SSD Expedites Claims for ‘Compassionate Allowances’ Qualifiers in Winchester, TN?
December 6th, 2016 by Attorney John Colvin
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It’s no secret that applicants for Social Security Disability often endure long wait times before receiving any benefits. If their disability is an illness, that illness may worsen significantly in the time they’re waiting to hear back about their claim. But the Social Security Administration will, in some cases, expedite disability claims, under its Compassionate Allowances program – or CAL.
According to the SSA website, individuals with CAL conditions may receive an expedited decision on their claim. The application process is no different than the normal SSD application process. Applicants just need to supply evidence that proves the existence of their qualifying medical condition and its severity. The Social Security Administration uses the CAL to help them identify those deserving claimants whose medical condition is so severe, they obviously meet SSA’s disability standards
Qualifying CAL Conditions
The SSA maintains a Compassionate Allowance list of approximately 223 medical conditions that may qualify for expedited application processing under CAL. The SSA developed this list with input from the public, advocacy groups, medical and scientific experts, the National Institutes of Health, and from SSA disability determination workers. Under the Compassionate Allowances initiative, new conditions may be added to the list every year. The Compassionate Allowances initiative is a federal program that also provides grants for medical research in order to identify other disabling conditions that may qualify for the Compassionate Allowances list.
As of 2016, conditions that could result in expedited disability payments include cancers that are aggressive, recurrent, inoperable, or have spread to other parts of the body, such as adrenal cancer, angiosarcoma, and malignant melanoma.
To prove any of those conditions, an SSD applicant must be able to provide biopsy results, pathology reports, clinical history, medical progress reports, and other medical evidence that establishes the severity and disabling nature of the illness.
Other CAL conditions include degenerative diseases, occupational illnesses, and illnesses present at birth, such as Usher Syndrome I, a disease that renders newborns deaf, impairs balance, and causes complete blindness, usually before age 10. See the SSA website for a full list of qualifying conditions.
Getting Help With Your Claim
When you’re suffering from a serious illness, you may not be able to gather all the medical records you need to prove your claim of disability. SSA claims examiners may also ask you to attend determination hearings, which could be difficult or impossible, depending on your health. Any error in the application process could delay or jeopardize your benefits.
Having an experienced disability attorney on your side can help you navigate the SSD application process. An attorney can help gather evidence and also appear on your behalf at hearings held by the Administration.
For more than a decade, John R. Colvin has been helping residents of the Tennessee Valley with their SSD claims. At the initial application stage and throughout the appeals process, John R. Colvin has worked tirelessly to get his clients the benefits they deserve. He has also assisted families in their efforts to secure survivor’s benefits after losing a loved one. For 20 years, he has been helping people put their lives back on track, and he is ready to help you. For advice on how to proceed next or if you have any questions about this topic, call 1-931-962-1044 or submit our online form. Put his bold approach and client focus to work for you.
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