If you have a disability that prevents you from working, Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits may provide the lifeline you need to help pay your bills. Unfortunately, the process of applying for and being approved for SSD often means a lengthy wait time that could delay receiving the help you need for months or even years. The stress of waiting can have a negative impact not only on your financial well-being, but on your medical condition as well.
For individuals with certain types of disabling conditions, the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowance program can help you get a faster SSD decision, ensuring you get the benefits you deserve in a timeframe that does not wreak havoc on your physical, financial and emotional health.
What Is the Compassionate Allowances Program?
Under the rules and regulations of the Social Security Administration, SSD Compassionate Allowances (CAL) offer a way to quickly identify diseases and medical conditions that qualify for benefits, without going through the often lengthy medical processes that are usually necessary to determine eligibility. Based on the SSD list of impairments, the program allows those claimants most obviously affected by certain readily diagnosable conditions to receive the standard benefits they are entitled to, but in an expedited manner. As a result, you may get the compensation you need to provide for yourself and your loved ones faster, without the usual hassles that often delay these types of claims.
Types of Conditions That May Qualify
The types of diseases and illnesses that are selected to qualify for expedited benefits are determined through public hearings and input from the community, as well as from medical and scientific experts, and research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Under the Social Security Compassionate Allowances guidelines, these include conditions such as the following examples:
- Autoimmune disorders
- Certain types of cancer and blood diseases
- Cardiovascular diseases and strokes
- Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disorders
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Certain rare diseases and genetic disorders
- Schizophrenia
Applying for a Compassionate Allowance
There are no special forms or applications to fill out in order to be eligible for SSD Compassionate Allowances. You simply apply for SSD benefits under the normal guidelines, and if your condition is one that is approved for CAL, you will be notified and your application will be automatically expedited. The goal of the program is to deliver a faster SSD decision for obvious disabilities, while reducing your overall wait time for disability benefits.
How Our Lawyers Can Help
If you have a condition or illness that has left you with lasting disabilities that prevent you from earning a living, contact the Disability Attorneys of Michigan today. Our experienced Michigan Social Security Disability attorneys have the legal knowledge and experience to assist you in getting the benefits you need to be able to meet your expenses while caring for yourself and your condition.
We provide aggressive legal representation to help you get your claim approved in the timeliest and most effective manner possible. Minimize the lengthy delays that are so common when dealing with Social Security. Call or contact our office online today for a confidential and free consultation about how we can help you.