Stage 3 and social security disability benefits

hi,girls.i,m stage3C,+19/26,nodes involved.,I was diagnosed.,March 2009.before my BC I was no employee,I was on training programme for seniors.I got money,but after diagnose unemployment office said,i,m not cvalofive for temporary Disability insure.In radiology office nurse told me,BC patient only cvalofive with stage 4.I never asked my oncology doctor about this .I,m single,get only food stamps and i,m part time student in college.where Ican ask about SSD?I read your stories girl,maybe you can tell me?

thank you.hugs all of you! -hopeinfitcher

Fearless One: Did you see this post? Check it out, I hope this can help answer some of your questions!

  http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/113/topic/770569?page=1#idx_4

One love, Jackie

There is a difference between SSI (social security income) and SSD (social security disability). Most people will not qualify for SSI because their income is too high. SSD does not have income limits but they have to rule that you are "disabled" under the guidelines of Social Security Administration. if you are denied you can appeal and that's what they expect you to do. You can appeal online or go to your local office. Most hire an attorney. The attorney will get usually between 25-35% of the back pay amount you receive. The back pay is paid from the time you applied. However, I do know people who have had a hearing before a judge and were offered half or a percentage if the back pay amount in a settlement and awarded their monthly SSD payment. A good attorney can help you navigate the system.

I am a stage 3 survivor and I did receive social security disability and was approved the first time around.   I am now a 7 year survivor and back to work.  Criteria is that you are out of work for 6 months and mine started exactly 6 months from the time I stopped working.  When going through the interview tell them about everything you are going through, not just the cancer related issues.  I would also let your physician know.  I'm a medical coder/biller and alot of times eligibility is determined by the physician notes sent to social security.  I was lucky, my oncologist is a gifted "creative writer."  You may want to also check their website, I was able to see if I was approved on the website before I received my letter.  Good luck to you in treatment and with social security.

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the update.  I'm going through the paperwork process right now.  Sheesh, they could save SO much time and be GREENER if they would just send me the links to these forms online.  For God's sakes, I filled the initial form online you would think the rest would be that way too.  Would be easier for them too.

Also question for anyone that's been through this so far.  I was only working very part time hours BEFORE my dx (but had already put many FT times years into SS).  During tx I had to take several long term LOA's.  I am back to work again, but it's just PT again.  Anyone have a clue IF they approve this---do they pay retro, and then is it going forward or just a one time lump sum?

Thanks!

Sharon

I am awaiting a decision from SSA.  I have cancer of the chest wall, which I understand is stage IIIB, and is listed in the SS Blue Book under section 13.10-A. 

First they told me they were considering my cancer a local recurrence and were waiting to see how it responded to therapy.  Then when I called back a few weeks later they said they were considering it a new cancer because of some inverted interpretation of section H of the first part of the neoplastic diseases section where it says that a person is considered no longer eligible for SSDI when they have been in remission for 3 years.  

I have never been on SSDI.  I have a chest wall recurrence.  I had a mastectomy in 1999, and now I have cancer of the chest wall of the same breast.  It appears to me that I meet the listing for the condition due to having a chest wall cancer.  Tumor was removed surgically, but with narrow margins (0.3 mm & 0.5 mm) and there was some DCIS in there too.  Can't re-excise due to the chest wall.  

I don't understand why they have to see how I do with the therapy.  It doesn't say that on the listing for chest wall cancer.  Also I am eligible for SSI due to income and haven't worked since April 2010.  I applied for SSDI and SSI in May 2011.  Got the positive biopsy done end of January 2011 and surgery late April 2011.  Any advice?

Yorana

Thanks ladies,

I'm still in the process of filling out forms but from what you all have told me I'm not too hopeful that I'll get much or anything at all.  I've worked since I was 16 paying in to SS, but perhaps in their eyes this is not as much of a disabilitly as let's say losing a limb, etc.  For God's sakes it puts a permanent damper on the rest of your life.  Not to mention all the time I had to take of during tx and recovery........ UGH, I HATE this freakin disease!

Sharon