Whether you get hurt at work, wind up injured in a car crash or begin presenting the symptoms of a debilitating, progressive disease, the realization that you may need disability benefits often comes as a surprise. However, many people are quite grateful for the ability to apply for Social Security Disability benefits when a medical condition prevents them from continuing their career.
Anyone whose severe medical condition will prohibit them from working or providing daily care for themselves can typically receive Social Security Disability for that condition. However, there are some conditions that can qualify people for fast-track approval for their benefits.
The worse the prognosis, the sooner you need help
When you consider the fact that people often wait for a year or longer for administrative hearings about their disability benefits in the Greater Atlanta area, it isn’t hard to understand why some people might need benefits processing sped up a little bit.
For those diagnosed with a disease with a fast onset or that produces severe, degenerative symptoms, there may not be much time between diagnosis and the day someone can no longer work at all.
Cases where the SSA may allow fast-track application processing include those involving:
- an applicant who is on the verge of homelessness
- a medical condition already progressed to the terminal stage
- certain severe medical conditions, like total blindness
In the case of those with pre-approved severe conditions, such as blindness, the diagnosis entitles the applicant to six months of benefits while their application moves through the system. While it may not be a permanent solution, those benefits during the waiting period can be incredibly helpful for those waiting for a determination.
