Living with a serious medical condition can lead to financial and physical challenges. When the condition prevents you from working, you may decide that you need to apply for Social Security’s disability benefits.
The process of obtaining benefits can be complex and lengthy. Often, this can take months or years, but waiting that long isn’t always possible. The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) has a program to speed up the process through the Compassionate Allowances program.
What are compassionate allowances?
The Compassionate Allowances program is a way for the SSA to quickly identify certain diseases and conditions that naturally meet the requirements for disability benefits. These enable a fast-track review of these claims, which is important because it allows people with the most serious and aggressive issues to start receiving financial support much sooner. Conditions on the list include certain forms of cancer, rare genetic conditions, and severe neurological disorders.
How does the program work?
The compassionate allowances program doesn’t require a separate application. Instead, a person who applies should clearly list all their medical conditions on the regular application. If a diagnosis meets the criteria of the program, the application is flagged for a faster review.
In many cases, a decision can be made based on the confirmation of the diagnosis without the need to gather additional evidence or wait a lengthy time. This can shorten the approval process from months to weeks, in some cases.
The SSA regularly updates the conditions on the compassionate allowances list, so it’s critical for anyone who’s applying for benefits to understand the application process. In some cases, denials occur that must be appealed. Having someone on your side may be beneficial, so they can assist you with proceeding.