DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR LARGE INTESTINE CANCER
Large intestine cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer among both men and women in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 150,000 new cases of large intestine cancer are diagnosed annually. Almost 50,000 cases result in death.
Risk factors include age, as most cases occur in people over 50. Other risk factors are a family history of the disease, genetic conditions, a diet high in red meat, smoking, and lack of physical activity. Despite its prevalence, large intestine cancer is highly treatable if detected early.
Large intestine cancer is one of the most serious diagnoses a person can receive. It often involves aggressive treatment, extensive recovery, and complications that can make it impossible to work. Therefore, if you have cancer of the large intestine, then you should apply for SSDI and SSI benefits.
The SSA recognizes this disease in its Listing of Impairments under Section 13.18, which outlines when large intestine cancer qualifies for disability benefits. At our SSD law firm, we’ve worked with many clients facing a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, we understand how to navigate the SSA’s system to secure the benefits you deserve. Hire the best social security lawyer disability to help you through the appeal process.
FILING FOR SSD BENEFITS AFTER A CANCER DIAGNOSIS
After finding out that you have large intestine cancer, filing for Social Security Disability benefits might not be the first thing on your mind. But if your treatment plan includes chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, then applying for benefits early can help you avoid financial stress.
The application process begins either online or through a local Social Security office. Once you file, the SSA will begin collecting medical records from your doctors. Next, they will evaluate whether you meet their listing requirements.
For cancer cases, especially those involving metastatic disease or recurrent tumors, the SSA may process your claim through the Compassionate Allowance system. This means they will prioritize your case for faster review. However, fast review only happens if your paperwork is in order. Therefore, you must submit a complete and detailed application.
If you’re receiving care from a large medical center or cancer institute, then make sure the SSA has direct access to your records. If you’re being treated by an expert, then confirm all relevant records are sent. Delays often occur not because the applicant doesn’t qualify, but because medical records were never received. Or, the record did not contain the necessary information.
FILE FOR SSD BENEFITS FOR LARGE INTESTINE CANCER
If you have large intestine cancer, then there are two types of benefits you can file for under the Social Security program: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. In order to receive benefits, you must first file an application. You can do this on Social Security’s website. Below, you will find an explanation as to each type of benefit you can file for if you have large intestine cancer:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
SSDI benefits are for those who have worked consistently and can no longer work at any job due to a medical condition. The amount of money you will receive from SSDI benefits every month is based on how much Social Security tax you have paid during your work history.
To qualify for SSDI, you must have earned enough work credits. A work credit is an amount of taxable income. You can earn up to 4 work credits per year. The amount of work credits you will need will depend on how old you are when you apply. If you haven’t earned enough work credits for your age at the time you apply, then you will only qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
SSI is a needs based program. SSI provides financial support to disabled individuals who have limited income and resources, regardless of their work history. For example, children can receive SSI benefits.
Eligibility includes: 1) Having a severe disability that keeps you from working for over one year. 2) Your income and resources must fall below certain limits. Learn about the rules for SSI benefits.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS LARGE INTESTINE CANCER UNDER SSA’S RULES
The SSA classifies large intestine cancer as any malignant tumor that begins in the colon or rectum, from the ileocecal valve through the large bowel, stopping before the anal canal. The most common type of large intestine cancer is adenocarcinoma.
In order to meet Listing 13.18, the cancer must be inoperable, unresectable, recurrent, or have metastasized beyond the regional lymph nodes. A less common variant, small cell carcinoma, automatically qualifies for benefits due to its aggressive nature.
If your cancer meets any one of these medical criteria, then the SSA considers your condition severe enough to keep you from working. Therefore, you should win SSD benefits by meeting a listing at step three.
MEETING LISTING 13.18: What the SSA Requires
When filing for SSD benefits, simply having a diagnosis of colon cancer is not enough. The SSA requires specific medical evidence that proves your large intestine cancer meets the listing.
For example, if your doctor determines your cancer tumor cannot be removed, then that information must be in your medical records.
Recurrence after treatment is also sufficient to meet the listing. In cases where the cancer has spread to distant organs or lymph nodes beyond the local area, imaging and biopsy reports become crucial to proving disability. These are not optional details. Instead, they are the foundation of your case.
WHY MEDICAL EVIDENCE IS THE HEART OF YOUR SSD CLAIM
In every disability case, the strength of the medical evidence determines the strength of the claim. This is especially true for cancer cases. The SSA does not make decisions based solely on a diagnosis. Instead, the SSA looks at how the condition affects your body and your ability to function.
In the case of large intestine cancer, they want to see imaging results and progress notes from your treating doctor. The reports must show whether the tumor can be removed, whether it has come back after treatment, or whether it has spread beyond its original location. These are the specific rules from Listing 13.18. Therefore, your medical file must address them clearly.
One of the most common reasons claims are denied is that the medical record is vague or incomplete. If your doctor’s note simply says “tumor removal attempted” without clarifying whether the tumor was fully resected, then the SSA may not find the cancer meets the listing. Likewise, if your imaging shows enlarged lymph nodes but does not specify that metastasis has occurred beyond regional nodes, then your claim may also not meet the listing.
That is why it’s so important to work closely with your doctors. It is also why you should hire an experienced disability attorney who can ensure that your records contain the correct language.
THE ROLE OF RECURRENCE IN LARGE INTESTINE CANCER
One of the most important aspects of SSA Listing 13.18 is how it handles recurrence and metastasis. If your cancer has returned after a period of remission, that alone can be enough to qualify you under the listing.
The SSA recognizes that recurrent cancer usually requires another round of treatment. It also indicates that the disease remains active. Even if you responded well to treatment, a recurrence changes things.
