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With the Social Security Administration (SSA) denying a majority of claims for disability benefits, what happens if you suffer from a severe disability that prevents you from earning a living? Do you have to wait like every other applicant for the SSA to get around to reviewing your claim for financial assistance? The answer is no because the SSA runs a program called compassionate allowance that fast tracks claims for disability benefits in cases in which applicants suffer from debilitating and sometimes life-threatening diseases.

If the Social Security Administration (SSA) has denied your claim for disability benefits, you have the right to appeal the federal government agency’s decision. The first step in the four-step appeal process is called reconsideration, which is the resubmission of the initial disability claim application.

A different team of medical examiners from the SSA reviews your appeal for reconsideration and if your appeal is also denied by the SSA, you have the right to file an appeal for a disability hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

When submitting an application for disability benefits it is important to seek a doctor’s assessment and follow his or her treatment recommendations. This includes accepting surgery if that helps to eliminate your medical condition.

Refusal to undergo surgery, unless you have good reason, may mean you are no longer eligible to receive disability benefits. There are a number of acceptable reasons that may support your case for refusing surgery as a treatment option.

Spinal stenosis is a serious condition that can cause debilitating pain as well as mobility issues. If spinal stenosis is untreated, it can progress and lead to permanent spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis can cause severe disabilities because it leads to weakness, numbness, and balance difficulties. Here is a closer look at spinal stenosis.

If you plan to file for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you can expect to complete and submit several forms that include an Adult Function Report. Also referred to as a Disability Function Report, an Adult Function Report provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) with answers to numerous questions that describe your Activities of Daily Living (ADL).