Important: We updated this article in November 2024 after fact checking against current Social Security Administration (SSA) policy and data. If you are one of the estimated 152,810 people diagnosed with colon cancer this year, you likely have many questions. You might worry about the next steps, if you’ll live to see your kids grow up, what will happen at work, etc. But most importantly, how you’ll handle it all financially. Another natural question might be, “Can you get disability for colon cancer?”
One thing to keep in mind is that one federal benefits program works exactly like unemployment does. In other words, it’s an insurance policy that you pay into during your working years. So, if you’re successful, you’re just cashing in on a policy you already paid into for this exact reason. There’s no reason to feel bad about claiming the income you put away for your retirement years while you’re disabled. That’s already your money – you’re just requesting access to it a few years earlier than you expected.
This article will help answer questions like “Is colon cancer a disability?” You’ll also learn which of the SSA’s disability programs is more likely to award you colon cancer compensation.
Colorectal Cancer and Disability Benefits: Key Takeaways
- Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer and affects people of all sexes, ages and races. However, it’s far most common in people over the age of 50.
- Colon cancer is a cancer of either the colon or rectum, which constitutes the large intestine.
- A diagnosis doesn’t automatically qualify you for colon cancer disability benefits. Instead, you must prove you are unable to work for at least one year and meet all other eligibility criteria.
- You could potentially qualify for either of two federal benefit programs, depending on your work history, age, and income.
- While colon cancer doesn’t automatically qualify for disability, certain types can get fast-tracked for benefits via the Compassionate Allowances List.
- Colon cancer survivors had a 56% higher risk of loss of employment, mostly due to disability. But working with a disability attorney can help you secure a benefit payment if this is your reality.
What Is Colorectal Cancer (Colon Cancer)?
Colon cancer – also called colorectal cancer or rectal cancer – is cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. The colon and rectum make up your large intestine, which is part of the human digestive system.
Most colon cancers start as a small growth on the inner lining of your colon. These growths are called polyps. Polyps are quite common, especially as we age. Luckily most polyps that develop in this area of the body are non-cancerous (benign). What makes a polyp more likely to morph into cancer is the type of polyp it is. The four different types of polyps are as follows:
Adenomas
Also known as adenomatous polyps, these types are often called pre-cancerous polyps. There are three different varieties of adenomas:
- Tubular (the most common)
- Villous (the least common which are also the most likely to become cancerous)
- Tubulovillous
Inflammatory and hyperplastic polyps
These polyp types are more common, but generally not precancerous.
Sessile serrated polyps (SSP) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSA)
Of the two serrated polyp types, TSAshave a higher risk of becoming cancerous.
Two Federal Programs Offer Social Security Disability Benefits
The federal government offers two programs that pay benefits to disabled adults and children through the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there are other types of disability benefits that may be available to you, depending on your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is available to people with limited financial means who are blind, disabled, or over the age of 65. Work history doesn’t matter for SSI claims. What matters is that you have very low income and few or no financial resources. The money for SSI benefits comes out of the federal government’s general tax revenue, not Social Security tax contributions.
There is no one payment amount for SSI benefits. Instead, your Supplemental Security Income payment is based on financial need. In 2024, the most any one person can get in monthly benefits is $943. For eligible couples, the max SSI benefit is $1415.
You’ll also qualify for Medicaid healthcare coverage during the same month your SSI benefits begin, if approved.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI is a program that helps people with a qualified work history who are now unable to work. You must be between the ages of 18 and 66 to be eligible for SSDI benefits. Social Security disability insurance allows people in that age group to collect as much money as their full retirement benefit before age 67.
In 2024, the maximum SSDI payment amount allowed under federal law is $3,822. However, most people receiving benefits get somewhere between the average of $1,537 and that higher dollar amount.
Once you receive SSDI benefits for 24 months, you also become eligible for Medicare coverage.
Technical Eligibility Rules for Getting Disability Benefits
To qualify for SSI, you must be either blind, disabled, or at least 65 years old. You must also have limited income and assets, meaning you make little to no money and hold very few assets.
The income restriction for SSI is that you cannot earn more than $1,550 per month. The asset restriction means you can own less than $2,000 in assets as an individual, or $3,000 per couple.
To qualify for SSDI, you must have earned 40 Social Security work credits on the date you apply for disability. This means that you must work for 5 of the last 10 years while paying Social Security payroll taxes. Once you stop working for 5 years in a row, your federal disability insurance coverage stops automatically.
To qualify for either SSI or SSDI, you must meet the same medical criteria requirements. That means you must either prove that you are unable to work for at least one year or are blind.
Medical Evidence and Symptoms That Support Your Colon Cancer Disability Claim
Your colon cancer diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify for disability.