Similarly, if the cancer has spread—particularly to organs such as the liver, lungs, or distant lymph nodes—that is severe under SSA standards. The listing does not require that the metastasis be untreatable. It only requires that the cancer spread beyond the regional nodes.
This is a critical distinction. A person who receives active treatment for metastatic disease may still qualify for benefits even if they are doing well with treatment. The SSA bases its decision not on the side effects of treatment alone, but on the severity of the disease as defined in the listing.
TREATMENT FOR LARGE INTESTINE CANCER
The treatment for cancer of the large intestine, depends the stage of your cancer, the location of the tumor, and your overall health. Your team of doctors will develop your treatment plan. The doctors on your team may include surgeons, radiation doctors, and other cancer experts. Here are some common treatment options for this form of cancer:
SURGERY
Surgery is a common treatment for cancer of the large intestine. It removes tumors along with nearby lymph nodes and tissues. Tumor removal is the surgery that is done when the cancer is caught at an early stage.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells or slow down their growth. For example, people undergo chemotherapy prior to surgery to shrink the tumor. Also, they undergo chemo after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes, it is the primary treatment for advanced cancer cases. Chemo may be used in combination with other treatments.
RADIATION THERAPY
Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to target and destroy cancer cells. The most common type of radiation is called external beam radiation therapy, which is radiation from a machine outside the body.
If you have internal radiation therapy, then your radiation uses implants. Radiation shrinks tumors prior to surgery. Also, radiation kills any remaining cancer cells after surgery. In some cases, doctors use radiation to relieve symptoms in advanced stages of the disease.
Unfortunately, there are side effects from radiation. The side effects can include fatigue, skin reactions, upset stomach, and urinary symptoms. You may also experience loose bowel movements and pain when having a bowel movement. Scar tissue can also form from the damage to anal tissue. Also, scar tissue can interfere with bowel function. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is complete.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR SSD CLAIM IS DENIED?
Even when a claim is strong, it can still be denied—especially at the initial stage. Almost 90% of claims are denied at the initial stage. This can be incredibly frustrating for people with serious disease like large intestine cancer. Many people assume that once they submit their records, the SSA will understand their condition. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
The SSA’s decision process requires very specific language. If your medical records don’t directly address Listing 13.18, then you might not win benefits. This is true even if you clearly cannot work.
A denial at the initial level is not the end of your case. It simply means your need to appeal. People get upset that they must appeal. They think their case should be granted right away. But most cases are denied.
Therefore, the first appeal is filing for reconsideration. At this stage, a new SSA worker reviews your file and any additional evidence you submit. If you are missing an imaging report or if your doctor didn’t clearly state that they cannot operate on your cancer, then this is your opportunity to fix that.
If your case is denied again, then the next step is to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. The hearing stage in the five step disability process is where many cancer claims are won. The ALJ has the authority to review your entire medical record, listen to testimony, and make an independent decision.
PREPARE FOR YOUR ALJ HEARING IF YOU HAVE LARGE INTESTINE CANCER
It essential to prepare for the hearing so that you can explain your symptoms of large intestine cancer. You will need to explain how the cancer has affected your ability to function on a daily basis. You will also need to talk about how the treatment impacts your life. Your attorney can use your medical evidence to prove your cancer meets the SSA’s listing. This is where experienced representation makes the biggest difference.
We recommend you do not go to your hearing without an attorney. Because a lawyer can prepare you to testify. She can explain the judge’s questions and help you prepare your answers. Preparation will help you win your case.
Those who go to the hearing without a lawyer are usually not successful in winning benefits. You should hire an attorney who has legal experience winning SSDI and SSI benefits. Contact our SSD law firm. We can help you win Social Security benefits for large intestine cancer.
WHY HIRING A LAWYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE
At our firm, we’ve seen how an SSD lawyer can change the outcome of a case. Many people who file SSD claims try to do it on their own. Some are successful—but many are not. The SSA’s system is filled with technical language, deadlines, and complex rules. Missing a step or sending in the wrong evidence can derail an otherwise valid claim.
When we represent clients with large intestine cancer, we take the time to build the case from the ground up. That starts with a review of your full medical record to determine exactly how your condition matches Listing 13.18. We communicate directly with your doctors to ensure that key language—terms like “inoperable” or “metastatic”—is in your records. We also help you submit forms that explain how large intestine cancer interferes with your ability to work.
If your case proceeds to a hearing, then we prepare you to testify. We anticipate questions that may come up. Also, we help you understand what to expect so that nothing feels unexpected on the day of your hearing. Our goal is not just to present your medical history, but to explain your story in a way that the judge understands. It’s not just about facts—it’s about framing those facts in a way that meets the law.
OUR COMMITMENT TO CLIENTS FACING LARGE INTESTINE CANCER
Our SSD law firm has helped over 20,000 people win Social Security Disability benefits. But when we represent clients with large intestine cancer, we know that what’s at stake isn’t just financial stability—it’s peace of mind during one of the hardest times in life. We take that responsibility seriously.
If you have large intestine cancer, and your condition meets Listing 13.18, then you may qualify for benefits. We can help you gather the right evidence, submit a complete and accurate application, and pursue appeals if necessary. And if your case is eligible for a Compassionate Allowance, we’ll make sure SSA sees the urgency and moves quickly.
You don’t have to do this alone. From the first phone call to the final decision, we’ll be with you. We will answer your questions, prepare your file, and fight for the SSD benefits you deserve. If you are facing large intestine cancer and you can no longer work, then contact our SSD law firm. We’re here to help. Put our experience to work for you.
