Having a serious medical condition might enable you to qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. However, applying for SSD benefits may require a claimant to wait several weeks or months before getting approved, which can be stressful and financially challenging for applicants facing severe illness or disability.
Fortunately, the Social Security Administration has several programs that can fast-track applications filed by qualifying claimants. One of these is the “Compassionate Allowance” program, which can help secure benefits for persons with severe conditions that cause obvious disability or terminal illnesses more quickly than the standard review process.
What Is the Compassionate Allowance Program?
The Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowance program identifies disability benefits applications filed by individuals who have medical conditions that usually meet the SSA’s standards for a qualifying disability. The SSA expedites review for identified applications, reviewing an application’s medical evidence to confirm that the applicant has a diagnosed condition that qualifies for Compassionate Allowance. Thus, Compassionate Allowance review can help individuals with qualifying conditions get approved for benefits within weeks instead of months. The program thus helps individuals with severe or terminal illnesses obtain disability benefits.
Types of Disabilities That Qualify for Compassionate Allowance
Examples of medical conditions that may qualify for the Compassionate Allowance program include:
- Certain cancers, such as acute leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, esophageal cancer, gallbladder cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, mesothelioma, and sinonasal cancer
- Childhood diseases, such as vanishing white matter disease, child brain cancer (ependymoblastoma), harlequin ichthyosis, malignant brainstem gliomas, microvillus inclusion disease, severe combined immunodeficiency, Alexander disease, bilateral optic atrophy, Farber disease, galactosialidosis, hypophosphatasia, Krabbe disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Pompe disease, Tay-Sachs disease
- Neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease), early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Pick’s disease (Type A), and Lewy Body dementia
The Social Security Administration regularly adds medical conditions to the list of approved conditions for the Compassionate Allowance program, based on feedback and input from medical experts.
How to Apply for Benefits Under Compassionate Allowance
A person may apply for Social Security disability benefits under the Compassionate Allowance program by filing a normal Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income application that claims disability due to a condition listed by the program. The Social Security Administration automatically flags applications that list Compassionate Allowance conditions for expedited review.
When you have a condition on the Compassionate Allowance list, you can ensure that the SSA identifies your application for expedited review by submitting thorough medical documentation that clearly lists your diagnosis (matching the official name for the condition used by the SSA) and that has supporting evidence for the diagnosis, such as test results, radiology scans, or pathology reports.
The Importance of Legal Assistance
Even when you have a Compassionate Allowance condition, hiring legal counsel to help you through the Social Security disability benefits application can make the process much more efficient. An SSD attorney can help you gather the medical records you need to document your condition so the Social Security Administration’s computer systems flag your application as eligible for Compassionate Allowance. An attorney can also help you avoid errors or oversights on your application forms that can delay processing. Furthermore, an SSD lawyer can guide you through the administrative appeals process if the SSA denies your claim even after going through Compassionate Allowance review.
Contact an SSD Lawyer Today
If you have a severe medical condition, the Compassionate Allowance program may help you get disability benefits more quickly. Contact Crowe & Shanahan today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Social Security disability benefits lawyer. Let’s discuss the Compassionate Allowance program and whether it can help you obtain the financial benefits you need if you cannot work due to a severe disability or medical condition.