Normally, an application for disability benefits may take months for the Social Security Administration to process and approve. People suffering from certain serious conditions may receive an expedited response on their Social Security Disability application. The SSA identifies qualifying conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list.
If a condition is not currently on the list, an applicant may be able to request its addition.
What conditions are on the list?
Many of the severe health conditions on the CAL are aggressive forms of cancer that need immediate treatment, such as acute leukemia, peritoneal mesothelioma, germ cell tumors, and cancers of the internal organs, brain and bones.
Many rare disorders and congenital diseases that affect children are on the list, as well as adult neurological disorders such as malignant multiple sclerosis.
How does the SSA decide what should be on the list?
The disease or condition must clearly meet the SSA’s standards for a disability. Medical and scientific experts weigh in on the seriousness of the conditions, and the SSA also examines research from the National Institutes of Health.
The Social Security and Disability Determination Service communities may submit comments regarding the condition, and the SSA may glean information about potential conditions from previous public outreach hearings.
How can someone submit a condition for consideration?
The information the SSA needs to consider a disability for the list includes the condition’s name and alternate names, as well as a description of the condition and its onset progression and treatment. The submission should also include diagnostic testing and physical findings. Even if your condition is not currently on the list, it is possible the SSA may include it at a later date.
