Being diagnosed with any medical condition is bad enough. It doesn’t get any better if you are diagnosed with a terminal condition like mesothelioma.
While there are treatments that can extend your life expectancy, there is no doubt that life will never be the same if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma. And as the disease progresses, you are likely to lose your ability to work and care for yourself as well as afford costly medical care.
Social Security Disability for mesothelioma
Social Security Disability (SSD) is a federally-funded program that provides financial relief for qualified individuals who are unable to work due to a disabling condition. However, even with a terminal condition, you may not qualify for disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict eligibility requirements that you must satisfy to qualify for the benefits.
Generally, to be eligible for disability benefits, the SSA must be satisfied that your condition is disabling. This means that:
- Your condition should prevent you from engaging in any substantially gainful activity
- Your condition must be expected to last for at least 12 months or be terminal
Thus, if you have just been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you can still work, then you may not be eligible for SSD benefits. However, if you have developed significant limitations since your diagnosis, then you may be eligible.
Mesothelioma and compassionate allowance
The SSA recently added pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma to its Compassionate Allowance List. Basically, this is a list of medical conditions that the SSA classifies as disabling. If you have been diagnosed with either type of mesothelioma, then your claim may be expedited to ensure that you receive the benefits you need.
Protecting your interests
If you are diagnosed with a terminal condition like mesothelioma, you may be eligible for financial restitution through the Social Security Disability benefits claim. Learning more about the SSD claims process can help you protect your interests while pursuing the benefits you are entitled to.