What Is Social Security Disability’s Compassionate Allowance?

April 20, 2018

In rare cases, the Social Security Administration (SSA) expedites applications that clearly meet their criteria to receive disability insurance benefits (DIB). The SSA began the Compassionate Allowances program in 2008, and it has helped provide financial assistance to those with rare and severe conditions and their families.

Compassionate Allowance List

The Compassionate Allowance (CAL) list of impairments is much shorter than the SSA’s regular listing. It includes debilitating diseases and conditions that affect a tiny percentage of the U.S. population, like Creutzfelt-Jakob syndrome and pancreatic cancer.

Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) or supplemental security income (SSI) applicants who meet the criteria associated with any of these conditions may automatically qualify for the compassionate allowance.

Applying Under Compassionate Allowance

The SSA uses the applicant’s disability application to automatically consider those whose impairments are listed under CAL. According to the SSA, “The Compassionate Allowances program identifies claims where the applicant’s disease or condition clearly meets Social Security’s statutory standard for disability.” In such cases, the application is fast-tracked because the SSA doesn’t need to scrutinize these serious conditions as much as they would more common ones.

Determining Disability in Compassionate Allowance

The reason the Compassionate Allowance program exists is because certain medical conditions are severe enough for their diagnoses to be nearly indisputable. As long as the medical examiner can identify certain criteria, the disease is almost immediately allowed.

For cancers and leukemia, this evidence is usually produced through a biopsy report. When your attorney provides full medical evidence of your condition that matches a listing under CAL, your application is more likely to be fast-tracked to receive benefits. If you apply without providing medical evidence, the SSA will contact your care provider to determine if your illness is legitimate. Even if your condition falls under Compassionate Allowance, this process can still take several weeks if not months due to the time it takes hospitals to process medical records.

How Fast Are Compassionate Allowances?

Though there’s no guarantee for your specific application, when the SSA determines your case meets compassionate allowance criteria, your disability application will be prioritized above other non-compassionate allowance claims.

However, this still means your claim must be corroborated by a medical professional. Besides taking priority over other claims, compassionate allowances aren’t any different than regular SSDI claims. For instance, they are still subject to the SSA’s five-month waiting period for benefits beyond the onset date.

Still, the CAL can help applicants become approved in as early as a month from initial application, which saves precious time for those who suffer from serious diseases.

Filing for Social Security Disability with an Indiana Attorney

One way to help a fast-tracked application get approved even faster is by consulting with an experienced Social Security Disability attorney. These professionals can advise you on what evidence to provide and can take care of all the paperwork for you.

Call or contact Hensley Legal Group online today. Our local lawyers take care of hundreds of DIB cases every year and are ready to take your call. There’s no reason to wait because your consultation with us is commitment-free.