Compassionate Allowances: Fast-Track Help to Those Who Need It Most
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 6, 2017
We are committed to processing disability claims as quickly as possible in all cases, but our initial claims process typically takes three to four months. If you suffer from a serious medical condition that prevents you from working, time is of the essence when it comes to receiving a decision on your disability application.
In some cases, we’re able to expedite the application process through our Compassionate Allowances program. Social Security uses Compassionate Allowances to identify people whose medical condition is so severe that they obviously meet our disability standards. Under the Social Security Act, we consider you disabled if you can’t work due to a severe medical condition that is expected to last at least one year, or result in death.
Many of the claims in our Compassionate Allowances Program are approved based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone; for example, pancreatic cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and acute leukemia. Acting Commissioner Nancy A. Berryhill said it best: “Social Security is committed — now and in the future – to continue to identify and fast-track diseases that are certain or near-certain to be approved for disability benefits.”
Today, almost 500,000 people with severe disabilities have been approved through this fast-track disability process, which has grown to include a total of 228 conditions. Recently, three new Compassionate Allowances conditions were added to the list: CACH — Vanishing White Matter Disease-Infantile and Childhood Onset Forms, Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy, and Kleefstra Syndrome.
Our Compassionate Allowances program speeds help to people with severe conditions. If you or someone you know has a severe disabling condition, don’t wait. Go to our Compassionate Allowances website for more information about the program, including a list of all the conditions.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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James M.
My wife has diabetes and most recently has had a detached retina in her right (dominant) eye. Her sight will be impaired for a long time, particularly here depth perception.
She is 64 and we wonder if she would be eligible for Compassionate Allowance / Disability adjustment to her monthly benefit?
AKA
The condition described is not on the compassionate list. Have her apply for disability and she might be approved. Do not post personal information in an open blog, identities can be stolen.
R.F.
Hi James, we do not base an individual’s benefit amount on the severity of their disability. We base it on their average lifetime earnings before they became disabled under our rules. Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. In those cases, we’re able to expedite the application process through our Compassionate Allowances program. Social Security uses Compassionate Allowances to identify people whose medical condition is so severe that they obviously meet our disability standards. Thanks!
Michelle L.
I became disabled in 2004 when I was 18 I became a disabled child under a disabled parent because of my dad as well is disabled when my mom died in 2010 they switched me souviours benefits. But here recently my condition has worsen and now I am just not making it can I refile for my disability and my SSI and if it doesn’t go thru will that affect my souviours benefits if I’m not approved for my disability because I was disabled before age 22 I have my paperwork from y’all on my original claim that states when. Became disabled
AKA
Yes, no, sounds good to me.
R.F.
Hi Michelle. Generally, survivor’s benefits are paid at a higher rate. Sometimes, a person may be eligible to more than one benefit at the same time. For example, you may be eligible for “disabled adult child” on your dad’s record and also qualify for survivor’s benefits on your mother’s record. Under current law, a person’s benefit amount can never exceed the highest single benefit amount to which that person is entitled. While is possible for a person to be eligible to more than one benefit at the same time, we are only going to pay the highest benefit amount from either records. To see if you’re eligible for a higher benefit than what you’re receiving now and to discuss your options, contact us at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit your local Social security office. Thanks.
May
Be ready to wait for hours to speak to someone. Just like you wait for years to get approved for benefits even after working and paying FICA for 30+ years. Your system is broken Ray and it’s so corrupt that SS makes people wait for over 3 years to get what they had deducted from their paychecks every week.
John A.
Great article and general information… Thank you!
R.F.
Thank you, John! We’re pleased we can help.
John A.
My friend Cheryl Buterbaugh has applied a year ago. She is due disability ssi and or widows benefits as of a year ago. Attorney seems to be dragging his feet
Nabil A.
We are family of seven depends.
Two of my children going to college
Three children in high school.
I receive a retirement benefits seven hundred twenty three dollars a month.
It’s not enough to pay the rent.
R.T W.
I”m thinking that once DJT finds out that something along the lines of charitable giving exist within SSA, that he”‘ll associate it with Barry O and immensely squash it.
Marc
Don’t worry about Yrump…Congress is already doing it whilst we’re distracted by the Twitter rants…It’s all included in that “big, beautiful ‘tax cut'” – what did people think was going to be CUT to pay for them?? Cutting SSDI by 20% for those few already on it whom they deem “disabled enough” not to work, and & REQUIRING everyone else receiving it to work; eliminating Medicare via the block grant idea…yes, the states will each receive a fixed amount (set by Congress annually) to provide as a tax credit to each Medicare recipient on the purchase of a policy on the “open market” – we all should know how well that’ll work, eh? That’s not even 1 of dozens of cuts to programs meant for elderly & disabled that will literally kill most of us relatively quickly. Better pray, hope, wish, or whatever you believe in that this tax plan is NOT passed. Better yet, call & write your Congresspersons in House and Senate & tell them NO NO NO!!! Think I’m just being political? Read the actual Bill for yourself (NOT what newscasters or politicians say) at Congress.gov. You’ll be horrified.
