What Are Compassionate Allowances for SSD?
While applying for disability benefits can generally be time-consuming and stressful, that isn’t always the case. The Compassionate Allowances program makes it easier for people with certain diagnoses to start receiving benefits as quickly as possible. The SSA gathers information from the public to determine which diagnoses should be considered for Compassionate Allowances, and the information is publicly available to help applicants understand their options.
Are you looking for help with your SSDI application? The team at The Dansby Law Firm is committed to helping applicants like you secure the benefits they deserve. Call us at 334-326-6449 to set up a consultation with our team of Montgomery disability attorneys.
Understanding Compassionate Allowances
Compassionate Allowances are part of the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The goal is to streamline and speed up the process of getting benefits when a medical condition is so severe that an individual will obviously be approved. This program provides immediate assistance to those with certain qualifying conditions, rather than making them wait months to receive back pay.
This program is obviously beneficial to those who qualify for it. However, it is very limited in scope. It is only available to those with very specific diagnoses, and it’s reserved for diagnoses that are so clearly severe that an individual should not be forced to wait through the application process. In general, these diagnoses cause severe physical or mental impairments that significantly interfere with an individual’s ability to work or live independently.
How to Qualify for Compassionate Allowances
The Social Security Administration maintains a list of diagnoses that qualify for Compassionate Allowances. They include diagnoses for both children and adults, although children obviously can only receive SSI benefits. These conditions are generally comprised of cancers, neurological disorders, and rare genetic disorders. They include:
- Acute leukemia
- ALS
- Child lymphoma
- Cri du Chat Syndrome
- Liver cancer
- Mixed dementias
- Pancreatic cancer
- Trisomy 13
- Wolman Disease
To qualify for the Compassionate Allowances program, an individual must meet the criteria listed for the eligible conditions. The conditions listed by the SSA are linked to the Blue Book listing for each diagnosis. To receive CA benefits, the applicant must meet all of the requirements listed in the Blue Book.
Much like other applicants, Compassionate Allowances applicants must provide medical documentation to prove their disability and support their claim. Appropriate documentation typically includes medical records, diagnostic tests, physician statements, treatment records, and records showing a patient’s progress or lack of progress. It’s crucial that the documentation accurately demonstrate that your condition meets the Compassionate Allowances requirements.
Since medical documentation is such an important part of your application, it makes sense that your medical care team will be an essential part of your disability application. You’ll want to provide evidence and documentation from various members of your care team, especially those who know the disability application process and understand what the SSA is looking for.
Benefits of Compassionate Allowances
For those who qualify for the program, the Compassionate Allowances program can be a huge source of relief. It offers significant benefits to individuals and their families.
One of the primary benefits of this program is the reduced waiting time. Those with severe medical conditions often struggle with financial hardships and significant medical expenses and waiting months for a determination can mean the difference between putting food on the table and relying on the generosity of others.
The sped-up approval process also helps those in the most dire need of medical care with the resources they need to get services that may not be covered by their insurance. This does a lot to improve their quality of life and give them the best prognosis possible.
Finally, a quick turnaround on an SSDI application can do a lot for an individual’s emotional and mental well-being. Financial issues cause an enormous amount of stress, often to the point of physical symptoms. By providing these individuals with benefits as quickly as possible, the Compassionate Allowances program provides emotional and mental support.
Choose The Dansby Law Firm for Your Disability Claim
The Dansby Law Firm focuses on helping applicants like you submit the strongest application possible for SSDI or SSI benefits. Let us guide you through this process. Set up a time to talk to our team now by contacting us online or calling our Montgomery office at 334-326-6449.
