People who can’t work because of a medical condition or injury need a way to support themselves. For some of them, the help they need comes in the form of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. These benefits are meant for someone whose disabling condition will prevent them from working for at least a year or result in their death.
The application process for SSDI can take a long time, but people with certain medical conditions can be fast-tracked. Many people end up with a denial at first and have to appeal. The wait might be too long for people who have terminal conditions. The initial review of an application can take an average of three to five months.
Why is the Compassionate Allowances program important?
The Compassionate Allowances program enables people with specific medical conditions to undergo a fast-track application process. The conditions that qualify are noted on the Social Security Administration’s website. The list is updated to include new conditions if they meet specific requirements, and it currently has more than 220 conditions.
Some of the newest conditions on the Compassionate Allowances List include:
- Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
- Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic neoplasm
- Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease
- Microvillus inclusion disease – child
- Mowat-Wilson syndrome
- Myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts
- Nut carcinoma
- Pfeiffer syndrome – types II and III
- Pontocerebellar hypoplasia
- Posterior cortical atrophy
- Renal amyloidosis – AL type
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma
All of the conditions on the list have been evaluated and are so severe that they automatically meet the requirements for being considered a disabling condition.
How can an applicant use the Compassionate Allowances program?
There’s no special application or anything the applicant needs to do. The automated system flags applications that contain a condition on the list. Because of this, all applicants must ensure they accurately list all conditions they’ve been diagnosed with.
Trying to navigate through the SSDI application process can become frustrating and confusing if you don’t know much about it. Working with someone who can help you can reduce the stress and help you ensure deadlines are met if you have to submit anything or appeal a decision.