The Social Security Disability Insurance program pays monthly benefits to disabled individuals who no longer have the ability to work. The monthly disability benefits can ease financial pressures, but the application process can take six to eight months. If the claim is denied, the appeals process can take months and even years.
For individuals with the most severely disabling medical conditions who cannot wait for benefits, the Social Security Administration developed a program to fast track SSDI approval by screening applications. The Compassionate Allowances program puts applications through the normal evaluation process, but they do so at an accelerated rate. This results in quick SSDI approval for applications that meet the requirements for benefits.
If the following explanation of the Compassionate Allowances program seems like something that could be of benefit to you or a loved one, contact Sackett and Associates, a disability law firm with more than four decades of disability benefits experience, for a free consultation and claim evaluation.
The Compassionate Allowances Program at A Glance
Several years ago, the Social Security Administration launched an initiative to provide expedited approval of disability claims for individuals with medical conditions that clearly meet the federal disability standard. Instead of taking months, processing an application under the Compassionate Allowances program could be completed in a couple of weeks.
The key to the program is the Compassionate Allowances list of medical conditions considered by the Social Security Administration so severe and disabling that they meet the agency’s disability definition when evaluating claims. Social Security periodically adds conditions to the list.
How The Compassionate Allowances Process Works
When an individual submits an application for SSDI benefits, the Social Security Administration uses computer software that scans incoming applications. The technology flags any application that includes a medical condition appearing on the Compassionate Allowances SSDI list. It does this by screening for the following:
- Specific terms or phrases used in the application or medical records submitted with it.
- Medical terminology specific to conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list.
- Medical diagnosis codes in the application or medical records.
All applications for SSDI automatically go through the screen process. Applicants do not have to request it or specifically note on their applications anything about the Compassionate Allowances program. A similar electronic system serves the same purpose of screening disability applications seeking benefits through the Supplemental Security Income program.
The SSDI applications flagged by the computer system become expedited disability claims to be given high priority by claims examiners. An examiner at the Disability Determination Services, a state agency funded by the federal government to review applications and determine whether the claimant has a disability.
DDS examiners review medical records to confirm they support the diagnosis of a medical condition severe enough to prevent a person from working for at least 12 months or expected to result in death. The medical records must include treatment records and the effects of the symptoms and complications of the medical condition on a claimant’s ability to work.
A condition on the Compassionate Allowances list is presumed to be severe enough to meet the disability definition. The evaluation process focuses on determining that medical evidence exists to prove the listed condition.
Conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list
The SSA Compassionate Allowance list constantly changes. Social Security accepts information about conditions for inclusion in the list from the public, medical experts, scientific experts, and other sources. Some of the conditions in the Compassionate Allowances include:
- Acute leukemia
- Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Adult Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Even if an applicant has a condition included on the list of Compassionate Allowances SSDI, they still must comply with the non-medical SSDI program requirements. They must have a long enough work record at jobs or self-employment with Social Security payroll taxes paid on their earnings or self-employment income.
How Can A Disability Attorney Help With Compassionate Allowances Applications?
Applications that are complete and documented have the best chance of being identified for quick SSDI approval. A disability attorney can help to ensure that your application includes:
- A clear list of the medical conditions as diagnosed by your healthcare providers.
- Names and contact information of all medical practitioners who treated you for the disabling medical conditions.
- Accurate and complete copies of medical records, including laboratory and diagnostic imaging reports.
- Examination and treatment notes of specialists.
Working with a disability lawyer helps avoid submitting an application that contains mistakes or inconsistencies, or that lacks medical documentation supporting a diagnosis.
Get help from Sackett and Associates
The disability professionals at Sackett and Associates have provided superior representation to individuals with disabilities throughout California and nationwide for more than four decades. Learn more about Compassionate Allowances and whether you have a condition that could be chosen for fast-track SSDI approval. Contact Sackett Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
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