Disability, General, Online Services

How Our Expanded Compassionate Allowances Program Helps People with Severe Disabilities

August 16, 2021 • By

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Last Updated: November 2, 2023

A photo of Darlynda BogleOn August 16, 2021, Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions. Compassionate Allowances is an initiative that quickly identifies severe medical conditions and diseases that meet our standards for disability benefits.

“Everyone who is eligible for benefits under the programs we administer should receive them,” said Acting Commissioner Kijakazi. “Our Compassionate Allowances program helps us address barriers by helping accelerate the disability application process for people who are likely to get approved for benefits due to the severity of their medical condition.”

Due to the severe nature of many of the Compassionate Allowance conditions, claims are often allowed based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone. For example, certain cancers, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and a number of rare disorders that affect children, would qualify under this program.

When a person applies for disability benefits, we must obtain medical records in order to make an accurate determination. With electronic records transmission, we can quickly obtain their medical information, review it, and make a fast determination. For more information about the program, including a list of all Compassionate Allowances conditions, please visit our Compassionate Allowances page.

To apply for disability benefits, visit our Disability Benefits page – and create a personal my Social Security account where you can check the status of your claim and conduct other business. Please share this information with your family and friends – and post it on social media.

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Comments

  1. Kimberly A.

    I just received a letter from the social security office and they denied me. I haven’t worked since September of last year so I don’t have any income but I was able to get SNAP/EBT. I was denied Medicaid. I have stage 3b chronic kidney disease from kidney cancer. I have fibromyalgia, chronic pain and depression and anxiety. I don’t know what else to do. I am at a loss.

    • Beenthere

      Appeal the determination ASAP. Get an attorney. Apply for health coverage through your state disability program.

    • Kristen A.

      I feel for you, and I’m very sorry you’re in that position. It took me five years and an attorney to get my disability. I pray it doesn’t take that long for you! It seems that they are trying to make it easier for people to get disability however stories like yours make you question that. I find with the people I’ve talked to that if you go directly down to the Social Security office and present them with the paperwork or diagnoses information, and let them file the paperwork on your behalf parentheses ( because there’s advocates that will do this for you, you just have to ask for it ) that your chances are more likely to get approved. The only other advice I can give you, even though it’s not an ideal situation, is to get an attorney. They will do the case for free but they take a percentage of your money. However if you were desperate the way I was after five years it doesn’t matter anymore, anything helps! Good luck!

    • Vonda

      Kimberly, we are sorry to hear about your disability. If you were recently denied, you may file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision and provide additional evidence.

      If you need help requesting an appeal, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or contact your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information is helpful!

  2. sackett

    1. sackett
    September 25, 2021 3:41PM
    You also have the option to submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “email a Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
    Reply
     sackett
    September 25, 2021 2:51PM
    social security staff nice reminder don’t forget to send me my soc sec checks for oct 2021 month to me remember i got direct deposit at wells fargo bank austin texas near airport road and near old highland mall i think the college uses the mall know/now signed katrine/kathrine/elizabeth/sackett march 24/1963 (3030) 7101 n ih 35 austin tx spring terrace apts 7101 n ih 35 near dennys near ih-35 and st johns today sept 25/2021 sat
     sackett
    September 25, 2021 2:56PM
    Judges –I got stuck with stupid judges criminal courts/higher lower level/mental court/medicine courts/why I got stuck with all the stupid/hateful ones I am not sure?This means here in Austin tx and other states as adult and kid/kes32463whitelady/9-25-21sat
    Reply
    • Samuel G.
    September 15, 2021 4:05AM
    Reply

  3. sackett

    Police in Austin tx were are you again today sat 9-2621sat there are black males over near bldg by farmers market and he is exposing himself penis out are again the tx police to much of a coward of these black men to make a arrest on them or you also stupid like parents who tell them (to tell others don’t look when something said about it) or just a coward cop of them/kes32463whitelady/5’3///5’2 1/2/////9/25/21sat

