On August 20, 2018, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) added 5 new conditions to its Compassionate Allowances program.
The Compassionate Allowances Program
The Compassionate Allowances program is one way in which the SSA expedites the processing of certain disability claims. It allows the SSA to quickly process the claims of those persons with the most severe conditions – like a number of cancers, and many terminal illnesses. If you are wondering how to claim disability when you have an extremely serious illness, the Compassionate Allowance Program may be the first place to start.
What Adding New Listed Conditions to the Compassionate Allowances Program Means to You.
People who have certain conditions listed in the SSA’s “Blue Book”, automatically qualify for disability benefits. The Blue Book has a listing of impairments that are considered to be severe enough to prevent an adult from doing any gainful activity (or for children under age 18 applying for SSI, severe enough to cause marked and severe functional limitations).
If your condition exactly matches one of the listed ones in the SSA’s Blue Book, you will qualify for benefits. You can learn how to claim disability through this program by talking to your disability attorney.
If, however, your condition (or combination of conditions) does not exactly match one in the Blue Book but you can show that it is “similar” in severity to a listed condition or is “equal” in severity to a listed condition, you may be awarded disability benefits.
The SSA’s addition of 5 new conditions to the current list of 233 conditions that qualify for its Compassionate Allowances program, is good news for applicants. It means that if you, or someone you know, has one of these conditions, you may be able to receive disability benefits through this fast-track disability process.
How to Claim Disability Based on the New Conditions
The 5 new conditions that the SSA added to the Compassionate Allowances program are:
- Fibrolamellar Cancer
- Metacystic Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome (MMIHS)
- Megalencephaly Capillary Malformation Syndrome (MCAP)
- Superficial Siderosis of the Central Nervous System, and
- Tetrasomy 18p.
Do You Know How to Claim Disability Benefits You Need Right Now?
That’s where we come in. The Parmele Law Firm specializes in helping people who need Social Security Disability Benefits.
We are Social Security attorneys, operating from offices in a number of cities in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois, and in several cities in Oklahoma. We offer free consultations and we do not get paid unless you win your case. Contact us online today for more information. We can also be reached at (618) 732-0146.