The Compassionate Act for Pancreatic Cancer

Getting a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is bad.  Most people are slammed with shock and disbelief.  And then horrified by the doctor's prognosis...

"3 to 6 months..."

"Your cancer is inoperable..."

"There is no cure..."

"Treatment may prolong your life... might give you an extra few months..."

"Go Home... Get your affairs in order..."

We have been there.  We have had this very conversation.  It is the stuff of nightmares.  There is no room for Hope in this dialogue.

No Hope.

And yet, if there's one thing we've learned since pancreatic cancer touched our lives, it's that Hope can find a way in to even the darkest of places.

As mom walked the hard road of her pancreatic cancer journey, she chose constantly to trust in a Hope springing up from a deep faith... not an easy faith... but that faith, it was one of our first grace gifts in the nightmare journey.

All along the way, that Hope... it kept the dark at bay... it was a light for the next step.

Today, there's another bit of Hope.  It's called The Compassionate Act for Pancreatic Cancer.

It is help for the financial hardship of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.  The high cost of cancer treatment is not something we talk about often, but it is a burden that compounds an already emotional battle.

The Social Security Administration has determined that a person who has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer will automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits, as the SSA has determined that Pancreatic Cancer is one of the illnesses that meet disability standards.

The result is that your disability case can be expedited, which means that the approval process can be completed in weeks, not years.  If all of the correct documents are present and in order, you can expect your case to be completed in less than a month.

Funds from a Social Security disability benefit can be used for many things... from sorting through a multitude of possible treatment options, arranging for child care, addressing transportation issues, as well as the usual day-to-day responsibilities of life.

When a pancreatic cancer diagnosis leaves your world in tatters and everything begins to feel overwhelming, it might be comforting to know that Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits may be able to provide a bit of relief.

The first thing you need to do to qualify for SSDI is to make your intent to file known.  Even if you are not positive that you are going to file a Social Security Disability claim, you should go to your SSA office and state your intent to file.  Doing so establishes a protected filing date.  In the event that you are eventually approved for SSDI benefits, your back pay will generally be calculated based on your initial filing date.

The Compassionate Act for Pancreatic Cancer... the name speaks to the urgency of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis... we need early detection, we need better treatment options, we need a cure... and yes, we need Compassion.

This cancer. It. is. brutal.  Anything that can offer Hope and ease the burden is a gift.

Praying for Grace to light the way,
My Love, Always,
                        Jane