When your child has been diagnosed with a debilitating disease, your whole life changes. Many families find that they are unable to continue with the same work schedule they had prior to having a child with special needs and in some cases, additional medical or nursing help is needed, often causing a serious financial strain.
Fortunately, disabled children may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. In some cases, they also qualify for Medicare.
The down side to the Social Security Disability system is that claims often take a long time to establish. In most cases, an adjudicator doesn’t even look at a claim until three to six months after it has been filed. This is in part because there are more claims annually than the system can handle in a timely manner.
Even after a claim is looked at, it can take several months of the SSA asking for additional testing and documentation before they render a decision. After all that, 70% of claims are denied. The chances improve dramatically for those who have a Social Security Disability lawyer representing them, but even in such cases, a lengthy appeals process is usually necessary.
In 2008, the Social Security Administration took steps towards recognizing that some conditions should automatically qualify those who suffer from them for Social Security Disability benefits. They initially started with 80 conditions, called Compassionate Allowance Listings, and have periodically added more conditions. Several of the conditions listed for Compassionate Allowances pertain to diseases that affect infants and children.
If you or your child has a condition that is listed as a Compassionate Allowance, the disability benefits application process becomes much easier. The SSA singles out applicants who have these conditions, moving them through the system much faster than other claimants. A typical Compassionate Allowance claim is approved in three weeks if all of the documentation is in order, as opposed to several months for other disability claims.
Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses – Condition and Symptoms
Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses is an inherited genetic disorder that affects the nerve cells. It is caused by a genetic mutation and causes a build up of excess lipofuscin (a substance made up of proteins and fats) within the body’s tissues. These lipofuscins may build up in many of the body organs, but most commonly accumulate in the kidneys, spleen, liver, and myocardium.
The late infantile version of NCL generally attacks children between two and four years old. Its first symptoms are usually generalized, partial seizures. A child who has this disease will usually begin to lose muscle coordination and will show regression with his or her developmental milestones (she will lose the ability to do some things she had learned). This is soon followed by a loss of cognitive and intellectual ability and functioning. Another early symptom common with Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses is a delay in speech development.
Children who have Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses will develop serious disabilities and will generally require a significant amount of nursing care during their childhood. Survivability largely depends on the quality of care given, though this condition may be fatal even with the best treatment. There is no actual cure or even treatment for the disorder itself. Current treatments focus on reducing symptoms such as seizures and helping the child retain cognitive abilities as long as possible.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses
Because Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses is amongst the conditions listed for Compassionate Allowances, obtaining Social Security Disability benefits is largely a matter of showing that your child has, indeed been diagnosed with the condition. Once you can establish that, you will qualify for Social Security Disability benefits automatically.
In fact, because you qualify for a Compassionate Allowance, you should begin receiving Social Security Disability benefits much faster than you would otherwise. It generally takes about three weeks for your claim to be processed, and in most cases you will begin receiving disability benefits in the next benefit cycle.
Your Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses Social Security Disability Case
You have very little to worry about when it comes to having your Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses disability claim denied if the medical files and paperwork are in order. Of course, that can be a big “if” when you file the claim by yourself. The best way to make sure there are no snags because of wrong or missing documentation is to have a Social Security Disability lawyer handle your claim for you.
To have a professional Social Security Disability attorney review your claim, simply fill out the request for a free evaluation form on this website. An experienced lawyer who is thoroughly familiar with Compassionate Allowances and the Social Security Disability system in general will review your case with you.
