Last month, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Michael J. Astrue, announced that 35 additional conditions would be added to a list that allows for those suffering from certain diseases and conditions to receive expedited benefits. According to a press release from the agency, the list now tops 200 ailments.
The list, known as the Compassionate Allowances, allow those processing Social Security claims to quickly determine that a person is suffering from a condition that qualifies for benefits without having to receive the individual’s full work and medical history. The individual is then put on what is known as a “fast-track” to receive Social Security Disability benefits that could come within weeks of filing a claim. Some of the conditions that are now part of the list include certain cancers, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), schizophrenia, and autoimmune diseases.
The program was established in an effort to alleviate the massive backlog of claims that has built in recent years. Experts say that currently, more than one million claims are in some sort of holding pattern awaiting approval from the system. This holdup can often result in patients not getting the care they need in a timely manner.
The Social Security Disability Lawyers with Newlin Disability say anyone who has a Social Security claim they are preparing to file or a claim that has been denied should discuss their case with a qualified attorney.
