Individuals with illnesses and injuries who can no longer work may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Millions of Americans live with a disability, and they can apply for SSDI benefits. SSDI claims can take a while to be reviewed before someone receives any benefits. Is there anything individuals with severe or terminal illnesses can do to speed up the process?
The Social Security Administration has the Compassionate Allowances program that is aimed to help individuals with severe medical conditions receive an expedited process when applying for SSDI or Supplemental Security Income benefits. The Compassionate Allowances program helps individuals who have severe medical conditions that clearly meet the disability definition required to receive benefits.
Only certain medical conditions are covered under the Compassionate Allowances program. Recently the SSA added several new conditions to be covered under the program, meaning that more individuals suffering from severe conditions will be able to have their SSDI claims reviewed much faster.
The agency added 25 new conditions, including several different types of cancer. The total number of medical conditions added to the program is now at 225. The Compassionate Allowances program can help people suffering from severe medical conditions have their claims reviewed within days instead of waiting for months before knowing if they have been approved to receive SSDI benefits.
SSDI benefits can be very helpful for people who can no longer work due to their disability. SSDI benefits can be vital for individuals with severe conditions who may not be able to afford medical treatment and care without the monthly payments. Individuals thinking about applying for SSDI benefits should become familiar with the Compassionate Allowances program to see if they are eligible.
Source: Senior Journal, “New Compassionate Allowance Conditions Added by Social Security for SSI, SSDI Programs,” Jan. 16, 2014
