If you are suffering from a serious life threatening medical condition you may be able to fast track your eligibility for a disability benefit by applying through the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) compassionate allowance (CAL) program.
The CAL program has allowed more than 700,000 people with one of the 254 listed conditions to be able to fast-track the approval of their Social Security disability benefit claim. The SSA allows those with rare and severe conditions to submit an application for consideration directly on the Compassionate Allowance section of the SSA website.
Not All CAL Conditions are Terminal
The SSA keeps the CAL list publicly accessible on their website so anyone can review the qualifying conditions at any time. When reviewing the CAL list, it’s important to note that while CAL conditions are considered extremely severe/aggressive, that does not mean that all CAL conditions will be terminal.
What is the Compassionate Allowance Listing (CAL)
Compassionate allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that meet the SSA’s requirements for eligibility for disability benefits. These conditions mainly include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children.
The SSA knows how serious these medical conditions are and that the victims will not be able to work, so as soon as sufficient medical evidence has been provided by the victim it should fast track making disability benefits payments available.
SSA has a Separate List Known as TERI
The SSA defines terminal illness as a medical condition that can no longer be treated and the victim is likely to die. This is known as TERI. Every effort is made by the SSA to identify a potential TERI case as soon as possible. This is normally done by identifying the medical condition through TERI case descriptors.
Other Eligibility Rules for SSDI/SSI Still Apply
When applying for either SSDI or SSI you will still need to provide either that you have accumulated enough work credits in the last 10 years to qualify for SSDI or your income and assets are below the threshold for eligibility for SSI. SSI eligibility requires that a person’s countable assets do not exceed $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. There are some assets that are not assessed which include your home, one vehicle and your household effects.
As long as your application includes sufficient medical documentation regarding a condition on the CAL, your application for either SSDI or SSI can be fast-tracked.
Entitlement Date Regulations Do Not Change For CAL Claims
If your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is approved, you are required to wait five months before you receive your first SSDI benefit payment. However, CAL claims will get approved before non-CAL claims
The process of applying for disability with a CAL condition can be tough and you may need some legal help to ensure you get the disability benefit you deserve.
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