Can a person with a terminal illness qualify for Disability benefits?

To be eligible for benefits, a person must be unable to do any kind of substantial gainful work because of a physical or mental impairment (or a combination of impairments), which is expected either to last at least 12 months or to end in death.  more

Yes. The requirements for disability benefits are the same for a person with a potentially terminal illness as for a person with a non-terminal illness. We make every effort to identify a case involving a person with a potentially terminal illness as early in the claims process as possible and we have special procedures we follow to process the claim as quickly as possible. We may become aware of the potentially terminal illness through statements from the person claiming disability, or from the persons friend, family member, doctor or other medical source. Or there may be an allegation or diagnosis of AIDS, or indications that the person is registered in a Medicare-designated hospice or is receiving hospice care. Regardless of the potentially terminal illness or how we learn about it, we tightly control the case throughout the claims process and make special efforts to assist the person in providing necessary evidence.

Yes. The requirements for disability benefits are the same for a person with a potentially terminal illness as for a person with a non-terminal illness. We make every effort to identify a case involving a person with a potentially terminal illness as early in the claims process as possible and we have special procedures we follow to process the claim as quickly as possible. We may become aware of the potentially terminal illness through statements from the person claiming disability, or from the person’s friend, family member, doctor or other medical source. Or there may be an allegation or diagnosis of AIDS, or indications that the person is registered in a Medicare-designated hospice or is receiving hospice care. Regardless of the potentially terminal illness or how we learn about it, we tightly control the case throughout the claims process and make special efforts to assist the person in providing necessary evidence. Get answers to your Social Security questions each Thursday ...  more

Yes. The requirements for disability benefits for a person with a terminal illness are no different than the requirements for disability benefits for a person with a non-terminal illness. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has special procedures for deciding claims involving terminal illnesses more quickly than other claims. The SSA may become aware of the potentially terminal illness through statements from the disabled person, a friend, family member, doctor or other medical source. Other indications, such as the registration of a person in a Medicare-designated hospice, or a person receiving hospice care, also indicate a potentially terminal illness.  more

Yes. The requirements for disability benefits are the same for a person with a potentially terminal illness as for a person with a non-terminal illness. We make every effort to identify a case involving a person with a potentially terminal illness as early in the claims process as possible and we have special procedures we follow to process the claim as quickly as possible. We may become aware of the potentially terminal illness through statements from the person claiming disability, or from the person’s friend, family member, doctor or other medical source. Or there may be an allegation or diagnosis of AIDS, or indications that the person is registered in a Medicare-designated hospice or is receiving hospice care. Regardless of the potentially terminal illness or how we learn about it, we tightly control the case throughout the claims process and make special efforts to assist the person in providing necessary evidence.  more

Yes. The requirements for disability benefits for a person with a terminal illness are no different than the requirements for disability benefits for a person with a non-terminal illness. However, we have special procedures for deciding claims involving terminal illnesses more quickly than other claims. We may become aware of the potentially terminal illness through statements from the disabled person, a friend, family member, doctor or other medical source. Other indications, such as the registration of a person in a Medicare-designated hospice, or a person receiving hospice care, also indicate a potentially terminal illness.  more