The number of claims before the Social Security Administration at any given time can be staggering. Most field offices are backlogged so far that it takes at least three months, and often longer, before a new claim is considered by an adjudicator. Even cases in which the disabled person clearly qualifies for Social Security Disability benefits, claimants can expect to wait around six months before they will start to receive anything.
On top of that, most claims are not approved initially. Only about 30% of Social Security Disability claims are accepted upon application. The majority of Social Security Disability claims are turned down, leaving the claimant the choice of giving up their claim to needed disability benefits or facing an uphill climb to prove to the Social Security Administration that they are truly disabled to the point that they can’t continue working. The appeals process can take several more months, sometimes turning into years.
The Social Security Administration recognizes the problem with the slow turnaround of Social Security Disability cases and the effect this can have on people with serious debilitating conditions. One of the things the SSA has done to try to remedy this for people with the most obvious and serious disabilities is to put together a list of 88 conditions that automatically qualify people as disabled under the Social Security Administration’s guidelines.
These conditions, called Compassionate Allowances, enable those who have them to receive Social Security Disability benefits quickly. Whereas people who make disability claims typically have to wait several months for a decision on their claim, those who have a condition that qualifies them for a compassionate allowance generally receive an approval of their Social Security Disability benefits in about three weeks.
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) - Blast Phase – Condition and Symptoms
One of the 88 Compassionate Allowance listings is Blast Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. The blast phase of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia is the disease’s final phase, and is characterized by the rapid increase in production of white blood cells, which fail to mature. The effect is similar to that of acute leukemia, and includes symptoms such as weight loss, night sweats, and bone pain.
The blast phase of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) can also bring about fever, fatigue, tiredness, and an enlargement of the spleen. When this happens, it is called a blast crisis.
Doctors diagnose chronic myelogenous leukemia with a series of tests and procedures including a complete blood count, biopsy, bone marrow aspiration, and other analytical tests that examine the blood and bone marrow. When determining whether a patient is in blast phase, doctors consider the percentage of immature white blood cells being produced.
Chemotherapy is being used along with immunotherapy to treat Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), as are tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These are designed to block white blood cell production. When the condition has advanced to blast phase, there is little curative work that can be done and survival times are generally short.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) - Blast Phase
If you have received a diagnosis of blast phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, chances are that you won’t be able to continue working for long. You should file for disability immediately, even if you are still working. The disease is very aggressive at this stage, and most lose their remaining health quite quickly.
Because Blast Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) qualifies for a Compassionate Allowance, getting your application for Social Security Disability benefits approved should go fairly smoothly, as long as the claims and medical documentation is filled out correctly. The best way to ensure that your claim is filled out correctly is to work with a Social Security Disability lawyer or representative.
Your Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) - Blast Phase Social Security Disability Case
Although you clearly qualify for Social Security Disability benefits with your diagnosis of Blast Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, that doesn’t entirely offer a guarantee that the process of claiming your Social Security Disability benefits will be hassle free. While the Compassionate Allowance system is designed to make claiming your benefits easier, there are still things that could go wrong with your claim.
One of the main reasons people who should qualify for Compassionate Allowances have difficulties with their claims is that their doctors don’t always include all of the details the SSA needs in order for the patient to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. A Social Security Disability attorney can look over your medical records and confer with your doctor to make sure that the medical records use the kind of language the SSA is looking for when they are determining cases that qualify for Compassionate Allowances.
To find out more about Compassionate Allowances or to have a Social Security Disability lawyer review your claim, contact us by submitting a request for an evaluation. It won’t cost you anything to have your case reviewed, and it could save you a lot of time.
