Compassionate Allowances Program

The Compassionate Allowances initiative is a program implemented by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2008. The program identifies a number of serious medical conditions that automatically qualify an applicant for disability to provide help for the most severely disabled applicants soonest. Complete list here

“Getting benefits quickly to people with the most severe medical conditions is both the right and the compassionate thing to do. This initiative will allow us to make decisions on these cases in a matter of days, rather than months or years.” – Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security

Due to an overwhelming backlog of cases, a disability application can drag on for years without resolution, through hearings and a subsequent appeals process if the claim is denied. Approximately 2.5 million Americans file for Social Security Disability benefits every year, and nearly 1.5 million applicants are initially denied benefits. Many applicants who are denied desperately need help and face a long, uphill battle, alone or with the help of an attorney. This can be frustrating for anyone, but people with serious conditions face more severe consequences. People with severe disabilities face significant financial and medical care issues while they wait for assistance. The Listing of Impairments under Compassionate Allowances expedites approval based on medical information by moving people with documented listed conditions to the head of the line. The conditions on the list are chronic, meaning the symptoms will last a minimum of one year, disabling, and often ultimately fatal.

The initial list of Compassionate Allowances conditions was complied after a series of public outreach hearings, extensive research, and input from the public. The diseases and conditions on the list include rare chronic diseases, cancers, traumatic brain injury, stroke, early-onset Alzheimer’s, dementia, schizophrenia, and cardiovascular disease. Since then, other conditions have been added to the list. There are currently 88 Social Security Compassionate Allowance listings. People who have been diagnosed with any of these conditions can start getting benefits within a few weeks of submitting an application for disability. The SSA is committed to ongoing investigation to expand the list.

Only about 4% of all applicants meet the criteria for the Compassionate Allowances program. It’s important to know that even the people who are fast-tracked with listed conditions are not guaranteed to receive disability benefits. The program ensures only a fast review of your case. In addition to evaluating the medical information, the Social Security Administration considers income eligibility and insurance before any claim is approved. Having a listed condition or disease drastically improves the chances of approval, but there are no guarantees.

The Compassionate Allowances program can be requested at any time during the application or appeals process, even if you have already been denied following an initial hearing. Applicants must provide supporting medical documentation for eligible conditions to speed up the approval process. An attorney who specializes in disability cases will help cut through the red tape and get you the help you need. Let Allen Stewart, P.C. help you with your Social Security Disability case.