Why Your Social Security Disability Benefits Were Denied For Your Oral Cancer Claim—And What You Can Do About It

Shortly after your diagnosis of oral cancer, you began thinking about your future. You could no longer earn the income you did just a few months ago because of your medical condition and so you quickly applied for Social Security disability benefits, but those benefits were denied.

Why Most Initial SSDI Applications Are Denied

The Social Security Administration (SSA) denies about two-thirds of the initial applications for disability benefits it receives each year. Some common reasons for the denial of Social Security disability include:

• Making a mistake on the application.
• Failing to complete the entire application.
• Failing to provide the documentation that must accompany the application.
• A finding that you can still work.

Get Help to Make an Appeal

Without seeing your application, we can’t tell you why the SSA denied your application, but we can tell you that you have the right to appeal. And we can tell you that your appeal may be successful. A denial by the SSA does not mean you are not disabled. You may very well be disabled according to a specific section of the Listing of Impairments that relates to your type of oral cancer, or cancer in general, or because your condition keeps you from working. However, you are going to have to prove that on appeal.

Before you begin the appeal process, it is important to:

• Review the reason why your application was denied. This should be provided to you by the SSA when you receive your notice of denial. If it was not provided, you should request it.
• Make sure your appeal will address everything included in the notice of denial. Otherwise, you may be wasting your time and delaying your benefits.

You have enough on your plate as you deal with treatment for your cancer. You do not have to make your appeal to the Social Security Administration alone. Instead, you have the right to work with an experienced lawyer who can make sure you are filing a solid appeal. If you have any questions, please start a live chat with us today so we can get you the answers you need.

by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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