    Police –to much coward of black males showing penis public to arrest them or stupid like their parents tosay (tell them to tell others don’t look) which one is it?/kes32463whitelady/9/25/21sat

  4. sackett

    You also have the option to submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “email a Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
    Reply
     sackett
    September 25, 2021 2:51PM
    social security staff nice reminder don’t forget to send me my soc sec checks for oct 2021 month to me remember i got direct deposit at wells fargo bank austin texas near airport road and near old highland mall i think the college uses the mall know/now signed katrine/kathrine/elizabeth/sackett march 24/1963 (3030) 7101 n ih 35 austin tx spring terrace apts 7101 n ih 35 near dennys near ih-35 and st johns today sept 25/2021 sat
     sackett
    September 25, 2021 2:56PM
    Judges –I got stuck with stupid judges criminal courts/higher lower level/mental court/medicine courts/why I got stuck with all the stupid/hateful ones I am not sure?This means here in Austin tx and other states as adult and kid/kes32463whitelady/9-25-21sat
    Reply
    • Samuel G.
    September 15, 2021 4:05AM

  5. Ata S.

    mouth cancer
    develops in the mouth and throat due to abnormal cell growth (neoplasm) and in 90% of cases is the result of squamous cell carcinomas, which is an oral malignancy. If we want to say exactly where mouth cancer occurs, we mean lips, gums and alveolar ridge, floor of the mouth, oral mucosa, and oropharynx (including soft palate, back of the tongue and pharyngeal wall).

  6. Nagaraj S.

    When it comes to medical emergencies, personal loans are the biggest savior for their instant approval and disbursal features. An Aadhar card provides a universal identity to every citizen and reduces the number of documentation required to avail of a loan. Getting personal loans on aadhar card is extremely easy and straightforward.

  7. Kari H.

    I have à problem I am super confused with! OK 3 year’s ago my ex husband finally filed for divorce after us being separated and living our own lives for more then 5 years! I couldn’t afford to file and he was just a jerk about it! But he said he wanted to get remarried! I was already getting SSI and SSA and was moving into a smaller apartment for people like me who are sick or elderly! During this time he brought me ALL paperwork I needed to sign or fill out! He always did this when I was alone without my care assistant or my mom (I had become confused to ally of things! He then brought me some QUATRO paperwork from HIS work because he said since Indiana is a 50/50 that I was entitled by law half of his 401k! But since we had been separated this entire time I agreed to give that money back to him! I thought that was fair since I had not been with him for years! He met me at the bank when check cleared I gave him 10,000 cash and he let me keep 2000 to move and buy a couch and items for apartment! It was also to pay the people upstairs he got to move items out of apartment and to take the boys items to their granddad’s! I called the auto line and told them about the 2,000 and what it was used for! Its been over 3 years and I’ve heard nothing from social security or IRS or anyone! That day at the bank was last time I had ever heard from my ex husband again! From what I’ve heard he moved to Florida for awhile after he was fired from his job! I’ve not spoke to him since! I got a letter the other day from social security wanting to talk to me about some computer matching thing from the IRS. I’m now super scared it has something to do with that 3 years ago!! I thought I did the right things! Everything’s is so confusing! I’m now in stage 5 terminal end stage kidney failure, I rely on my benefits to stay alive!! Without my benefits for housing, food,medication, doctor’s, home health care plus I am going on the transplant list soon and starting peritoneal dialysis! Without my benefits that help pay for all this I will be homeless and I will surely die! I don’t understand the social security rules to some things? My ex husband said as long as I didn’t keep the money it was fine?? Who can help me with this problem or give me number for who can? Thank You!

    • Jeffrey R.

