Hello Indychuck, it's me again. I just bought a book about applying for social security benefits and how to win your case. Let me know if you would like the title and author. I've heard that everyone is denied the first time around so don't give up. Make sure you provide plenty of documentation from your doctor, etc.

My husband is diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, we applied received all paperwork from our Insurance Co social worker, we made sure to have Dr note showing disabled and for how long (his was ongoing no none recovery date) we called the Social Security number like you did and got a phone interview and was honest and my husband was notified few wks later was all approved it took about 3-4 months were in Ca. I think they are more leanient with Cancer patients, they let us know if husband gets to go back to work we need to let them know right away. Good luck hope this helped.

I talked to a lawyer and he said he didn't want to take 25% of my $$ (he was a friend of a friend) said that SS will call your dr. for all your records- have the nurse that sends out the info- to put a coversheet that says cancer patient- the stage you in an highlight it with a yellow marker. It worked for me. That and the Lord. Good Luck

KBiz: please send name and author of book. Thanks.

Chuck

My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer, he applied for disability and SSI and he automatically got it. We live in Alabama but all he had to do was his interview on the phone, paperwork for his doctors with his diagnosis and he automatically received disability. You should not have any problems at all. If you need any additional help please send me a message and I will help. my email address is jmb9969@yahoo.com if I don't respond to this board, I don't get on it everyday.

hi i had apendacel cancer and it went to my colon and now i have cancer on my liver. this was in june. i applied for 100% disability. i went on line and filled out all the necessary papers and had the drs fill them out before i went to ssoffice. its alot of running around,but i will get my first ck in feb. so get your work started and have it all ready and there should be no problem. hope that you feel better. always bev

Update: based on what I have heard from others, perhaps regional offices do things differently. I scheduled an appointment, they sent me a letter encouraging me to fill out as many forms online as possible. I chose to do that and spend about 5 hours filling out forms online. I highly encourage this method. Since my memory and thinking skills are impaired right now, I was better able to represent my situation.

If you intend to return to work full time, can you qualify for soc sec disability? I don't know -but your note made it seem like you wanted to return to work. Also, I'm on short term disabiliy thru my work and they legally have to keep a job for me. It may not be the same job but it has to be the same pay and similar job duties. When my status turns to long term disability this spring, I think they can cut my job. Then I can apply for the soc sec disabilty without any issues. But I intend to return to work as my company has been very supportive during my chemp. Heck, my boss even took an afternoon off to take me to chemo one Friday when my husband couldn't go - is that supportive or what?

Chuck,
The name of the book is "Win your Social Security Disability Case" by Benjamin H. Berkley (attorney at law) published by Spinx Legal.

The discussion led me to apply -online for benefits I should quarlift for Feb 1st, i was denied becaue I had no completed ther 3.5 hour report. This after the online took two hours. So bebutte hat being sick did not give me the luxry of 5 hours. Heck if i cold do that I would work! Background, I work in the Federal Gov for years so in know how they play and i will continue to play nice. Second I've work in Commdercial Claims for a majpor carrie fo 17 year so I can both medcial and lawyer speak fleuntly.Give me a few weeks and I if can' crack the code then I suggest you read the books and possibly get counsel. But I warn in some states an attorney can take 18% o 300% f your settlement with no lawsuit, up to 50% if you do file a suit and stand before a judge at a WC hearing.Which do think the attorney wants. So if you can get the govrnemnt to accept our claim thru records,letters and oneime meetng - the that's probably they way to do. Afer all we have cancer - dignosed and not disputed like a "car whiplash" claim might be dispure for disabily.Good Lucj

When I first called I hoped to get a paper application. I was told either online or by appointment. Was way too sick from Chemo to apply in person or online in one session. When I felt more up to it, I called for an appointment. The mailed me a confirmation and highly suggested I fill out all or as much of the application online that I could. You can stop and save the information online and come back and work on it more later. I had a decent day and decided to put in what I could. Glad I did it. Gave me time to look up addresses and phone numbers and gave me time to more accurately fill out the forms. I brought up every side effect and symptom I have. Since my thinking and memory is still significantly impaired, doing it online let me cover stuff I would have forgotten in an interview. I was actually depressed after doing so because I realized how bad of shape my body is still in. The interview was pretty short since I already did most of the "grunt" work and the lady was professional. I can't imagine how long the appt. and follow up stuff would have been if I hadn't done most of it online. But I would set up the interview first and then do the online application. I would also take someone smart that you trust if you can. I don't know how much stuff I missed and forgot.

I have been trying to get social insecurity for over a year. I have filed 3 appeals and am waiting for the trial date..They can take years to schedule one and I am now living off of state aid with 2 kids (they have deemed me disabled)..I like all of you have cancer and am now in remission..I have permanent nerve damage caused by the chemo and the fatigue from the meds to try and control the nueropathy pain and or symptoms is astounding, how they expect me to hold a job is beyond me..They tell me that I will not be sick enough long enough to qualify..hence the hearing..I will let you know what happens..Everyone I know tells me to start seeing a counceler and go with the depression diagnosis and then I will qualify..I just can't believe that it is this hard to qualify for something I have been paying into for over 25 years..They sure did not have any trouble taking the money out of my paychecks..Keep the faith all..Kim

Last week I went to the required appt with the SS psychologist for depression and memory tests. She told me SS is just for those PERMANENTLY disabled. I have not verified this. If true, those of us temporarily disabled (which could mean years) are just out of luck.

I've completed the on-line forms and sent the medical authorizatons to my case handler so we're still plugging away on my end. I used to work for the Federal Government in Security Clearance work. We were trained to treat all with dignity and respect. I have to say the tone of the social security letters is quite the opposite. Rude and disjointed writing. Really insulting words they use - like we're all some crook or somthing. You'd think you'd get a little compassion for a Stage 3 colon cancer patient out of them!