Social Security Expands Fast-Track Disability Program With 14 New Conditions
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has expanded its Compassionate Allowances list by adding 14 medical conditions, allowing people with these serious diagnoses to have their disability benefit claims processed more quickly.
The agency announced the additions on Tuesday. Many of the newly included conditions are rare genetic disorders, while four are forms of cancer.
What Is the Compassionate Allowances Program?
The Compassionate Allowances initiative is designed to identify applicants whose medical conditions clearly meet Social Security’s disability standards.
Instead of going through the usual lengthy review process, qualifying claims can be identified and handled on an accelerated basis.
Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano said the initiative helps reduce administrative delays so people facing serious, life-changing diagnoses can receive assistance faster.
When someone applies for disability benefits, the SSA reviews their medical evidence to determine eligibility. The agency also uses technology to flag applications involving conditions included on the Compassionate Allowances list, helping speed up claim processing.
14 Newly Added Compassionate Allowances Conditions
The following conditions have now been added to the Social Security Compassionate Allowances list:
- Adenylosuccinate Lyase Deficiency – Neonatal Form and Type 1
- Aicardi Syndrome
- Baraitser-Winter Syndrome
- Beare-Stevenson Cutis Gyrata Syndrome
- Bohring-Opitz Syndrome
- CASK-Related Gene Disorders
- Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma
- Lafora Disease
- Malignant Migrating Partial Seizures of Infancy (MMPSI)
- OPHN1 Syndrome
- Primary Cardiac Sarcoma
- Primary Intracranial Malignant Melanoma
- Uveal Melanoma with Metastases
- Warburg Micro Syndrome
Four Cancer Conditions Included
Among the 14 additions are four serious cancers:
Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, primary cardiac sarcoma, primary intracranial malignant melanoma, and uveal melanoma with metastases.
The remaining additions largely involve uncommon genetic, neurological, or developmental disorders.
Compassionate Allowances List Now Covers 314 Conditions
The Compassionate Allowances initiative was launched in 2008. Since then, more than 1.2 million people with severe disabilities have been approved through the expedited disability determination process.
With these latest additions, Social Security’s Compassionate Allowances list has expanded to a total of 314 conditions.
The addition of 14 serious medical conditions to Social Security’s Compassionate Allowances list could help qualifying applicants receive disability decisions much faster.
The expansion brings the total number of covered conditions to 314 and continues the SSA’s effort to accelerate assistance for people dealing with severe and clearly disabling illnesses.
