There are some disabling conditions that automatically qualify for disability benefits under the compassionate allowance program. Compassionate allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet the SSA’s standards for disability benefits.
These medical conditions include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children. If a person’s medical condition is listed under compassionate allowances he or she can get their disability benefits application processed far more quickly than is usual.
What Conditions Automatically Qualify You for Disability?
Some conditions that automatically qualify you for disability benefits include the following:
- Advanced stages of cancer;
- Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease;
- Organ transplantation;
- Parkinson's disease;
- Serious heart conditions;
- Spinal cord injuries.
What is the Most Approved Disability?
Multiple sclerosis and any type of cancer have the highest rate of approval at the initial stages of a disability application, which fall into a range of between 64-68%. Respiratory disorders and joint disease are second highest, from 40-47%. Also if you are between 60 and 65 years you are more likely to be approved and men have a slightly higher approval rate than women whatever the disability.
What Are the Top 10 Disabilities?
- Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue disorders which make up 29.7 percent of disabilities;
- Mood disorders made up 12.9 percent of those in receipt of disability benefits.
- Nervous system and sense organ disorders make up 9.7 percent of those receiving disability benefits.
- Intellectual disabilities make up 8.6 percent of those on disability benefits.
- Circulatory system diseases make up 7 percent of those on disability.
- Psychotic disorders make up 4.8 percent of those on disability benefits.
- “Other mental disorders” make up 4 percent of those on disability benefits’
- Physical injuries make up 3.5 percent of people receiving disability benefits.
- Chronic organic brain syndromes that cause severe psychological or behavioral issues and affect 3.3 percent of those on disability benefits.
- A neoplasm is an abnormal growth that affects 2.8 percent of those on disability benefits.
What is the Compassionate Allowance Program?
Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security's standards for disability benefits. The CAL initiative helps us reduce waiting time to reach a disability determination for individuals with the most serious disabilities.
This means those who are suffering financial hardship due to their severe medical condition can access disability benefits much more quickly than an applicant with a less severe medical condition. The SSA is quick to realize that your medical condition qualifies for disability benefits in accordance with the Compassionate Allowances program.
Do I Qualify for a Compassionate Allowance?
Before applying for disability benefits, check the compassionate allowance list. If your medical condition is on there, your may qualify for benefits automatically and you could receive expedited benefits. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits through compassionate allowances, you need to be completely disabled.
This means you are unable to take part in any kind of substantial gainful activity due to your disability. In addition, your disability must be expected to last for at least 12 months or to end in your death. The application process for compassionate allowances is the same as for the SSA disability benefits application.
All the applications that are received are reviewed by the SSA for the medical conditions that the patient has indicated on the application. The SSA will determine if the disability qualifies for CAL. In the majority of cases, applicants will only require a diagnosis of a medical condition that is on the compassionate allowances list.
When you file an application for disability benefits under the compassionate allowances scheme, you need to indicate on your application that you are eligible. You should also provide sufficient evidence to prove you qualify. This includes the following:
- Your physician’s report diagnosing your medical condition;
- Details about your treatment program and its effect;
- Results of medical tests such as x-rays, scans and blood test results.
Other details you need to provide on your disability benefits application include the following:
- Birth certificate or another proof of birth;
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you weren’t born in the USA;
- U.S. military discharge paper(s) if you were involved in military service prior to 1968;
- W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for the last year;
- An Adult Disability Report that has accumulated additional details about your medical condition and your work history;
- Details about any workers compensation you may have received.
The SSA normally responds quickly if the applicant has a medical condition that is listed as eligible for disability benefits under compassionate allowances. This means your benefits will be received much more quickly than an ordinary application for disability benefits.
You can be considered under compassionate allowances for both applications for Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) based on your work credits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which is for those with a low income based on your personal situation in relation to the assets and money you own.
Get Help Today
Filing an application for disability benefits is not an easy process but working with a disability lawyer may help you make sure all of your paperwork in order. The lawyer can help you get witnesses to testify on your behalf and your lawyer can testify on your behalf. You are not expected to pay immediately any lawyer’s fees as they work on a contingency fee basis, so they are only get paid if you win your claim.
