The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Compassionate Allowances program allows for expedited processing of certain disability benefit claims. This helps ensure that Americans with the most severe disabilities receive Social Security disability benefits as quickly as possible. This past October the SSA continued its expansion of the program by adding 13 new Compassionate Allowances.
Overview Compassionate Allowances Program
Compassionate Allowances (CALS) refer to diseases and medical conditions that the SSA finds "invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information." In other words, individuals with CALs are generally severely disabled and it is not required that their applications go through the extensive processing and determination stages that other applications may require. This allows these individuals to receive their disability benefit decisions much more quickly, sometimes in a matter of days instead of months or even years.
Expansion of the Program
The Compassionate Allowances initiative began in 2008 with a mere 50 conditions and has been continually expanded; the list now totals 113. Examples of such conditions include early-onset Alzheimer's, adult brain disorders, certain cancers and rare genetic disorders. The most recent additions are mental, neurological and immune system disorders. The full list of Compassionate Allowances is available on the SSA's website.
Commissioner of Social Security, Michael J. Astrue, explained the reasoning behind the program and its expansion, "Social Security handles more than three million disability applications each year and we need to keep innovating and making our work more efficient." This past year over 60,000 applications were fast-tracked and approved through the program.
Consult With an Attorney
Although the Compassionate Allowances program is valuable for some disability applicants, a majority of applicants still need to go through the standard disability determination process. Whether or not you qualify for a Compassionate Allowance, an experienced disability attorney can provide valuable advice and guidance to help you receive the benefits you need.
