Compassionate Allowances and Social Security Disability Benefits: What You Need to Know about CAL
One thing that many Social Security Disability applicants may not know about is the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances (otherwise known as “CAL”) initiative. However, the Compassionate Allowances initiative is very important in the world of Social Security Disability benefits because it enables the Social Security Administration to “fast track” certain severely disabling conditions for Social Security Disability benefits. But what exactly constitutes a Compassionate Allowance condition, and what can disabled Social Security Disability applicants do in order to better their chances of being approved for necessary Social Security Disability benefits? In order to help Social Security Disability benefits applicants better understand Compassionate Allowances in the Social Security Disability application process, we answer those questions here.
Compassionate Allowances – How is CAL Defined by the Social Security Administration?
According to the Social Security Administration, the Compassionate Allowances initiative, “identifies diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. Social Security uses advanced technology to flag claims involving CAL conditions for fast-track processing.” The Social Security Administration further explains that, “Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children. The CAL initiative helps us reduce waiting time to reach a disability determination for individuals with the most serious disabilities.” In sum, the CAL initiative is beneficial for applicants that suffer from the most serious of disabilities, and can help those individuals get claims for benefits approved sooner.
Compassionate Allowance Conditions
There are a number of conditions that meet the threshold for Compassionate Allowances treatment under the Social Security Administration’s regulation. Some of those conditions include:
- Acute Leukemia;
- ALS/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex;
- Bladder Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable;
- Breast Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable;
- Child Lymphoma;
- Congenital Zika Syndrome;
- Leigh’s Disease;
- Maple Syrup Urine Disease;
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer;
- Pancreatic Cancer;
- Pulmonary Atresia;
- Stiff Person Syndrome;
- Tabes Dorsalis;
- Thyroid Cancer; and
- Zellweger Syndrome.
In order to see a complete list of conditions that meet the Compassionate Allowances criteria, applicants can go to the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances Conditions webpage.
Legal Help for Social Security Disability Benefits Applicants: Social Security Disability Lawyer
No person should have to battle through the process of obtaining Social Security Disability benefits alone. If you are disabled and you are seeking Social Security Disability benefits to help you financially, it is best to speak with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer about your rights and options. The experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law help disabled Social Security Disability applicants get benefits due to them. Do not hesitate to speak with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer about your specific and unique case today. Contact the experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm
