Social Security Disability??

[Fastf250ps]

A lot of PC-ridden men on here are still working. I've been told that Social Security will grant Disability with Stage IV Cancers. Does anyone have any experience, good or bad, with trying to get on SS Disability??

[Cancersucks]

Ex-husband, age 45, has very advanced stage 4.  He has been denied twice.  Has put a financial b

[erjlg3 in reply to Cancersucks]

Write call email your congressman and ask them to help you. Keep up with them weekly.

[dlestercarlson]

When I applied for Social Security shortly before turning 65, I as able to apply for SS Disability because my cancer is Stage IV - metastatic prostate cancer.  They asked me some interesting questions such as when I was going to die.  Since it was Stage IV metastatic prostate, it was immediately approved.  I had actually retired the year before so they back payed me back to six months from the last day of my employment.

[erjlg3 in reply to dlestercarlson]

The VA wanted an estimated Death Note for LG

[cesanon]

If you have cancer it is easier. It falls into a special category. Most people who apply themselves fail at it. It is best to start with an attorney that does exclusively social security work. They will do it on a low contingency.

[JoelT]

SS Disability for men with stage 4 prostate cancer is supposed to be accepted, however the SS administration is notorious for refusing all applications on the first go round.  Once you have been rejected (which is possible despite the regulation) you will need to appeal.  Always better to have an attorney who does this type of work write the appeal.

Joel

[sfboy58]

Last year (age 57) I was initially denied SS disability, so I hired a lawyer specializing in SS disability and was approved in February 2016.  I was certified as disabled starting in April 2015 which is the month after I retired and back benefits were approved starting in September 2015 (there is a 5 month waiting period from approval date).  The lawyer fee is set by the SS Administration at 25% of back benefits to a max of $6,000. Well worth the cost!

[MrJack]

I will be doing that next year, it is getting very difficult for me to work.

[Marc116]

I have had metastatic prostate to bones cancer for 7 years. I worked up until the end of September 2015.  I had private disability insurance as a urologist which covered me for residual disability after a 3 month waiting period. The residual disability was to to my inability to work at my previous capacity due to chronic fatigue, etc for ADT.

When I retired I went to full disability at the age of 64.  I applied for Social Security disability.  There was a 5 month waiting period and recently received my first monthly payment.

The difference between the retirement payment and the disability payment is that the payment was about $200 more per month and the waiting period.  I also have a 9 year old daughter and she gets a monthly payment until she is 18.  My wife is not working and she also gets a payment equal to my daughter until my daughter is 16.  So the disability payments are better in my case.

Having had to fill out these forms in the past it is crucial the the PCP and oncologist do it promptly and accurately.  The must state that you are unable to work due to the illness and side affects of the treatment, such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle loss, etc.

I did my form online and since I listed metastatic cancer they actually called me and asked if i was going to die in the near future.  I said no that this i was in remission but that could change at any time and it was the side affects that made me unable to work.

Despite being a federal program you have to deal with your local office and whoever is behing the computer on that given day.

Good luck!

Marc

[BAPMiami in reply to Marc116]

Hello MARC116 - so if you draw a retirement (State of Florida), they will reduce the monthly benefits?

[Hidden]

I don't necessarily see the need for a lawyer. I had applied and was denied, but in the mean time SS approved fast-track for men with recurring disease. I had a lawyer at the time, and was approved. But, I had to explain to my lawyer why I should be approved, and he passed the info on to SS.

If you have PSA's showing a rise after going nil, you will be approved. I'm sorry , I looked for the info I had and must have deleted it. As long as SS has the info, you can call them and keep them on it. 

Good Luck, Joe

I googled SS for Pca, and there's an application online. Can't get easier than that, huh?

[Hidden]

I'm putting this here so everyone can see it. Google SS and Pca, You will find the application. No lawyers involved. 

Joe

[rhowar20]

I was diagnosed in 2011 had surgery the same year, work for two years after recovery! Two years later was informed by my doctors that I no longer needed to continue doing the type of work that I was doing (Recg Manager), due to risk of injury. Applied for SSDI in April of 2014, approved same month, five month waiting period for first benefit check, approved due illness being on Compassionate Allowance Listing, Most all cancers are!!

