Breast Cancer and Social Security

Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer? If so, you might be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly financial resources for people in need. While breast cancer doesn’t always qualify, women who have advanced cancer or who are unable to work due to treatments may be eligible.

Meeting Medical Criteria

The SSA has its own guidelines for medical approval for disability benefits. Breast cancer is listed as a qualifying condition for disability benefits if you can meet one of the following:

• You have IBC or metastatic breast cancer
• Your cancer returned after a round of treatment
• Your cancer is inoperable
• You had secondary lymphedema requiring surgery to restore the function of an arm
• Your cancer has spread to 10+ auxiliary nodes
• Your cancer has spread to the collar bone

The SSA’s medical criteria for approval with breast cancer can be found online, so you can review the listing with your oncologist to determine if you qualify. Here’s a little more information on meeting medical criteria with breast cancer.

Qualifying Without Meeting Criteria

Breast cancer typically needs to be Stage III-B or beyond to qualify, but this doesn’t mean that women with earlier stages of breast cancer will automatically be denied benefits. You can still be approved if you’re able to show that your symptoms or treatment complications prevent you from performing any work.

To qualify without meeting eligibility criteria, you’ll need to be out of work for at least 12 months. Social Security disability benefits aren’t temporary, so if your chemotherapy or other treatments are only expected to last for three to six months, your claim will be denied.

You’ll also have a better chance of qualifying if you’ve typically had physical jobs, as the SSA will believe that it’s harder to perform heavy work while undergoing cancer therapies. An applicant who’s worked in retail all her life may be able to argue that the fatigue and nausea from chemotherapy prevents her from standing all day.

An RFC will go a long way in helping your approval—you can download this SSA-standard document online for your oncologist to fill out on your behalf. An RFC (short for Residual Functional Capacity) form identifies how much physical work you’re able to do.

Starting Your Application

You can apply for Social Security benefits online. This is the recommended application method, as it’s fast and you can even save your progress to complete at a later time. If you’d rather have help from a Social Security representative, you can apply at your closest Social Security office.

You will not need to submit any physical medical records proving your breast cancer diagnosis—if you give the SSA the names of your healthcare providers, the organization will gather your medical records on your behalf. It is important to note that you shouldn’t leave any questions blank on the application. Be as thorough as possible when describing how your cancer and its treatments affect your ability to work. The more evidence you have proving your claim, the better your odds of approval.

Helpful Links

SSA’s Website: https://www.ssa.gov/

Medical qualification with breast cancer: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/13.00-NeoplasticDiseases-Malignant-Adult.htm#13_10
Additional Information on Qualifying: https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disabling-conditions/breast-cancer

Download an RFC: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms/images/SSA4/G-SSA-4734-U8-1.pdf

List of Social Security locations: https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/social-security-disability-locations

Resources and Information provided by: Deanna Power, Director of outreach and Social Security Disability benefits help.

The information provided here is for reference purposes only, please check with your local social security office for more information.