Many employers take deductions from their workers’ paychecks and pay into Social Security fund on their employee’s behalf. Individuals who have certain terminal illnesses or who are otherwise unable to work for a year or more may tap into it if the need arises to cover some of their necessary expenses. While it takes to take a while for applicants to have the Social Security Administration (SSA) review their application for disability benefits, cancer patients may be eligible for a more expedited process.
There are specific eligibility criteria that a person must meet to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Self-employed individuals who paid regular self-employment taxes or employees who had employers deduct Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) contributions from their paycheck are eligible to apply for SSDI. These individuals must also have an impairment that meets the SSA’s narrow definition of a disability to qualify for such benefits, though.
The SSA includes specific adult-onset brain or rare kids’ disorders and cancer on its Compassionate Allowances List (CAL). An applicant diagnosed with one of these severe medical conditions may have their request for disability benefits fast-tracked provided that they meet all other qualifying criteria for them.
Conditions that form part of the CAL are ever-changing. The SSA regularly consults with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers, physicians and scientists and solicits feedback from the public, Disability Determination Service and Social Security communities about conditions that they should add to the CAL.
SSA officials rely on the use of cutting-edge technology to help identify individuals who may qualify for a Compassionate Allowance so that they can quickly approve their application and get their benefits in their hands.
It’s not uncommon for the SSA to deny benefits to individuals who it would seem should qualify for disability. An attorney can review your records to see how likely it is that the SSA will approve your application. Your Oklahoma City lawyer can also let you know if there’s anything that you can do to enhance your chances or expedite the process.