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Posted 4/12/2015 4:43 AM (GMT -5)
Did any of you end up getting SSDI for any issues related to prostate cancer? What did you have to go through to get it?
Posted 4/12/2015 7:50 AM (GMT -5)
It all depends.   The first question is...are you totally and permanently disabled from the cancer, or do you expect it to be terminal within the next 12 months?   That is basically what is required by social security.   Most men are not....thankfully.

Having said that, SSDI does have a list of serious conditions and diseases that place you at the front of the line if you are serious enough to qualify.   One of our members in Atlanta used the program, but his PSA was multiples of yours and he had numerous mets in his lungs.   As I remember, he was able to apply and receive a very quick approval.

For most all SSDI situations the first application is routinely denied as are most initial appeals.   This process can take months or years.   Then a SSDI specialist attorney is hired by you and the chances may go up.   To me your signature indicates your disease is not nearly as advanced as many men who are obviously not disabled from the disease (me included as I have missed only 3 days of work since the diagnosis).   This is a good thing that most men including some very high risk and advanced cases find they respond well to treatment and can keep their life intact.   They then manage the disease in much the same way the majority of diabetics manage their disease.   Chronic, but thankfully, not disabling.   However, your specifics will determine the outcome.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, just want to point out that SSDI is most often very tough to get.   Your level of disease and how it actually limits you will determine your outcome.   There are great places to study the requirements starting with www.socsec.gov.

Posted 4/12/2015 9:23 AM (GMT -5)
Glad JNF wrote all that up. Saved me the keystrokes.
wink

But yes, I did the evaluation with my Uro/Surgeon, who would have to explain my condition at some point. He has seen many try, and not so many succeed. The biggest problem in the process is that you may be prevented from doing your current job by side effects. But are you prevented from doing any job at all, even part-time? Most are not.

As mentioned, there are some key factors that get you a "compassionate" approval, but none of us want those in our sigs.
Posted 4/12/2015 10:13 AM (GMT -5)
Not sure if this applies to your situation, but here's a bit more information, possibly useful to know:

www.prostatecancerroundtable.net/ssa-announces-benefit-for-men-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer/

It notes that men who have "hormone refractory prostate cancer" will now qualify for "... an expedited decision on an application for Social Security Disability benefits."

It also contains a link to the page on the Social Security website that goes into more detail.
Posted 4/12/2015 12:25 PM (GMT -5)
Well....heres something I found on the web:

The following types of prostate cancer qualify automatically for disability benefits:
•Prostate cancer that progresses despite hormonal treatment.
•Prostate cancer that recurs despite hormonal treatment.
•Prostate cancer that has metastasized to other internal organs.


That said....I still believe you have to be unable to perform your last job because of the disability....Once I became Hormone refractory and found out I had widespread Bone mets...I put in for SSDI at the age of 52.

Instead of putting in for it on my own....I went straight to a well known (good reputation) SSDI lawyer. That's all he did was SSDI. he told me to put in for it as well on my own since I was never rejected....at the same time he also put me in for it and all 3 of my doctors were close to his office as well. 3 weeks later I received my backpay check in my bank account...I couldn't believe It took just 3 weeks for the whole process but once again I was physically in a lot of back pain from the bone mets and could NOT do my last job. Also since My doctor supposedly listed me as terminal I wont get reviewed again for 5-6 years. Most people get reviewed every year or so by SS. I am still in pain although the bone mets has scarred over in most areas...except for new spots on the ribs and hips. However I still need Oxycontin and Oxycodone for pain relief....I suspect there must have been some damage done to my spine with all the mets....at one point my entire spine was one big tumor....and I had 10 days of spot radiation to the spine which I don't think helped at all.

Not sure your at the stage yet for SSDI, and remember, even if you meet the 3 requirements above...you still need to be unable to perform your last job. I believe the only job I could do at this point is a desk job...and I would need to take pain killers on the job as well. Not sure if certain jobs want you working while on narcotics...I know some don't.
Posted 4/15/2015 8:27 PM (GMT -5)
Yes. I am 100% on SSD, not for the PC itself, but the permanent damage caused by surgery and radiation as the result of having PC.

Yes, on my own, it was a long protracted fight. Until I got a good SSD lawyer. Once that was done, it was approved in under 6 months.

My advice to anyone considering this route, go to a good SSD attorney on day one. The good ones will know instantly if you have a winnable case or not, and can save you a lot of time and grief. In most states, their fee (cut) is mandated, and is well worth it.

As an addition, just remembered:

My lawyer said its easier once you are well over 50, and if you are 100% vested into the SS systems.  I was 56 at dx, and had 34 years of vesting into the system and was 100%.  There is a financial side they consider in their decision, someone trying to get on SSD at age 30, regardless of the reason, has a higher level of proof from that point of view.

Now that I am 62 and almost 63, I could have been on early SS anyway.  Also, due to my limitations and conditions, I was marked "permanent" from day one, and do not ever have to be reviewed again by SS.

