Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer and is often not detected until women are over the age of 60, which lowers their chances of beating this cancer. Women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and expect to be unable to work for at least 12 months should file a claim for Social Security disability benefits as soon as possible after getting a diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is one of 88 different conditions that qualify for the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowance program. The Compassionate Allowance program fast tracks the application for benefits and can result in a much quicker payment of benefits.
Disability Benefits For Ovarian Cancer
In order to qualify for disability benefits due to ovarian cancer you will have to meet the requirements listed in the Blue Book section on ovarian cancer. In the case of ovarian cancer you would need to receive a diagnosis of of inoperable or unresectable ovarian cancer or ovarian cancer with distant metastases in order to qualify for disability benefits. If you’re not sure if your diagnosis meets the Blue Book requirements you can ask your doctor or oncologist to help you with the application. In most cases all you will need to supply as proof of your medical condition is a doctor’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer in order to qualify, but the more documentation that you provide the better your chances of getting a fast approval are.
Once your application is approved for a condition like ovarian cancer that qualifies for Compassionate Allowance you can start to get benefits within just a couple of weeks which will help offset the costs of any medical procedures that you need or cover living expenses while you grapple with cancer.
Medical Vocational Allowance
If you have ovarian cancer that is caught early and there’s a good chance that you will recover with treatment but you can’t work while you are fighting cancer you may qualify for a Medical Vocational Allowance. A Medical Vocational Allowance will make it possible for you to receive disability benefits even if you don’t fit the strict criteria in the Blue Book. In order to get benefits because of a Medical Vocational Allowance you will need to ask for a Residual Functional Capacity exam when you file a claim for disability benefits. The SSA will perform the Residual Functional Capacity exam to see if there’s any type of work that you can do while you battle cancer. If they determine that there is no work you can do then you can be approved for disability benefits even if you don’t meet the Blue book listing.
Starting The Application Process
You can apply for disability benefits online or you can make an appointment at your local SSA office and talk to a representative. If you have questions about the application process or you need help with the application the best thing to do is make an appointment. A specialist at the SSA can help you get the process started by helping you file your claims and submit all of your documentation.
