Anyone who has ever applied for Social Security disability benefits knows the process can take a long time to complete. Backlogs, bureaucracy, pulling medical records, and more seem to take forever. Fortunately, there is hope for those who have some of the most severe diseases and medical conditions. Compassionate Allowances place these applicants on a fast track to get the help they need sooner. Make sure you have a knowledgeable Mobile, AL Social Security disability benefits attorney by your side.
With Compassionate Allowances, the Social Security Administration (SSA) can quickly identify conditions and diseases that qualify for disability benefits. These are generally types of cancer, brain disorders, and rare diseases that affect children. The SSA maintains a list of over 200 diseases that qualify for its expedited approval. Other conditions may qualify the applicant as well.
Some of the qualifying diseases and conditions for Compassionate Allowances are:
- Acute leukemia
- Cancers, including breast cancer
- Pleural Mesothelioma
- Progressive Bulbar Palsy
- Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Mixed Dementias
If you have questions about whether your condition qualifies, ask a Mobile, AL Social Security disability attorney. Having a qualifying condition helps the SSA reduce waiting time by reaching a disability determination for the most serious problems. In other words, these are situations where the applicant’s condition will clearly meet the SSA requirements.
Applicants with qualifying conditions can receive a decision from the SSA within weeks rather than months. The SSA uses the same Compassionate Allowance rules to evaluate applicants for both SSI and SSDI. Being placed on the fast track for approval can speed up the time it takes to receive your benefits. But it does not increase the dollar amount of the benefits you will get.
The SSA’s expedited approval procedures can help applicants get the benefits they need more quickly. However, Compassionate Allowances only speed things up on the government’s side of the equation. There are other moving parts that must be tended to during the application process. For example, you will need to have your healthcare provider turn over your medical records to the SSA. Many applicants get bogged down in this part of the process. Having a knowledgeable Mobile, AL Social Security disability benefits attorney can help speed it up.
Compassionate Allowances do not actually constitute a separate SSA program. There’s no special form that an applicant has to submit. Rather, the SSA will automatically give heightened consideration to applicants with covered diseases. However, this is certainly no guarantee that your application will get the attention it deserves. You may have a qualifying condition, but you’ll want to bring it to the attention of the application reviewer. That’s where having the right Mobile, AL Social Security disability lawyer can make the difference.
Whether you qualify for a Compassionate Allowance or not, it’s important to have someone who understands the application process. It is possible to start receiving benefits payments while your application is pending. Indeed, that’s one of the objectives of the Compassionate Allowance program. However, if your application is ultimately denied, you will have to pay back any money you received. You need a skilled Mobile, AL Social Security disability lawyer to not only help you apply. If you are rejected, you need someone to help you appeal and reverse the decision.
Call Us if You Have Questions About Compassionate Allowances
Disability benefits are a wonderful way to help those in need. However, merely requesting or applying for these benefits is not a guarantee you will receive them. The SSI and SSDI application processes are complicated. Not knowing the rules could jeopardize your application as well as your chance to appeal a bad decision. Turn to the team at Ascend Disability Lawyers, LLC. We can answer any questions you have and work with you on submitting your application. Give us a call today to discuss your case.