[cfrees1]

Thanks for starting this discussion, I had been wondering the same thing.  

[Dan59]

Stage 4 metastatic Prostate cancer is on the list for guaranteed approval, I am very surprised anyone is having any difficulty, It can be done over the phone. The only problem I know of is that in 2 years you have to go on medicare, which is only a problem if your previous insurance was better

[Dr_WHO]

Can you apply if you took early retirement?  I am 58 years old with T3N1 ductal PCa.  Had surgery three weeks ago and will be starting radiation/hormonal/chemo in another three weeks.  The type of ductal cancer I have is rare (~0.4%) and aggressive.  Very few doctors are familier wit it.  There is one specialist at the U of Michigan who is an expert.  The issue is that she is out of network.  If I could get on SSI I may be able to afford to see her.

[Fastf250ps in reply to Dr_WHO]

Sorry to hear that. God bless.

[RA-MA]

My husband was diagnosed spring of 2014 with t3bn1m0 stage IV. We did the application online and when we looked, you had to be castrate resistant. SS turned down the request. We hired an attorney that told us that 100% of appeals get turned down and then we would go before a judge. My husband was in and out with the judge in about 10 min. Even the lawyer said we should never have been turned down. Between applying and getting complete disability, my husband developed lymphedema which the judge concentrated on. Money goes back to when you applied. We had to pay taxes on the whole thing in one year plus tax on the $6000 for the attorney. Worth it in the long run.

Maybe they turned him down because he was still responding to hormone therapy we did have all doctors document his lethargy as well as memory issues

[Fastf250ps]

Thanks all for your responses!!

[cplgrunt03]

I got Social Security Disability for having recurrent prostate cancer. I filed and got it when I was 63. If you go on the Social Security website secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.... it will list the criteria. I filed the request myself, supplied my Doctors name for SSA to get records and went for an evaluation exam. I waited about 5 months to get my disability approved. The payment was the amount I would have gotten at full retirement age, 66. At 66 it stops being a disability payment and reverts to normal Social Security payment.

You can do it yourself. If you need to appeal a lawyer might be in order. Anything you send to the SSA get a signed receipt for it from the post office.

[BigRich in reply to cplgrunt03]

SS Disability; thank you for the link.

[erjlg3 in reply to cplgrunt03]

And keep handy copies of EVERYTHING. If you don't want to give up Attorney fees. Have your Congressman help you.

[motosue]

What about receiving benefits from the VA if you're a veteran and went to Vietnam on a ship?

[cplgrunt03 in reply to motosue]

You can receive benefits from the VA if they deem you having been in country. Recurrent prostate cancer is a 100% disability ratingt and you can receive approx. $3,000.00 a month. There are other benefits form the VA if you are rated 100% as well. Read this link for additional info. I am rate 100% by the VA for agent Orange related PCa. publichealth.va.gov/exposur...

[motosue]

Thanks !!!! I don't have recurrent prostate cancer yet so probably denied.

[PeterArtiste]

here in canada i applied first for employment insurance, sickness benefits, then after 4 months i put in application for cpp disability benefits. because of the way my doctor phrased the letter, i was approved within two weeks. So yes stage 4 with mets and not able to work again, - permanently disabled.

[Fastf250ps in reply to PeterArtiste]

Glad you got that taken care of, but I am sorry and saddened by the disease which allowed you to qualify. Best Regards!

[TR54]

There are 13 categories that the social security administration has are automatic acceptance for DI. You can google the ssa.gov and look them up. I was approved. I’m stage 4. You will need of course you doctor to complete the questionnaire and sign it. Also in the state of California you can get up 52 weeks of DI.

[Fastf250ps in reply to TR54]

Thank you.

[TR54 in reply to Fastf250ps]

Sorry I’m new here. I just noticed you posted your q 2 years ago.

[Thommylee]

I’m 61 and suffer from recurrent prostate cancer and side affects from radiation, lupron and another medicine to slow down the matasis. I also have stricture disease and horrible incontinence and must have dilation to clean out the scar tissue blocking the bladder. Social security determined that although my condition is debilitating I can still follow instructions and report daily for a job.