October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, we are proud to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. According to leading statistics, approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.

A diagnosis of breast cancer will almost always require surgery and/or radiation. Most breast cancer patients will also require chemotherapy. Without insurance, the costs of these treatments can be astronomical. Of the 12 drugs approved for cancer treatment by the FDA in 2012, 11 of them cost $100,000 or more for just one year of treatment. The 12th drug costs $70,000 per year.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, there could be help available for you. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers financial resources for men and women with breast cancer who are no longer able to work due to their condition. Breast cancer is listed in the “Blue Book” (along with other cancers) in Section 13.00—Malignant Neoplastic Diseases. The listing for breast cancer is very technical. You should speak with your doctor to see if your specific cancer has spread to the extent to qualify for disability benefits via the Blue Book. Typically, breast cancer must be at least stage three or above to qualify for disability benefits medically.

However, even if you do not meet the SSA’s strict Blue Book parameters, you may still qualify for benefits. To qualify for benefits without meeting a medical listing in the Blue Book, you will need to have doctors’ notes and hospital records that show that you are expected to be out of work for at least 12 months due to your conditions.

If you, or a family member or friend, are struggling with breast cancer and are unable to work, please contact us for a free case evaluation!

National Breast Cancer Foundation: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month

By: Tom Klint of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®

Premier Disability Services, LLC is a Finalist for the 2018 BBB Torch Award

Each year, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Awards for Ethics recognizes outstanding companies who demonstrate integrity and a strong commitment to ethics in relationships with customers, employees, and the community they serve.

The 2018 BBB Torch Award finalists of Minnesota and North Dakota are:

Category I (1-10 employees)

• Monarch Builders & Commercial Services, Edina, MN
• All American Restoration, LLC, Brooklyn Park, MN
• Adams Consulting Group, LLC, Bloomington, MN

Category II (11-50 employees)

• Blue and White Taxi, St. Louis Park, MN
• ICC Restoration & Cleaning Services, Woodbury, MN
• Countryside Heating and Cooling Solutions, Maple Plain, MN
• Blue Ox Heating & Air, New Hope, MN
• Standard Water Control Systems, Inc., Crystal, MN

Category III (51-175 employees)

• Coordinated Business Systems, Ltd., Burnsville, MN
• Handi Medical Supply, Inc., St. Paul, MN
• Dean’s Professional Plumbing, Heating & Air, Maple Grove, MN

Category IV (176+ employees)

• Preferred Credit, Inc., St. Cloud, MN
• Lakeshirts / Blue 84, Detroit Lakes, MN
• Premier Disability Services, LLC, Minneapolis, MN

The 2018 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics finalists will be celebrated, and four winners will be announced, at Hyundai Club at U.S. Bank Stadium Wednesday, October 24 at 2:30 PM. Dennis W. Schulstad, Brigadier General, USAF, retired, will be the keynote speaker. Jason Matheson and Alexis Thompson of MyTalk 107.1’s ‘Jason & Alexis Show’ will be the hosts.

We are proud to be honored for our commitment to ethics. There are several hundred members of Premier, which include case managers, administrative and support staff, and attorneys that represent our clients nationwide. We assist people going through one of the most difficult and traumatic times of their lives. It is our goal to treat every person with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and to assist them to the best of our ability.

Premier would like to thank our clients for reaching out and providing feedback to our company in order to improve our practices.

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC®

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month

September is National Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Awareness month. Currently, there are approximately 1.3 million people in the United States living with or in remission from a “hematologic malignancy”, or blood cancer. In fact, blood cancers are the third leading cause of cancer death in America, with a new diagnosis being made every 3 minutes.

September has been designated as the month to bring attention to the three most common blood cancers. Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood; lymphoma is a cancer that starts in cells that are part of the body’s immune system; and myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. September is the month to help raise awareness, funds, and support for the many people who are impacted by these diseases.

To be approved for Social Security Disability or SSI benefits for any of the above-listed cancers, a claimant first needs to have a physician-confirmed diagnosis as evidenced by extensive blood lab work, urine protein electrophoresis, or bone marrow findings. Social Security also has a special process for people with diseases that are particularly severe and can meet Social Security’s medical eligibility requirements with clear medical evidence. For example, acute leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in its blast phase are the two types of leukemia that are included in the Compassionate Allowance program, which expedites your application for faster review.

If you have leukemia that doesn’t meet or equal the requirements of the Social Security Administration’s leukemia listing, you may be able to get benefits if you nevertheless suffer from the symptoms, complications, or limitations from your leukemia, cancer treatments, or stem cell transplant. To determine whether you can do your past work, the Social Security Administration will use your symptoms and limitations to create your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment, which is an opinion of what you can and can’t do because of your medical condition. To determine whether you can do “other work,” Social Security uses your RFC as well as your age, education level, and work experience in making the determination of whether or not you can work any job.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to a medical condition(s), please contact us for a free evaluation of your claim!

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC®