Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for People With Breast Cancer
Updated on March 9, 2026
After a breast cancer diagnosis, some people are unable to work because of side effects from treatment or the cancer itself. If you find yourself in this difficult situation, you may be eligible for disability benefits that provide payment to help replace lost income. Disability benefits aren’t meant to replace all the income you may lose if you can’t work, but they can help cover a portion of it.
In addition to Social Security disability programs, some people may also have disability coverage through an employer, a private policy, or a state short-term disability program.
Some people may receive payments from more than one disability program at once, or from different programs at different times while they’re not working because of their medical condition.
SSDI vs. SSI
The federal government offers two disability programs through the Social Security Administration (SSA) for people with a medical condition expected to last a year or more that affects their ability to work: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for workers who’ve paid a certain amount of taxes on their work-related income in the past. There are some rules about how recently and how long they must have worked to qualify.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for people who have little or no income or financial resources. They may or may not have worked and had income in the past. (So unlike with SSDI, it’s possible to qualify for SSI even if you have little or no work history).
Compared to other types of disability benefit programs, SSDI and SSI have stricter criteria about how severe your medical condition must be to qualify.
“When you apply, it’s important to provide as much documentation as possible to help show that you qualify for benefits,” says Joanna Doran, a cancer rights attorney and CEO Of Triage Cancer. “So all the side effects that are causing you to be unable to work should be fully documented in the medical records that you submit as part of your application,” she advises.
To help you decide whether to apply, and to make the process easier to navigate, the following are answers to some common questions about SSDI and SSI.
Is breast cancer considered a disability under SSDI and SSI rules?
Yes, breast cancer can be considered a disability under SSDI and SSI rules. But to be eligible, a person diagnosed with breast cancer must still meet certain criteria.
What are the eligibility criteria for SSDI?
To be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
You must be diagnosed with a medical condition that is expected to last at least a year or to be terminal.
The medical condition you have must prevent you from doing the work you did previously or adjusting to a new job.
You must have worked recently for a certain amount of time and paid Social Security or FICA taxes on that income. This can include wages from an employer or income from self-employment.
You must be younger than the SSA’s “full retirement age” (age 66 or 67, depending on your birth year).
You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present noncitizen.
The SSA updates some of the eligibility rules each year.
What are the eligibility criteria for SSI?
To be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
You must be age 65 or older, blind, or be diagnosed with a medical condition that has lasted at least a year or is considered terminal.
You must have little to no income and limited financial resources (no more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple, excluding your home and car).
You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present noncitizen.
Eligibility rules change every year, so it’s always a good idea to check the Social Security Administration’s current guidelines.
What do SSDI benefits include?
SSDI benefits are paid each month. The amount you get depends on how long you worked and your earnings over that time. The average monthly payment for an adult is about $1,500, and the maximum is $4,152.
If you receive SSDI benefits, certain members of your family (such as your spouse, ex-spouse, or unmarried child) may also be eligible for an additional monthly benefit of up to 50% of your benefit amount. Two years after the date you become eligible to start receiving SSDI benefits, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Medicare (Part A and Part B).
What do SSI benefits include?
SSI benefits are paid each month. The amount you get depends on the state you live in, your income, living arrangements, and other factors. The average monthly payment for an adult is around $750, with a maximum of $994. Most states also provide a supplemental payment in addition to the federal amount. In some states, you will automatically be considered for state supplemental payments without having to submit an application. In others, you may need to apply through a state agency or through the SSA.
In most states, people who receive SSI automatically qualify for Medicaid, and in some states, the SSI application also serves as an application for food assistance.
How do you apply for SSDI and SSI benefits?
You can apply for just one program or both programs at the same time:
by phone: 1-800-772-1213 (or TTY 1-800-325-0778 if you are deaf or hard of hearing)
As part of the application process, you’ll need to fill out forms and provide some documents. These might include copies of your birth certificate, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status, your most recent W-2 form, and your medical records (including lab and test results, and details on the side effects that are impairing your ability to work).
A medical doctor contracted by your state is one of the people who will review your file and determine your eligibility. You may also be referred to another state-contracted doctor for in-person medical or psychological exams.
How long does the application process usually take?
According to the SSA, decisions usually take six to eight months after you apply for disability benefits.
If you’re approved, there is a five-month waiting period before you can start receiving SSDI monthly payments. However, you may receive payments going back as far as 12 months before you applied for benefits if the SSA decides that the medical condition began earlier than your application date.
Who can help you apply for SSDI or SSI benefits?
Applying for SSDI or SSI benefits or appealing a denial can be a time-consuming and confusing process. You may want to ask a trusted friend or family member for help. Keep in mind that there are also experts who can assist you (in many cases, for free):
a financial navigator, financial counselor, or social worker at the cancer center or hospital where you receive cancer treatment
a nonprofit that offers people diagnosed with cancer free legal and financial navigation services, such as Triage Cancer or the Patient Advocate Foundation
the human resources or benefits department at your work (if you have disability benefits through your job) or the insurer you purchased private disability insurance from
a local attorney who specializes in disability law
Can you get your SSDI or SSI claim expedited?
Yes. If you’ve been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, the wait time for the first step of the application process may be shortened through a program called Compassionate Allowances. In many cases, this happens automatically once you apply, but you can also request to have your claim expedited.
Applications are also typically sped up if the illness is expected to be terminal.
Can you collect SSDI, SSI, and other forms of disability insurance at the same time?
Yes. Some people are eligible to receive both SSDI and SSI benefits at the same time.
Several states also offer short-term disability programs. You need to go through a separate application process for these.
You may be able to receive SSDI benefits and state disability benefits at the same time, but check with your state about its specific rules.
You can also receive SSDI and private disability insurance benefits at the same time. If you have a private long-term disability insurance policy that you bought directly from an insurer or received through an employer, the company might require you to apply for SSDI. While the SSA doesn’t reduce the amount it pays if you’re also receiving private disability benefits, your policy may include an “offset” clause that allows the insurer to lower its monthly payment by the amount you receive from SSDI.
In some cases, you may have to pay your private insurer back for a portion of the benefits you received during the same period you received SSDI.
How long can you receive SSDI and SSI benefits for?
SSDI and SSI benefits typically continue as long as SSA determines that you’re unable to return to work. You’re expected to report any changes to your work status, income, or major health changes to SSA. The SSA will also conduct periodic checks.
You can receive SSDI and/or SSI benefits if you eventually return to work, but there are rules about timing and income limits. For example, SSI payments may be reduced as income increases and can stop if your income exceeds a certain limit. And people who receive SSDI can test working through a nine month trial period before their benefits are affected.
If you reach full retirement age (age 66 or 67, depending on your birth year) while receiving SSDI, your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits.
What can you do if your application for SSDI or SSI benefits is denied?
If your application is denied, you have the right to appeal. It’s better to appeal a decision you disagree with than to reapply, since starting the process over makes you ineligible for the months of backdated payments you might otherwise receive if your appeal is successful.
If you appeal, you’ll be asked to submit additional evidence of the disability, and your case will be reviewed again. There are four levels of appeals, and you might not need to go through all of them to get your benefits approved.
Many people choose to hire a lawyer who specializes in disability law to help them with the appeals process.
“It can be helpful to hire a disability appeals attorney if you’re at the point in the appeals process where you’re requesting a hearing with an administrative law judge,” says Doran. “But it’s not required.”
Since you’ll work with an SSA hearing office in your region, it’s best to hire an attorney in your area. These attorneys work on contingency, so they only get paid if your appeal is successful. Their payment is a specific percentage of the back pay disability benefit payments you’re awarded.
