Last Updated September 17, 2026
Conditions Center · Cancer · Social Security Disability
Also called breast carcinoma, mammary carcinoma.
Breast cancer may qualify for SSDI or SSI under Listing 13.10 or through the combined effects of disease and treatment. Pathology, extent of disease, recurrence, and treatment response control the analysis. Early-stage disease that remits with treatment often does not meet a listing; SSA then looks at residual functional capacity, including fatigue, neuropathy, lymphedema, and attendance during therapy.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer forms in breast tissue, most often the ducts or lobules. NCI describes staging by tumor size, nodes, and distant spread, and notes that men can develop breast cancer, though it is uncommon. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Lasting effects can include lymphedema, neuropathy, joint symptoms, and reduced stamina.
Common symptoms of Breast Cancer
- Effects of the primary tumor or nodal disease
- Pain, fatigue, or reduced arm use after surgery or radiation
- Nausea, neuropathy, or infection risk during systemic therapy
- Lymphedema of the arm or chest wall in some people
- Bone pain or organ symptoms if distant metastases are present
How can Breast Cancer affect a person’s ability to work?
- Absences for surgery, infusions, radiation, and surveillance
- Reduced lifting, reaching, or overhead work after axillary surgery or lymphedema
- Fatigue and reduced pace during and after systemic therapy
- Hand limits from treatment-related neuropathy
- Infection precautions or wound-care needs in some periods
Does Social Security have a Listing for Breast Cancer?
Social Security currently has listing criteria that may apply: 13.10 (Breast (except sarcoma — 13.04)). Meeting a listing requires the specific medical findings in that listing, not only the diagnosis.
Sarcomas of the breast are evaluated under Listing 13.04, not 13.10. Secondary lymphedema from anticancer therapy that is treated by surgery to restore upper-extremity function has a time-limited listing pathway in 13.10E. After that period, SSA evaluates residual impairment under the affected body system.
SSA applies Listing 13.10 to breast carcinoma (except sarcoma). The listing includes locally advanced disease with specified chest-wall or skin extension, specified nodal or distant metastatic patterns, recurrent disease except certain local recurrences that remit with anticancer therapy, small-cell carcinoma of the breast, and a time-limited pathway for surgically treated secondary lymphedema. If the listing is not met or equaled, SSA evaluates residual disease and treatment effects in RFC. CAL status, when it applies, expedites identification of certain distant, inoperable, or recurrent cases; it does not replace medical evidence.
Can you qualify if you do not meet an SSA Listing?
Yes. Breast cancer that does not meet Listing 13.10 may still prevent substantial work because of treatment effects or residual disease.
What medical evidence may help document Breast Cancer?
- Pathology identifying carcinoma versus sarcoma
- Oncology notes with stage, nodes, distant disease, receptors, and treatment plan
- Operative, radiation, and infusion records
- Imaging used to establish or monitor metastases or recurrence
- Rehabilitation and lymphedema-clinic observations of arm function
Testing, imaging, and laboratory studies
- Biopsy and receptor/HER2 studies when obtained clinically
- Staging imaging appropriate to the presentation
- Blood counts and organ-function monitoring during treatment
Dates of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, endocrine therapy, and reconstruction should be clear. A local recurrence that remits with anticancer therapy is treated differently in Listing 13.10C than persistent or distant disease. Side effects and dose reductions belong in the file.
How SSA may evaluate residual functional capacity
During active treatment, attendance and stamina often dominate. After treatment, RFC may turn on lymphedema, neuropathy, joint symptoms from endocrine therapy, cognitive complaints when documented, and surveillance schedules.
Physical RFC frequently addresses lifting and reaching on the affected side, endurance, and neuropathy.
Depression, anxiety, or concentration change should be evaluated when documented.
Common issues that can weaken a disability claim involving Breast Cancer
Citing “breast cancer” without pathology or stage; assuming every breast cancer is a Compassionate Allowance; or omitting lasting arm and neuropathy limits after treatment ends.
What may strengthen the medical documentation
Pathology, a complete staging and treatment timeline, and functional notes during and after therapy.
Breast Cancer and related medical conditions
- Cancer — Cancer is evaluated under site- and type-specific listings in Chapter 13.00. A general cancer diagnosis is not one listing, and CAL status must be checked for the exact malignancy.
- Lung Cancer — SSA evaluates lung cancer under Listing 13.14. Small-cell carcinoma and some non-small-cell presentations also appear on the current Compassionate Allowances list; verify the exact histology and extent.
- Lymphoma and Leukemia — SSA evaluates lymphoma under Listing 13.05 and leukemia under Listing 13.06. Some named blood cancers appear on the current CAL list; indolent or well-controlled disease is not automatically a CAL condition.
- Major Depressive Disorder — Persistent depressive symptoms may be evaluated under Listing 12.04. A diagnosis does not guarantee benefits; SSA also examines severity, duration, and work-related function.
- Pancreatic Cancer — SSA evaluates pancreatic carcinoma under Listing 13.20. Pancreatic cancer appears on the current Compassionate Allowances list. Islet-cell carcinoma has a narrower listing pathway. A diagnosis still requires medical evidence.
- Peripheral Neuropathy — Damage to peripheral nerves that may cause pain, numbness, weakness, or balance problems. Listing 11.14 applies only when its specified functional criteria are met.
How Brock & Stout may help
We match records to Listing 13.10, verify rather than assume CAL status, and develop RFC for treatment and residual effects. Representation cannot guarantee approval.
Frequently asked questions
No. SSA’s current CAL entry is for breast cancer with distant metastases or that is inoperable or recurrent, corresponding to suggested Listings 13.10A, B, or C. Localized disease is evaluated under the listing and RFC rules without assuming CAL.
No. Many people return to work after local therapy. SSA looks at the listing criteria, complications, and residual function—not the fact of surgery alone.
See our cancer overview. This page is the site-specific guide for breast carcinoma under Listing 13.10.
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Speak with a Social Security Disability attorney
If Breast Cancer is affecting your ability to work, Brock & Stout can review the claim, look for missing medical evidence, and discuss next steps. We do not charge a fee for SSD representation unless we win.
This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
