Is there a way to speed up Social Security Disability approval for cancer patients?

If you have cancer, you may not be able to afford to wait. Cancer treatments are expensive. You may not be able to work, and you still have bills to pay. The Social Service Administration (SSA) typically takes between 90 days and eight months to accept or reject a claim. In fact, it can take as long as two years.

You can expedite your Social Security Disability (SSD) claim. While SSD treats cancer claimants the same as others, it does make exceptions. If the cancer claimant is terminally affected or severely affected, the SSA may speed up the case. The SSA will do this based on the information you submit with your claim.

The claims that cancer patients make may qualify for a quicker approval under two possible requirements. The disease must meet the specific requirements dictated in the so-called "Blue Book." Alternatively, the claimant's medical condition proves that he or she is unable to return to their vocation or perform any other type of work. Furthermore, approval is automatically sped up for certain kinds of cancers.

SSA will expedite your SSD claim for cancer if you have any of the following types: inflammatory breast cancer, mesothelioma of the pleura, metastatic brain or spinal cord carcinoma, primary cancer of the liver, bile ducts or gall bladder, oat cell cancer (small cell cancer) of the lungs and cancer of the pancreas. This does not preclude later reconsideration if the cancer goes into remission.

Talk to a disability lawyer about expediting your SSD claim. A qualified SSD lawyer will inform you about all you need to do to speed up matters. If you have cancer, he or she can help you make your case effectively.