My wife has cancer known as multiple myeloma and has been treated by doctors been taking medicines that cost a lot.
–Karl

Jonathan Ginsberg responds: First of all, Karl, I am sorry to hear about your wife’s illness. As you know, multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that prevents plasma cells from correctly forming and becoming part of her immune system. There has been a great deal of research into the causes and treatment of multiple myeloma and I hope that your wife responds well to the medical treatment she is receiving.

For Social Security purposes, there are two approaches I would take. First, you should be aware that there is a “listing” specifically for multiple myeloma (listing 13.07). If her doctor feels that she meets or equals this listing, and he is willing to put that opinion in writing, then she will be approved for SSDI or SSI quickly.

If she does not meet the listing because her treatment has been effective or for any other reason, then she still might qualify under a “residual functional capacity” argument. In other words, if her treatment regimen plus the symptoms of the disease and medications – fatigue, nausea, confusion, etc. – leave her unable to perform her job duties, then a Social Security judge would likely conclude that she would not be a reliable employee and therefore eligible for disability.

If your wife is approved for Social Security, she would become eligible for Medicare 25 months after Social Security eligibliity. If she qualifies for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), either because of low income or as a medically needy adult, then she could get Medicaid and its prescription benefits.

Finally, there is an interesting article entitled “Multiple Myeloma and Social Security and SSI Benefits” on R.M Bottger’s Disability Expert web site.  According to the site, Ms. Bottger previously worked as a State Agency adjudicator in Oklahoma and her article discusses a multiple myeloma case from the adjudicator’s perspective.

Best of luck to you and to your wife.

–Jonathan