pancreas which helps to diagnose pancreatic cancer;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen which provides detailed images of the pancreas, liver and gall bladder;
- Positron emission tomography (PET) which helps to indicate how much the cancer has spread;
- An endoscopic ultrasound which provides a far better image of the pancreas through the abdomen.
Next Steps to Take
Submitting a claim for disability benefits under the compassionate allowance program for pancreatic cancer is not always a simple process. The SSA requires good evidence showing that you are suffering from pancreatic cancer before your claim for disability benefits is finally approved.
An attorney can assist you to gather all the required medical evidence and submit your condition of pancreatic cancer under the compassionate allowance program so that your eligibility for disability benefits is approved as quickly as possible.
