Last year alone approximately 3 million individuals applied for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Nearly two-thirds of those applicants were denied during the initial stage of the application process, resulting in the need for a long and drawn-out disability appeal. The appeal process is the reason that it takes some disability applicants more than two years to see their first payment from the Social Security Administration. Fortunately the SSA has acknowledged that some applicants should not have to wait such lengthy periods of time for benefits to begin and as a result they have implemented the Compassionate Allowances program. The classic form of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome is one of the conditions that now qualify an individual for processing of a disability claim under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines. If you are suffering from this condition and are wondering how it affects your eligibility for disability benefits, the following information will provide you with information as to how you may qualify for benefits more quickly under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program.
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome-Classic Form Condition and Symptoms
The classic form of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, also known as classical Cornelia de Lange Syndrome or Brachman de Lange syndrome, affects approximately one in every 40,000 infants at birth. The disease results in retarded growth, learning impairments and abnormal facial features and limb development. Some of the facial abnormalities seen in children who are born with the disorder include confluent eyebrows, anteverted nares and a mouth with a down-turned angle. Hirutism may also be present in children with the disorder. In severe cases there may be significant abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract and/or heart which may result in death.
The exact cause of this disorder is still unknown but it is suspected that the disease is genetic in nature. However, while some cases have been traced back to mutated genes in parents, other cases seem to be sporadic and have no genetic link.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (Classic Form)
If your child has been diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome in the classic form then you should apply for Social Security Disability benefits as soon as possible. The classic form of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome is the most severe form and the SSA has recognized the severity of the condition by including it in the Compassionate Allowances listings. This means your child may be approved for benefits in a matter of weeks rather than having to wait months or years for benefits to begin. When a family is under financial stress due to the monetary strain of a disability, every dollar counts.
When you are filling out your disability claim forms, make sure that you fill out each form in its entirety and answer all questions with very detailed answers. You don’t want to be vague in your responses. Each answer should provide the SSA with as much detail as possible if you hope to have an approval during the initial stage of the application process.
In addition to properly filling out the SSA’s claim forms, you will also need to supply sufficient medical evidence to support your claim. This will include lab results, treatment histories and written statements from treating physicians. All of these things will weigh heavily in the outcome of your Social Security Disability claim.
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (Classic Form) and Your Social Security Disability Case
The process of applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be overwhelming. There is a lot of paperwork that must be filled out properly and it can be hard to determine what medical evidence the SSA will need in order to approve your claim. This is why it may be a good idea to enlist the help of a disability attorney. A disability attorney will work with you to ensure that your claim forms are filled out and submitted properly and that you have enough medical evidence gathered to support your claim. Fortunately these professionals work on a contingency basis and will only collect 25 percent of any back pay that your child is awarded (up to a maximum amount of $6,000). This means that the assistance of an attorney will not cost you any money up front.
If you have tried to apply for benefit on your own and were denied, it may be because the SSA did not understand how your child’s claim qualified under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines. If this is the case, you should contact an attorney right away. Your attorney can work with you to appeal the decision and will ensure that the appeal is handled as a Compassionate Allowances claim. Compassionate Allowances appeals are given priority over standard appeals so you will not have to wait years for the appeal process to be completed.
