Every year, the Social Security Administration receives millions of Social Security Disability claims. Less than a third of these initial claims are approved, leaving most claimants little choice but to go through an appeals process that takes months or years before they are able to begin collecting any Social Security Disability benefits.
It goes without saying that this can cause an incredible level of hardship for people who have severe medical conditions and are unable to work. Often, it leaves them in a Catch-22 situation in which they have difficulty affording the medical care they ultimately need to prove that their disability is not improving despite treatment.
One positive note for many who suffer with certain debilitating diseases is that the Social Security Administration has streamlined the process for those who have disabling conditions that are considered to automatically qualify the sufferer for Social Security Disability benefits. Since the implementation of the Compassionate Allowances program in 2008, those who have qualifying conditions can be approved for Social Security Disability benefits in a matter of a few weeks instead of months or years.
As of this writing, 88 conditions are recognized as automatically qualifying sufferers for Social Security disability benefits through the Compassionate Allowances program. These medical conditions include Adrenal Cancer if it meets on of the following qualifying conditions:
- Recurrent
- Unresectable
- With distant metastases
- Inoperable
Adrenal Cancer with Distant Metastases or Inoperable, Unresectable or Recurrent-Conditions and Symptoms
While adrenal cancer has been diagnosed in patients as young as five years old, the disease usually strikes men in their forties and fifties. When a person has adrenal cancer, tumors develop on the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys. This causes the glands to produce an excessive amount of hormones, which in turn causes a number of symptoms.
Among the more common symptoms of adrenal cancer are muscle cramps, an elevated level of potassium in the blood, increase in weight, heightened risk of infection, retaining water, thirst, frequent urination, localized pain, and water retention. Additionally, psychiatric effects include irritability, mood swings, and episodes of psychosis.
Typically, a doctor determines that you have adrenal cancer by performing a physical exam and a series of blood tests. If an increase in hormonal levels is found, these tests are followed up with ultrasounds, X-rays and other medical imaging tests.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Adrenal Cancer with Distant Metastases or Inoperable, Unresectable or Recurrent
As with other conditions that qualify for a Compassionate Allowance, those with qualifying cases of adrenal cancer face little difficulty having their initial claim accepted as long as their condition is properly notated by their doctor. Conditions that qualify you for the Compassionate Allowance program are automatically flagged and these claims go through a different process than the claims of people with other conditions.
It is particularly important for people with adrenal cancer to make absolutely sure that their medical documentation clearly states whether or not their adrenal cancer diagnosis includes the qualifying conditions; namely that it is inoperable, is recurrent, is unresectable or has distant metastases. If you’re not sure how to verify this kind of information (and most people aren’t), you should consider having a Social Security Disability lawyer look over your claim to make sure that everything is in order.
Ensuring that your Social Security Disability claim is relatively quick, cheap, and can make all the difference between starting to receive Social Security Disability benefits by the end of the month versus years. Your adrenal cancer (assuming it meets the qualifying conditions) automatically qualifies you for SSD benefits, and there’s no need for you to have endure a long, drawn out appeals process when your attention needs to be on fighting the cancer and surviving.
Your Adrenal Cancer with Distant Metastases or Inoperable, Unresectable or Recurrent Social Security Case
Living with adrenal cancer is difficult enough as it is. You need your Social Security Disability benefits, and you need them to start paying out right away. The best way to ensure that happens is to have a Social Security Disability attorney handle your claim. Not only are you statistically more likely to have your initial claim approved, but the amount of back pay you will need to pay to your lawyer will be considerably less if you bring a SSD laywer in the beginning of the process.
Most people who suffer from adrenal cancer will never see the appeals process, because their condition qualifies them for a Compassionate Allowance. However, any time you are dealing with the Social Security Administration, you are much better off if you have knowledgeable legal representation.