AKA
Boy, the libs sure can make up things. None of what you mentioned is being seriously considered. So, please write your Congressmen, he’s in for a good laugh and he’s looking for more fools to donate to his campaign.
John S.
Going on Seven years of waiting to be approved. Why? Do I have to lose everything before I get conciderd?
AKA
No, but your condition has to be severe. Give it 7 more years and I’m sure if not treated you’ll be approved.
cari
I am Canadian..
Does this apply to me?
If not please tell me,.
Can I please be an American?
Canadian system has utterly failed me this far from justice to child protection , labor laws, supports, access to healthcare both medication and treatments, transportation, criminal defence, immigration, licensing insurances and registration, mortgage fraud, division of marital property, estate planning, victim services , addictions and mental health, income tax services, provincial & federal benefits, access to personal information protection, enforcement of court orders, and human and civil rights.
Embarrassing !
I have a great voice… Sadly I don’t think I’m being heard here.
AKA
No, you’re not, you’re a Canadian.
Kenny S.
Not easy to get Job I get social security have right to abuse my that not cool make for other that’s true pay bills and rent to put food on tab
Lesly F.
Well i am diabetic is not serious in off to get disability or let me know…! What symptoms it more serious then be suffering with depression and diabetes…!
Jeff
Your question:
“What symptoms it more serious then be suffering with depression and diabetes…!”
I think what you meant to say is
“What symptoms *are more serious *than *to be suffering with depression and diabetes?”
If that actually is your question, well then here is your answer.
Acute Leukemia
Adrenal Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent
Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Adult Onset Huntington Disease
Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome
Alexander Disease (ALX) – Neonatal and Infantile
Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome
Alobar Holoprosencephaly
Alpers Disease
Alpha Mannosidosis – Type II and III
ALS/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex
Alstrom Syndrome
Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma
Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Anaplastic Adrenal Cancer – Adult with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent
Angelman Syndrome
Angiosarcoma
Aortic Atresia
Aplastic Anemia
Astrocytoma – Grade III and IV
Ataxia Telangiectasia
Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor
Batten Disease
Beta Thalassemia Major
Bilateral Optic Atrophy- Infantile
Bilateral Retinoblastoma
Bladder Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable
Breast Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable
Canavan Disease (CD)
CACH–Vanishing White Matter Disease-Infantile and Childhood Onset Forms (Effective 9/16/2017)
Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site
Cardiac Amyloidosis- AL Type
Caudal Regression Syndrome – Types III and IV
Cerebro Oculo Facio Skeletal (COFS) Syndrome
Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis
Child Lymphoblastic Lymphoma
Child Lymphoma
Child Neuroblastoma – with distant metastases or recurrent
Chondrosarcoma – with multimodal therapy
Chronic Idiopathic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) – Blast Phase
Coffin-Lowry Syndrome
Congenital Lymphedema
Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy (Effective 9/16/2017)
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome – Classic Form
Corticobasal Degeneration
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) – Adult
Cri du Chat Syndrome
Degos Disease – Systemic
DeSanctis Cacchione Syndrome
Dravet Syndrome
Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18)
Eisenmenger Syndrome
Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma
Endomyocardial Fibrosis
Ependymoblastoma (Child Brain Cancer)
Erdheim Chester Disease
Esophageal Cancer
Esthesioneuroblastoma
Ewing Sarcoma
Farber Disease (FD) – Infantile
Fatal Familial Insomnia
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma – metastatic or recurrent
Friedreichs Ataxia (FRDA)
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Picks Disease -Type A – Adult
Fryns Syndrome
Fucosidosis – Type 1
Fukuyama Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
Fulminant Giant Cell Myocarditis
Galactosialidosis – Early and Late Infantile Types
Gallbladder Cancer
Gaucher Disease (GD) – Type 2
Giant Axonal Neuropathy
Glioblastoma Multiforme (Brain Cancer)
Glioma Grade III and IV
Glutaric Acidemia – Type II
Head and Neck Cancers – with distant metastasis or inoperable or unresectable
Heart Transplant Graft Failure
Heart Transplant Wait List – 1A/1B
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) – Familial Type
Hepatoblastoma
Hepatopulmonary Syndrome
Hepatorenal Syndrome
Histiocytosis Syndromes
Hoyeaal-Hreidarsson Syndrome
Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome
Hydranencephaly
Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome
Hypophosphatasia Perinatal (Lethal) and Infantile Onset Types
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
I Cell Disease
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Infantile Free Sialic Acid Storage Disease
Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (INAD)
Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
Intracranial Hemangiopericytoma
Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome
Joubert Syndrome
Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa – Lethal Type
Juvenile Onset Huntington Disease
Kidney Cancer – inoperable or unresectable
Kleefstra Syndrome (Effective 9/16/2017)
Krabbe Disease (KD) – Infantile
Kufs Disease – Type A and B
Large Intestine Cancer – with distant metastasis or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent>
Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses
Leigh’s Disease
Leiomyosarcoma
Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome (LNS)
Lewy Body Dementia
Liposarcoma – metastatic or recurrent
Lissencephaly
Liver Cancer
Lowe Syndrome
Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis – Grade III
