Throat cancer is a general term for cancer that develops in the pharynx (throat) or larynx (voice box).
There are different types of throat cancer, involving the same type of cells, but distinguished by the part of the throat where the cancer originates.
Nasopharyngeal cancer develops in the throat behind the nose
Oropharyngeal cancer begins in the part of the throat behind the mouth and includes the tonsils
Hypopharyngeal cancer begins in the part of the throat above the esophagus and windpipe
Glottic cancer develops in the vocal cords
Supraglottic cancer develops in the upper part of the voice box
Subglottic cancer develops in the lower voice box
Because early symptoms of throat cancer such as coughing or a sore throat mimic viral infections, throat cancer often remains undiagnosed until later stages.
In addition to those warning signs, common symptoms include:
Changes in voice, hoarseness or not speaking clearly
Lump or sore in throat that doesn’t heal
Difficulty swallowing
Ear pain
Drastic weight loss
Diagnosis is made using an endoscope to examine the throat and vocal cords.
A tissue sample may also be taken and imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, and PET conducted. Treatment is based on the location of the cancer, type of cells and overall health of the individual and can include radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy.
Qualifying for SSDI With Throat Cancer
A person with throat cancer can experience pain, lose their voice, have difficulty eating and suffer drastic weight loss. Additionally, the nausea and fatigue associated with treatment could make it difficult to continue working. The Social Security Administration recognizes soft tissue cancers of the head and neck as disabling impairments under Section 13.02 of its Blue Book, a manual which lists impairments Social Security considers disabling and may automatically qualify for benefits. The first step in applying for Social Security Disability benefits is to make sure that you satisfy Social Security’s financial requirements. You must: 1) have a disability that has lasted or is expected to last 12 months; 2) you must have worked in a job where you paid Social Security taxes long enough and recently enough; and 3) you must not earn more than Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which is $1,550 per month in 2024 for nonblind applicants and $2,590 per month for blind applicants. If you earn more than the SGA amount, your claim will be denied, and if you have not worked enough recently to earn the necessary amount of work credits, Social Security will deny your claim.
If you meet Social Security’s financial criteria, to qualify under the Section 13.02 listing, your cancer must match the following criteria:
the cancer is inoperable or unresectable; or
the cancer has spread to other parts of the body; or
the cancer is recurrent after surgery or radiation; or
the cancer is a small cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
When deciding how cancer impairs a claimant, Social Security considers the location of the cancerous lesion, its formation and development, the claimant’s response to treatment and the severity of post-treatment symptoms.
You should be prepared to submit to Social Security your complete medical records, including your medical history, detailed doctors’ notes regarding your symptoms, exam findings, and results of laboratory tests. Be sure to include:
Diagnosis of cancer
Statement of the origin of the cancer
Endoscopy test results
Lab tests such as blood and urine tests
Imaging including x-rays, MRIs, CT scans and PET scans
Pathology reports
Anti-cancer treatments and your response to treatments
Serious cases of throat cancer are likely to be approved quickly, but Social Security may do a continuing disability review (CDR) three years after benefits are awarded to see if the claimant is still disabled.
Some cancers won’t meet the requirements of Section 13.02 because they’re not inoperable, recurrent, and haven’t spread. In these cases, Social Security will consider whether to award a medical-vocational allowance. Social Security will conduct a Residual Functional Capacity assessment (RFC) to evaluate how your disability affects your ability to perform your old job or if there is any other job you are able to perform, taking into account whether or not you are able to drive, your age, and level of education. In addition to your physical limitations, Social Security will consider long-term side effects of cancer treatment, such as memory problems and slowed thought processes. It’s also important to keep track of your work absences. If throat cancer or its treatment causes you to be absent regularly two or more days a month or be “off-task” 15% or more of the workday, most vocational experts will find you unemployable. If Social Security decides you cannot do your old job or don’t have the skills to perform a new job, you may be approved for a Medical-Vocational Allowance.
