Sometimes the Social Security Administration (SSA) temporarily pays Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits if it considers your case to be a presumptive disability case. The SSA will award presumptive disability payments when the SSA has evidence in file that strongly suggests that a person will be found disabled but still needs more evidence to make its final decision. The SSA can choose to temporarily provide benefits until it gathers the evidence it needs to make its final decision.
You may be eligible to receive presumptive disability if you are suffering from one of the following medical conditions:
- Amputation of a leg at the hip
- Total Deafness
- Total Blindness
- Stroke Leading to Difficulty walking or use of hands
- Cerebral Palsy?
- Down Syndrome
- HIV or AIDS
- A terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 6 months
- Spinal cord injuries leading to the use of a walker or bilateral hand–held assistive devices
- End stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring chronic dialysis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease
You are not eligible for presumptive disability payments if your are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or if your case has been previously denied. You are eligible for presumptive disability payments only if you are filing an initial application for SSI. A person can receive benefits under a presumptive disability for up to 6 months. Presumptive disability benefits will end as soon as a final decision has been reached.
Generally presumptive disability is determined at the time of your initial disability claim filing. The SSA will send your application to disability determination services (DDS) for a medical decision. Presumptive disability is determined by the medical examiner based on the information contained in your file and the resulting exam.