Malignant Brain Stem Gliomas – Childhood
Malignant Ectomesenchymoma
Malignant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
Malignant Germ Cell Tumor
Malignant Multiple Sclerosis
Malignant Renal Rhabdoid Tumor
Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)
Maple Syrup Urine Disease
Marshall-Smith Syndrome
Mastocytosis – Type IV
MECP2 Duplication Syndrome
Medulloblastoma – with metastases
Menkes Disease – Classic or Infantile Onset Form
Merkel Cell Carcinoma – with metastases
Merosin Deficient Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) – Late Infantile
Mitral Valve Atresia
Mixed Dementias
MPS I, formerly known as Hurler Syndrome
MPS II, formerly known as Hunter Syndrome
MPS III, formerly known as Sanfilippo Syndrome
Mucosal Malignant Melanoma
Multicentric Castleman Disease
Multiple System Atrophy
Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers Syndrome
Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation – Types 1 and 2
NFU-1 Mitochondrial Disease
Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD) – Type A
Niemann-Pick Disease-Type C
Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Obliterative Bronchiolitis
Ohtahara Syndrome
Oligodendroglioma Brain Cancer- Grade III
Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) Deficiency
Orthochromatic Leukodystrophy with Pigmented Glia
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) – Type II
Osteosarcoma, formerly known as Bone Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable
Ovarian Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable
Pallister-Killian Syndrome
Pancreatic Cancer
Paraneoplastic Pemphigus
Patau Syndrome (Trisomy 13)
Pearson Syndrome
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease-Classic Form
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease-Connatal Form
Peripheral Nerve Cancer – metastatic or recurrent
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mucinous Carcinomatosis
Perry Syndrome
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pompe Disease – Infantile
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Primary Effusion Lymphoma
Primary Progressive Aphasia
Progressive Bulbar Palsy
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Prostate Cancer – Hormone Refractory Disease – or with visceral metastases
Pulmonary Atresia
Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma
Retinopathy of Prematurity – Stage V
Rett (RTT) Syndrome
Revesz Syndrome
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata
Roberts Syndrome
Salivary Cancers
Sandhoff Disease
Schindler Disease – Type 1
Seckel Syndrome
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency – Childhood
Single Ventricle
Sinonasal Cancer
Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome
Skin Malignant Melanoma with Metastases
Small Cell Cancer (Large Intestine, Prostate or Thymus)
Small Cell Cancer of the Female Genital Tract
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small Intestine Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent
Smith Lemli Opitz Syndrome
Soft Tissue Sarcoma – with distant metastases or recurrent
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) – Types 0 and 1
Spinal Nerve Root Cancer-metastatic or recurrent
Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Stiff Person Syndrome
Stomach Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
Tabes Dorsalis
Tay Sachs Disease – Infantile Type
Thanatophoric Dysplasia – Type 1
Thyroid Cancer
Transplant Coronary Artery Vasculopathy
Tricuspid Atresia
Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
Ureter Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent
Usher Syndrome – Type I
Ventricular Assist Device Recipient – Left, Right, or Biventricular
Walker Warburg Syndrome
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
Wolman Disease
X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disease
X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy
Xeroderma Pigmentosum
Zellweger Syndrome
These diseases and conditions are on the Social Security’s compassionate allowance list. There is a direct link listed in the article as well.
Since you obviously missed it, here is the direct link again, to ALL of Social Security’s compassionate allowance conditions.
https://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm
I have Type 2 diabetes and depression and MUCH more ailments and I still work.
I hope this has helped answer your question.
Ernest s.
My husband has shy- draper sydrome,he was dignosed by dr. James Hurley Red River Army Drs.put him out on60/% disablity in 1997 He has not work since,now they want to cut his social secuity check from 5506.to355. Amo. He needs the506.00 to buy his 3 inhalers he is on from being a welder for the tanks that went to irack also he has to buy 19 prciptions a mo we have insurance but have to pay the Co pay,we are hurting like many Americans are,this disease he has is uncut able they don’t have nothing to stop it.along with it he has Parkinson, altimers,high blood pressure & copd.we ask for help,I don’t have a computer& I have tried &tried to reach social security. I am his wife,he cannot read or write.Gail Sorrell 11Ashlee blvd. Nash,texas 755 69 ph#9037016913
R.F.
We are sorry to hear about your husband’s medical condition. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog.
If your husband needs help managing his Social Security benefits, you may be interested in applying to become your husband’s representative payee. As a representative payee, you will be able to talk with us and have access to your husband’s records and update his account information.
To become your husband’s representative payee, you will need to visit your local Social Security office for a face-to-face interview. A statement from his doctor would be helpful. The statement should say that your husband is not able to -mentally and physically- manage his Social Security benefits and identify you as the person responsible to keep his affairs in order.
Please read our publication: A Guide For Representative Payees for more information. If you have specific questions, or to make an appointment, please call 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.