The Social Security Administration has what’s commonly called The Blue Book. This document defines how the agency evaluates each diagnosis in order to qualify for disability payments. Colon cancer is listed as a cancer of the large intestine in Section 13.18, Neoplastic Diseases of the Large Intestine. To medically qualify for disability income, your colon cancer must fit one of the bullet descriptions shown below:
- Adenocarcinoma that your doctor cannot operate on or remove completely with surgery, or which repeatedly comes back after removal. OR
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus that is recurrent after a previous surgery to remove the cancer. OR
- Your cancer must have distant metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes (i.e., spread to other areas of the body). OR
- Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
Can You Get Disability for Colon Cancer Faster Through the CAL Initiative? In Some Cases, Yes
The Social Security Administration acknowledges that some diagnoses are so severe that they deserve nearly automatic claim approval and faster payments. These are dire cases, such as when your medical condition is rare or terminal.
To make this process easier for extremely sick applicants, the SSA created what’s called a Compassionate Allowances List (CAL). For people with conditions listed in the CAL, the process moves quicker and skips the mandatory five-month waiting period for payments. In fact, up to 95% of CAL condition applicants receive disability claim approval letters in as little as 10-14 days.
Only life-threatening or terminal colon cancer types appear on the CAL list. To meet the CAL requirements for colon cancer, your diagnosis must include either:
- A tumor that no surgeon can operate on, or
- A pathology report or operative note indicating that a tumor was unresectable, had positive surgical margin, or that your cancer has spread beyond the regional lymph nodes.
Medical Records and Evidence to Submit
Like any other disability claim, you will need to submit medical records that show:
- Your medical condition
- Date the doctor diagnosed your cancer
- How this disease and its symptoms limit your ability to work, along with any activities required for daily living.
For colon cancer, you might consider submitting the following medical evidence along with your claim paperwork:
- Blood labs
- Stool tests
- Visual exam (colonoscopy)
- Tissue samples or biopsy results
There are unique benefits to each type of test. Your doctor can help you understand which one is best for supporting your diagnosis.
Is Colon Cancer a Disability? How Colorectal Cancer Limits Your Ability to Work
A 2021 study found colon cancer survivors had a 56% higher risk of losing their ability to remain employed. And, in fact, researchers linked that job loss risk primarily to medical disability. Most study subjects in that group were younger, had cancer diagnosed at a higher stage, and received radiotherapy.
Another serious consideration that comes along with colon cancer treatment is living with a colostomy bag. And that remains true whether it’s for short-term use just after surgery or longer-term, as a new way of life.
A colostomy bag attaches to the outside of your body, usually somewhere on your belly, to collect waste. This happens through a stoma (i.e., suture) that allows waste to escape the body and collect in the colostomy bag.
Having a colostomy bag alone isn’t a qualification for disability benefits, however. That’s because even though it affects your daily life, it might not completely prevent you from working. People can carry on very normal lives, even continuing to have sex, travel, and stay physically active.
It could, though, prevent you from maintaining full-time employment if you normally work in jobs that require physical labor. This is because doctors often limit how much weight you can lift or carry when you have a colostomy bag. You might also experience issues with the bag itself, mostly regarding the adhesive you must use to attach the bag to your body. If you experience an allergic reaction, for example, that might be another factor.
Infections are also another issue for people who live with stomas, as they can quickly become severe. These and other issues might prevent you from working for an extended period during colon cancer treatment.
How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration offers various ways to apply for disability benefits, depending on which program you choose.
You can apply online only if you’re filing for SSDI benefits. However, if you’d like to apply for SSI benefits or both of the SSA’s disability programs, you can:
- Apply in person at a local SSA office (find one here). We think it’s wise to schedule an appointment before you arrive to avoid long wait lines.
- File over the phone by calling a Social Security representative toll-free: 1-800-772-1213.
- Work closely with a disability attorney to triple your chances for benefit approval.
Only that last option makes it more likely you’ll get your first payment within 6 months, and it’s free.
Get Expert Help Qualifying for SSD Benefits or Appealing a Denied Claim
The disability application process is long, hard, and requires a lot of paperwork. However, you don’t have to go through it all alone and simply hope for the best.
Instead, sign up for a free consultation to discuss your situation with a Social Security attorney. This evaluation can tell you whether you may qualify for monthly payments before you start your paperwork.
Another good reason to work with an attorney? Because 4 in 5 people who win benefits during the appeals process have one. A lawyer can help you prepare to plead your case before an administrative law judge and boost your success odds. Less than 1 in 3 people who file disability claims today receive benefits. Plus, all SSD attorneys work on contingency.
That means if you don’t win, then you owe your lawyer $0. And if you do win, then you’ll only pay one small fee after your award comes through.
Ready to learn whether it’s worth the time and effort to file a disability claim? Click the button below now to start your free online benefits quiz and see if you may qualify:
Get Your Free Benefits Evaluation
Lisa Allen is a writer and editor who lives in suburban Kansas City. She holds MFAs in Creative Nonfiction and Poetry, both from the Solstice Low-Residency Program in Creative Writing at Pine Manor College. Prior to becoming a writer, Lisa worked as a paralegal, where she specialized in real estate in and around Chicago.
