Each year, the Social Security Administration receives close to two-million claims for Social Security Disability benefits. Unfortunately, the majority of these applications get denied. Statistically, the Social Security Administration denies approximately 70 percent of the disability applications that it receives each year. These applicants must then go through a lengthy and exhaustive appeal process in order to obtain the Social Security Disability benefits they may be entitled to. The question is, what happens when a condition is so severe that a disabled individual is unable to wait years or even just a few months before receiving their first Social Security Disability payment? In some cases, the Compassionate Allowances program may be able to help.
The Social Security Administration has recognized the fact that some Social Security Disability applicants suffer from disabling medical conditions that warrant faster approvals. As a result, the SSA implemented the Compassionate Allowances program in 2008. Recently the SSA has added even more conditions to this listing, and paraneoplastic pemphigus is among them.
If you have been diagnosed with paraneoplastic pemphigus, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits in a matter of weeks, rather than having to wait months for your disability claim to be approved. The following information will help you understand the disability claim process and how you can increase your chances of being approved for benefits under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Conditions and Symptoms
Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a type of autoimmune disorder that usually linked to an underlying lymphoproliferative disorder. The condition was first described in 1990, making it one of the newer and, therefore, less-commonly understood diseases.
The disease is a very debilitating one, causing blistering that affects the skin and mucous membranes in the individual who develop it. There are three different types of pemphigus and paraneoplastic pemphigus is the most severe of all three. Most of these cases are diagnosed in individuals who have already been diagnosed with some form of cancer.
Paraneoplastic pemphigus results in painful sores within the throat and mouth and on the lips and skin. This particular form of paraneoplastic pemphigus may also affect the lungs.
While there is no cure for paraneoplastic pemphigus, there are treatments to help address the symptoms of the condition. The goal of treatment is to decrease the formation of blisters and increase the healing of any existing sores. The exact treatment a patient receives will depend on the type of pemphigus they have been diagnosed with and what other conditions they may suffer from. Corticosteroid medications are commonly used.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Paraneoplastic Pemphigus
Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a serious and debilitating condition and the symptoms have a serious impact on an individual's quality of life and ability to work. Due to the severity of this condition, cases of paraneoplastic pemphigus are among the conditions that qualify a Social Security Disability applicant for claim processing under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
When applying for disability benefits based on a diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus, you will need to provide as much medical evidence as possible when submitting your claim to the Social Security Administration. Be sure to include lab results, treatment records and written statements from your treating physicians to aid in the processing of your Social Security Disability claim.
Paraneoplastic Pemphigus and Your Social Security Disability Case
Even though paraneoplastic pemphigus is one of the conditions that qualifies under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines, you must still provide the Social Security Administration with enough medical evidence to support your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. You must also present your claim properly to ensure a quick and hassle-free approval of your disability application. While it is rare for applications based on a Compassionate Allowances listing to be denied by the Social Security Administration, it does happen. Because of this, you should consider working with a qualified disability advocate or attorney when filing a claim for Social Security Disability benefits.
When working with a disability attorney, their staff will help you gather the medical evidence needed to support your application for Social Security Disability benefits. He or she will also help you present your application in the best light possible to the Social Security Administration. This will ensure that the adjudicator who is reviewing your file understands the severity of your condition and how it qualifies your claim for processing under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
To learn more about the Social Security Compassionate Allowance listings or to find out whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to a case of paraneoplastic pemphigus, click here for a free evaluation of your disability case.
