You’ll never forget the day you were diagnosed with cervical cancer. It started out like any other: you went for a run in Morris Plains Park, picked up some groceries from the Super Stop and Shop, and went to your secretarial job at Littleton Elementary School. When you returned home, however, you received a call that would change your life forever: your biopsy came back positive for cervical cancer.
The disease and treatment have robbed you of your energy, your vitality, and your normal way of life. Instead of getting up and hitting the gym, you can barely sit up in bed. You haven’t been able to work in months, and now the only calls you seem to receive are from bill collectors threatening to turn off your electric, take away your car, and send you to court for your unpaid credit card bills. You don’t know what to do.
Social Security May Help
A cervical cancer diagnosis isn’t enough to begin receiving Social Security checks. You’ll have to qualify through other means. The Social Security Administration will examine a variety of aspects when determining your eligibility, including:
- Your working ability. You must not be currently working and must anticipate being off work for at least a year to receive benefits. Additionally, your condition must be considered “severe,” meaning it prevents you from being able to work.
- Meeting the impairment listing. Your cancer must either extend outside of your cervix, such as to your pelvic wall, vagina, or other organs, or be persistent and recurrent despite chemotherapy and other treatments, in order to qualify under the Social Security impairment listing for cervical cancer.
- Your background. The Administration will also take a look at your age and level of education in determining if you will be able to return to work. Generally, those who are older and have less education receive benefits more easily than those who are younger and have more education.
Contact Us Today
The legal team of Manfred F. Ricciardelli, Jr. can answer your questions regarding Social Security and may be able to help you receive the benefits. Contact us today to learn how.
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