For people afflicted with certain medical conditions or diseases, a fall 2011 announcement from the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes it easier to obtain disability benefits for certain conditions. In October, Michael Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that 13 serious conditions were being added to the list of Compassionate Allowances. The Compassionate Allowance program allows people with certain serious conditions to receive expedited processing of their disability benefit applications.
The Basics of Disability Benefits
For Americans that become disabled, the government provides two financial safety nets: Social Security disability insurance and Supplemental Security Income.
Social Security disability insurance benefits (SSDI) are available to working people who develop a medical condition or disease that prevents them from continuing to be employed.
To receive SSDI benefits, people must have qualifying disabilities- included are those on the Compassionate Allowances list - and must have worked for a minimum number of years. SSDI is not a form of short-term disability. So, the conditions that qualify for SSDI benefits must be expected to persist for at least one year or be fatal.
The application process for SSDI benefits can be complex and sometimes discouraging. Many applications are initially denied. Very often, people whose claims are originally denied have legitimate claims and do receive benefits after applying for reconsideration. Going through this process, however, can be time-consuming and require a significant amount of effort.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to help the elderly, people with disabilities, and the children of the disabled. SSI benefits provide money for basic needs for those with limited incomes. Unlike SSDI benefits, people applying for SSI benefits are not required to have worked a minimum number of years.
Compassionate Allowances
The SSA's Compassionate Allowances program began in 2008 with the intention of allowing people with certain severe disabilities or diseases to receive disability benefits quicker. As an SSA news release states, people with these certain ailments are put on "fast-tracks" so they can receive decisions about their much needed disability benefits within a matter of days, as opposed to waiting longer periods of time such as months or even years.
With the Compassionate Allowances program, the SSA identifies diseases and medical conditions that, because of "objective medical information," meet the minimum requirements for the SSA's Listing of Impairments. To put it another way, these diseases and medical conditions are serious enough to qualify for expedited SSA processing, which also means people may receive benefits much quicker than normal.
The SSA started the Compassionate Allowances program with 50 diseases and medical conditions. And, since the program's inception, the list of diseases and medical conditions that qualify has continued to grow. The announcement of 13 new diseases and medical conditions (which became effective in December 2011) brings the total number of Compassionate Allowances to 113. The new Compassionate Allowances include neurological disorders and conditions affecting the immune system.
Commissioner Astrue explained the importance of the program, "With our Compassionate Allowances program, we quickly approved disability benefits for more than 60,000 people with severe disabilities in the past fiscal year. We have made significant improvements, but we can always do more."
The Compassionate Allowances list includes diseases and medical conditions like adult brain disorders, rare genetic disorders afflicting children, certain types of cancer, immune system disorders and many other ailments. Among the over 100 specific diseases and medical conditions included on the Compassionate Allowances list are:
- Acute Leukemia
- Early-onset Alzheimer's disease
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
-
Peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma
Consult with an Experienced Disability Attorney
If an injury, disease, or medical condition prevents you from working, speak with a disability attorney knowledgeable about the SSDI application process. If your condition is included on the SSA's list of 113 Compassionate Allowances you may be able to have your claim fast-tracked.
More commonly, your application for SSDI benefits will not include a Compassionate allowance. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your claim for benefits clearly explains the extent of your injuries or condition, and fully demonstrates your need for benefits. An attorney can help you with your application and assist you as your claim goes through the review process.
