Disability

Social Security Supports People Battling Cancer

June 4, 2018 • By

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Last Updated: June 4, 2018

woman hugging younger girlIn 2018, more than a million people will be diagnosed with cancer around the world. This alarming statistic affects people and families everywhere. On June 3, 2018, we observed National Cancer Survivors Day in the United States. In support of this day, Social Security encourages getting checkups to provide early detection, raise awareness through education, and recognize the survivors who have gone through this battle or are still living with the disease.

Social Security supports people who are fighting cancer. We offer support to patients dealing with this disease through our disability program. People with certain cancers may be eligible for a Compassionate Allowance. Compassionate Allowances are cases where individuals have medical conditions so severe they obviously meet Social Security’s disability standards, allowing us to process the cases quickly with minimal medical information.

There’s no special application or form you need to submit for Compassionate Allowances. Simply apply for disability benefits using the standard Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application. Once we identify you as having a Compassionate Allowance condition, we’ll expedite your disability application.

Social Security establishes Compassionate Allowance conditions using information received at public outreach hearings, from the Social Security and Disability Determination Services communities, from medical and scientific experts, and from data based on our research. Visit our Compassionate Allowances website for more information, including the list of eligible conditions.

Some illnesses are more disabling than others and Social Security tries to treat everyone with equal compassion relative to their condition. If you think you qualify for disability benefits based on a Compassionate Allowances condition, please visit our website to apply for benefits.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Bak D.

    Yes my question about my social security number card how can get my social security number card now please let me know if you can send to me now to po box or post office address is a viale isonzo 11 Milan Lodi state Italian code 20135 name is bak last name is danso birth 01 01 1987 please let me know if you can help me for that price proof now thank you

  2. Dave T.

    Disallowing my wife for Disability is the MOST OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE of her rights imaginable.She has been working w/children and her breast cancer chemo-therapy makes ANY exposure to children (including our grandchildren) IMPOSSIBLE ! You TURN MY STOMACH !

    • Snarky

      Sorry to hear of her condition. It is usually survivable and not contagious so she can be around others.

      • Rachel

        It isn’t her being contagious. A lot of chemo medications cause suppression of the immune system. Kids are germ factories. Not to mention how tired and sick it makes a lot of people (I know everyone doesn’t get bad side effects from it, but most I know of have.) I’m not trying to be a smartass or anything so hopefully you don’t take it that way. Just hits close to home.

        I wish they had this when my dad was going through chemo and hospice. My mom and I could have used a lot more help than what their ins paid for at the time…a guy would come out once (maybe twice?) a week and sponge bath him, change his clothes, and that was it. She had the brunt of it (I know that sounds bad, but I mean was home more than me.) I literally just came off of FMLA when he went on hospice so during the day she would work from home, but he needed so much she didn’t do much. If we could have had someone come a couple nights a week, that would have helped tremendously. At the same time, I would NEVER give up that last month having him at home instead of at a hospice center.

        So, anyone who thinks certain people don’t “deserve” to be on it (mind you, my dad worked up until the day he couldn’t drive anymore), and was 64, do you consider that do be spending your money?

  3. Lisa W.

    Do you have any assistance for those of us already receiving Disibility Social Security?

    • Snarky

      Check with your county public assistance office.

  4. Paula V.

    The compassionate allowance is a wonderful feature It is bad enough when someone gets cancer and even worse when they lose their home on top of battling illness. I personally know several people who have received an expedited determination and they were able to get treatments and avoid eviction!

    • NaNa0610

      How do I apply and where do I go? I’m already on Disability just so you know. I’ve been fighting this cancer for four years. I went into remission for 14 months. However, my Mom died followed my 14 yr old Schnauzer a month later, then my 16 yr old Chihuahua the month after that. I think the stress was a big reason the cancer came back. Anyway, I can’t afford to go to my doctors or fill many of my prescriptions. I’m about $277 over the max allowed. I would super welcome anyone’s suggestions. Thank you, and God bless you.

  5. Barbara R.

    I am fighting cancer right now. I am not on chemo anymore I am on a probiotics every other week.

    • caroldownzeh

      men for sex is my favorite place for chatting with local ladies

  6. David E.

    How is it that the Social Security can support all the other folks with our SS money, and then say it will be broke by another 20 to 30 years. All of us baby boomers who worked and paid into social security all these years. Are now being told that when that time comes that their social security would be dropped down by as much of 25 to 30 percent. Something is wrong with this picture, and the whole system if this is true at all.

    • Snarky

      Nice complaint. Do you have cancer? Perhaps a compassionate illness. If not, quit your bitching.

  7. Wendi

    Is there any help for an individual with leukemia, but makes 200 more than what Medicaid qualifies; therefore no treatment or transportation since then. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

    • Snarky

      Medicaid has a spend-down program. Apply for that. Once he’s spent $200.00 on his condition Medicaid will pick up the rest.

  8. Michael H.

    I have published a book about my battle with prostate cancer. prostate cancer cannot be prevented. however, nobody has to die from prostate cancer.
    you can find out about my book.
    http://www.mikesprostate.com.
    or, through Amazon.
    Any questions, I am available to address them.
    thanks
    Michael Honeycutt

  9. Lesly F.

    I know God is a answer for all different illnesses i believe on them and i count on him.

  10. Andy H.

    Two years ago my wife and I received the shocking news that our eldest son had been diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of lymphoma. Due to the nature of his cancer he qualified for a compassionate allowance and his case was approved within 30 days. Today he is in remission and hoping to return to work within the next 12 months. Thank you to Social Security for being there for our son when he needed it.

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