A cancer diagnosis is devastating and will affect many things. It may affect your ability to work at your job too. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is meant to kick in when you are no longer able to work because of cancer or any number of other medical conditions. After a cancer diagnosis, you need some direction on how to obtain those valuable benefits. Read on to find out more about cancer and your SSDI benefits.

What Forms of Cancer Are Covered?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a list of covered medical and mental health conditions. The blue book is available online, and you can look up any medical issue and also get an explanation of what is required of applicants before they apply for benefits. Almost all types of cancer are listed, but the list is far from complete. The blue book's listings fall short of listing every possible type of cancer, but you can still be covered, even if the exact form of cancer is not listed.

Taking a look at the cancer listings, you will see that the SSA looks at:

• The origin of your cancer
• The way cancer has affected you
• How you have responded to treatments for cancer up to now
• How chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and other forms of treatment have affected you

Unfortunately, cancer treatment can create a host of new problems from the side effects and more. Both cancer itself and the way the treatment has affected you is taken into consideration when the SSA evaluates your condition.

Proving Your Condition to the SSA

Part of applying for SSDI is proving that you have cancer, and this is usually done using your medical records of treatment. The SSA may also ask for doctor's notes, diagnostic test results, operating or surgery notes, medication prescriptions, and more. The more you can supply to the SSA, the easier it will be to gain benefits. In many cases, depending on the type of cancer you are being treated for, the SSA may need evidence that you waited the appropriate amount of time after treatment to gauge its success. For example, chemotherapy and radiation can take months to work, so the results of a scan several months after the treatment has concluded may be necessary.

You may not be prepared to be turned down for coverage, but many applicants are. If so, speak to a Social Security lawyer about your case immediately. You may be eligible for a faster approval and appeal process if you are suffering from certain types of cancer. Don't give up on your benefits. Speak to a law firm, such as Attorney John B. Martin Law Offices, so you can get what you deserve.