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What is a compassionate allowance claim?

Dec 20, 2021 |

Disabilities can deprive men, women, and children of the lives they wish to lead. They can keep individuals out of work and can prevent them from earning needed income. When an Ohio resident suffers from a disability that qualifies through the Social Security Administration, they may be able to receive disability benefits.

In many situations, disabled individuals must work through an application and review process that requires them to provide evidence of their disabilities. Once they have shown that they meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disabled, then they can receive benefits. Readers should know, though, that there is another way that individuals may be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

Understanding Compassionate Allowances

Some diseases and disorders, by their very nature, create disabilities. Their symptoms, prognoses, and effects may satisfy the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability. These diseases are categorized for Compassionate Allowances. When a person has a Compassionate Allowance disease, their application for Social Security Disability benefits can be streamlined to speed up their approval and receipt of support.

What diseases and disorders qualify for Compassionate Allowances?

The Social Security Administration maintains a list of diseases and disorders that qualify for Compassionate Allowances. They include, but are not limited to:

  • Acute leukemia
  • Child lymphoma
  • Child neuroblastoma
  • Liver cancer
  • Pulmonary atresia
  • Rett Syndrome
  • Tay Sachs disease in infants

Many Compassionate Allowance diseases are cancer-based, and many have terminal outcomes. There are dozens of diseases on the list, and individuals are encouraged to see if their disabilities may qualify.

Adding new Compassionate Allowance diseases to the list

Readers should understand that the Social Security Administration’s list of Compassionate Allowance diseases is ever-changing. As diseases and disorders are investigated and discovered, new ailments are added. When an individual suffers from a disabling disease that may qualify as a Compassionate Allowance, they may be able to seek to have it added by the Social Security Administration.

It can be a long process to apply for and qualify to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Not everyone who applies is approved on their first review, and some individuals suffer financial setbacks as they wait to find out of their applications will be reversed.

The Compassionate Allowance program is a way to streamline the approval process for those suffering from qualifying disabilities. Before applying for Social Security Disability benefits, it may be useful for an individual to learn what they can about alternative paths to support. Their trusted disability benefits attorneys can advise them of their options for seeking the support they need.