Post Edited (Purgatory) : 4/15/2015 7:33:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/16/2015 1:33 AM (GMT -5)
http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/

There's a link that explains compassionate allowances and a link on bottom of page to the list with explanations.

My husband got it quickly without question at 47 but he's got innumerable Mets to lungs and has lymph, liver and bone involvement. The liver and bone involvement wasn't known at the time he was approved, that was noted just after. His psa before treatment began was 115.

It still hasn't been a year since diagnosis yet. They even backdated his claim to several months before he was diagnosed which was a surprise.

It took a couple months if I remember, maybe even 3 or 4. That time was such a blur as he was in hospital nearly the entire time from complications and we'd actually forgot about him applying with all that was happening. We never thought he was going to come out of the hospital actually.

I remember thinking he must not have completed the online application and never gave it a thought again until suddenly his bank account balance jumped and we thought it was a bank error! He was just so sick that it wasn't a priority and even he was convinced he hadn't finished that application and couldn't even remember his log in or password.

That said, his case seems to be the exception and not the norm. I know of one other man under 50 who was granted it quickly and it was within a month.

The big thing is visceral Mets... Basically in other organs and if I remember just bone Mets doesn't qualify. Read up and see what it says.

darn phone keeps making Mets in caps and I despise the Mets team!!

I truly hope you don't meet the qualifications for it....
Posted 4/16/2015 2:28 PM (GMT -5)
I am Paul, Kukukajoo's hubby. I've had some experience going through the process. I went to the S.S. web site and set up an account. then I gathered all the information from doctors names, specialties, tests and results and medication and what the purpose of each one was. Then I filed for disability on line. It's quite a long application requiring a LOT of details. This is where all the documents you gathered come in handy, every scrap of paper helps.

I truly expected to be denied and then need to get a lawyer if I was going to go for it with gusto. One of the last things they ask on the online application is to make copies of everything and send it to your local S.S. office. This is the part I didn't get to. All I got done before going into the hospital was the online portion. The only thing I heard from them was a voice mail asking for me to call back because they had some questions. I called a few times only getting the reps voice mail. I figured that was a pretty good indicator that I was going to be denied. Basically with everything else going on we just forgot about it completely. about a month or less later money just appeared in my account (had filed for direct deposit on the app)

I did list every single bit of info. They must have made the calls to the doctors and verified everything and signed off on it. To this day I haven't spoken to or corresponded with a soul at Social Security. I did it as a "what the hell, why not give it a shot" attitude.

I say if your in a financial bind to do the same. File on line. at the worst you'll get the first denial out of the way. Obvioslly having mets gets it done faster.

Be well and fight on!
Paul
Posted 4/17/2015 9:46 AM (GMT -5)
I first applied for disability once I had a clear idea how aggressive my cancer was. After I applied I found an ad for a disability attorney who ended up taking my case. This was January 7, 2014. In September of 2014 I was denied benefits and my attorney filed for reconsideration. My reconsideration was subsequently denied and an appeal was filed. I recently received a letter from the appeals court that they were attempting to approve me based upon my application and medical records but to date, nothing! I called Social Security who found my case. She informed me that my appeal could take years before it is heard. I haven't had steady work since my diagnosis and my financial rope has run out. Still nothing.

My guess is that your doctor will play an important role on whether you get benefits or not. I have not discussed my application for disability with my doctors. My personal thought is that they should have a clear understanding about my disease and could articulate without my prompting. That rationale was likely incorrect.

My previous occupations were primarily desk positions so there isn't a whole lot of physical activity. My denial stated that I could still do the work I did before but the meds and the cancer have taken their toll on me.

If you feel that you cannot work I would strongly encourage you to talk with your doctors and explain to them what your limitations are since you were diagnosed. Without their support getting disability is going to be an uphill battle.
Posted 4/17/2015 3:12 PM (GMT -5)
Kukagoo...I only had bone mets...and no other organs and still qualified in less than 3 weeks from applying. Ive never heard about just visceral mets....especially since disability is based off of being in pain to where you cant do your last job ...and bone mets is more painful than most other mets as far as Ive heard. Then again my back and hip pain has never really gottwen better in the 2 years I had mets but yet much of the bone tumors have turned to lesions/scars. Only new tumors is in 3 ribs and shoulders....yet my back pain has gotten worse this month...My Onc. says chemo will sometimes make the pain worse though.....and I also had an allergic reaction to my last chemo round ....my whole body turned beet read and I felt like I was gonna burst in flames...they said some people have allergic reactions to taxatere which is strange because I had no problems at all my first 3 infusions....weird stuff!
Posted 4/18/2015 5:43 PM (GMT -5)
Casper glad you got it. I don't think that's a solid line but definitely I would assume the point of no return. Possibly because it shows that the cancer is very advanced when in bones and organs? Its typical to go from prostate then bones then organs if I remember correctly.

Whatever the process I'm thankful it's there and thankful every time I hear those who need it didn't have to fight until near death to prove they need it before being approved.

In the medical field I see both.... Those playing the system like some magic hand in poker and those that desperately need it being denied time after time. That stress and hardship that can cause is difficult to watch.
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