The Social Security Administration receives millions of disability claims every year. The sheer volume of claims being dealt with is part of what causes the Social Security Disability claims and appeals process to take so long. On average, initial claims are not dealt with for three months or longer. When it becomes necessary to go through the appeals process (and 70% of cases require this), it can take considerably longer. It’s common for people to wait several years before Social Security disability benefits are granted.
For those raising a child with a debilitating disease, the wait an approval from the SSA can be brutal. For many parents, the difference between being able to give adequate care to a child with special needs and not being able to give their child adequate care rests with Social Security Disability benefits being granted so they can forego working to take care of their child.
Fortunately, the SSA has recognized that certain medical conditions are always debilitating and should be automatically approved for Social Security Disability benefits. This includes a number of disorders and diseases that typically affect children. One of these is Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome.
If your child has Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome or any other condition listed among the Social Security Administration’s 88 Compassionate Allowance listings, the process of applying for and receiving Social Security Disability benefits can be sped up considerably. Whereas most people wait several months to receive an approval from the SSA, those with a qualifying listed condition such as Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome will generally be approved for Social Security Disability benefits much quicker-often as quickly as three weeks.
Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome – Conditions and Symptoms
Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome is a genetic disorder that begins before a baby is born and causes a degenerative disorder involving the spinal cord and the brain. Its characteristics include skeletal, facial, and cranium abnormalities, impaired reflexes, and severely impaired muscle tone.
Many children with Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) syndrome also have low set ears, abnormally large ears, smallish eyes, abnormally small jaw or head, vision problems, mental retardation (ranging from severe to moderate), unusual eye movements, and abnormalities in placement of the nipples (they are generally wide-set).
Most children with COFS have respiratory problems as a result of the disorder. Some have symptoms that are similar to Type II Cockayne Syndrome. In some instances, the genetic defect is traceable; sometimes it is not.
There is no cure for Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome, and in most cases the disease is fatal by the age of five. Medical treatment focuses on addressing the symptoms and offering support to the child and their family. In most cases, a feeding tube is necessary. It almost goes without saying that children with COFS require a great deal of extra care.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome
In some cases, Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal Syndrome can be diagnosed before the birth of the baby. The disorder is sometimes detected during ultrasounds, as one of the causes and telltale signs of COFS is a lack of fetal movement. However, in most cases the COFS is diagnosed when the baby is born.
When you receive a diagnosis of COFS for your child, it can be devastating; whether the disorder is detected before or after the birth of the baby. Life changes dramatically when you have a special needs child, and you need all of the help and support you can get. Fortunately, Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome is recognized as a debilitating condition that qualifies for a Compassionate Allowance.
This means that parents of children with Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, and that they should be able to start receiving benefits fairly quickly. This is contingent, however, on having the paperwork submitted correctly. Doctors generally do a great job diagnosing COFS and offering what treatment is available, but don’t always know what kind of documentation the SSA is looking for or how things need to be phrased in their medical records to satisfy the Social Security Administration’s requirements for a Compassionate Allowance.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to have a professional Social Security Disability attorney review your claim before turning it in to the Social Security Administration. It doesn’t generally take long, and it can save you months of hassle by insuring that your claim will end up being filed as a Compassionate Allowance, as it should.
Your Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome Social Security Disability Case
If your child has COFS, there’s no doubt that you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. The main purpose of consulting a Social Security Disability lawyer in such cases is not so much a matter of whether you will receive benefits or not as much as it is a matter of making sure that all of the paperwork is filed correctly and that all the documentation is complete.
To discover more about the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances, your COFS case, or to have a qualified Social Security Disability lawyer review your case, fill out the request for a free evaluation of your SSD case now.
