I disagree with getting a lawyer. Mine took right around 4 months and they sent me the back pay to the date of my diagnosis minus the 5 month waiting period. An attorney takes 25% of your first check.

Cathi

I also do not think its necessary to hire an attorney to get SSD. All that you need to do is send supporting documents with a complete application. If everything is complete and you include medical records then you should easily get an approval the first time you apply. Including a letter from your doctor listing your disease, current side effects and your limitations will go a long way in helping to get approved.

You do not need an attorney. Mine was approved and Ill be getting my 1st check next month. All you have to have is good up to date medical records.
Thanks everyone for all your help with this issue. I dont know where Id be without you all.

Documentation and detail is the key. I have worked in medical insurance for 10 years. Also, you have the right to copies of all your records.

it doesn't automatically, but you do get SSI.... later the disability kicks in when, after several years,, they decide you REALLY DO have Cancer....$#$%@$

right on chris-- almost 60 years old and about to graduate.. medical technology information, billing and coding..qulity assurance.. you name it whatever I can learn!!!! all because i encountered some incidents with biller errors..it cost me being refused by my special teams surgeons ( ENT Cancer specialists).. now I am at the local college dentistry clinic and i want to make sure it doesn't happen again to me or anyone else if i can help it... any way I wanna ..double emphasize what Christine said "DOCUMENTATION" detailed documentation.. which is not just your papers... its making sure your providers are recording and documenting your situation accurately and in a timely dated matter....following correct procedural policies etc.. be proactive in your own healthcare and the maintaining your health records.... sorry i am still touchy about it....i din't mean to get off on a rant...

I worked about a month after my first surgery and then when I had a re-occurrence I had to have surgery again and then go through chemo/rads. I tried to continue to work but the chemo was making it pretty rough so I stopped working and applied for SS. One of the questions asked was relating to "how has your illness affected your ability to make a living" and when I answered that I had lost all this "work time" and could only work part-time for most of the last year the SS dept. awarded me the money I missed out on in one lump payment. Since your diagnosis is more sever, Im thinking that SS will compensate you for your lost time as well as put you on monthly benefits. They also told me that my medicare wait period of 2 years would only be one year due to my first diagnosis a year earlier.
Hope that helps.

This is an old post, but to add to Medicare qualifications, it's 29 months from your SSDI disability date, not from date of receiving payments, to be eligible, so check that out on your welcome package, and can make a difference when you are eligible for Medicare. That's the same amount of time allowed for Cobra payments, if disabled, and SSDI is applied for, to get a Cobra extension from 18 months to 29 months. I believe SSDI only goes back 5 months for back pay, but they went back to my disability date for Medicare purposes. Anyway, It all worked out between my short, and long term disability, and applying for SS, and not having any lost income or wait for Medicare other than the waiting period of 29 months.