      Hi, Kari H.
      It sounds like you are receiving both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI) and that you are concerned that the $2000.00 that you received some years ago (and of which you reported to the SSA) may have put you in to an overpayment situation — of which you may not be financially able to repay. Is this correct? IF so, I may be able to help you. I am not an SSA employee; rather, I am a jurisconsult that represent people such as yourself on issues concerning benefit entitlement and post-entitlement issues, such as yours. You may reach me at: All America Social Security Disability Representation, llc. (AASSDR@yahoo.com) or (720) 475-0440.

      Thanks,

      Jeffrey Roberts

  8. KB

    I’m someone who has a disability that falls under the Compassionate Allowances list and I can’t even get Social Security to recognize it as that, even though it is on the list. One office told me Compassionate Allowances are for those already on Social Security. Another office told me they informed my reviewer of the extent of my disability and that it falls under Compassionate Allowances, and I have heard nothing. Social Security says it will flag those applications for those who fall under it, but they do not. I am being told 6 months to a year for an approval or denial.

    • Jeffrey R.

      Good afternoon, KB.
      It is unfortunate that you are having a difficult experience with the SSA in the midst of your own personal, financial and health difficulties. I am more that capable and willing to represent your interests before the SSA in order to expedite the disability process and to hold the SSA accountable to their mission of Compassionate and Responsive Service (CARES).

      You may reach me at: All America Social Security Disability Representation, llc. (AASSDR@yahoo.com) or (720) 475-0440.

      Thanks,

      Jeffrey Roberts

  9. Hospitals &.

    In re: 2020 Payroll Tax Freedom of Information Act Consultation; Social Security Administration
    (SSA) Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi v. SSA Office of Chief Actuary, Medicare Office of the Actuary, Bureau of Fiscal Service. Hospitals & Asylums HA-21-8-21 http://www.title24uscode.org/payrolltax2020.pdf

    After excessive delay it seems to be necessary for the Social Security Administration and Medicare Actuaries to sue the Bureau of Fiscal Service, who prepares the Combined Statement, for consultation regarding the unusual circumstances surrounding the obviously erroneous 2020 payroll tax revenue estimates, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act under 31CFR§1(a)(4) and 5USC§552(6)(C)(iii)
    (III). These agencies are communicated with via the Treasury Secretary press office and Social
    Security Online due to the prohibition against retaliation and coercion in Sec. 503 of the Americans with Disabilities Act under 42USC§12203.

    The 2020 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old Age Survivor Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund and 2020 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund neglected to include the potential effects of the COVID19 pandemic and ensuing recession, in order to be produced in a nearly timely fashion on April 22, 2020, nor did the updated baseline of November 24, 2020 make any attempt to estimate the effect the pandemic had on payroll tax revenues.

    Despite the economic depression, the 2020 Combined Statement reports 7.1 percent growth in Federal Old-Age and Survivor Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and 5.1 percent growth in Federal Hospital Insurance (HI) payroll and self-employment income tax revenues, at the same time it reports -2.7 percent decrease in Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund revenues. These payroll tax estimates are all believed to be totally bogus and a special report of the Treasury must be Commissioned to sort out 2020 payroll tax revenues.

    Greetings,

    Anthony J. Sanders
    Applicant Public Trustee

  10. Ronald G.

    How can you even get doctors records when your not able to afford medical insurance and you can’t get Medicaid without them saying apply for disability. So everything is a big joke worked all my life and for what going to be 56 and can’t get help from no one.

    • Paul R.

      I don’t blame u being upset. Took me 12 years applied 5 times for my ss and Medicare had a brain tumer removed knee replacement, prostate surgery etc all on a little insurance that paid hardly nothing but would get you in hospital. Still owe over 500,000$. Finally got ss and Medicare by going to a small ss office in country. They were amazed I had not received it already as they said I had paid in enough for 3 people. Then they fined me for filing late and took chunk of my check. But that’s life don’t like it but what’s one person going to do about they make rules you can’t possibly do. Good luck.

    • Sheri K.

      There are attorneys who will assist you, maybe even in your area, who won’t charge you personally for their assistance.

      1. Private Disability Attorneys will only receive payment if they are able to assist you in receiving benefits, then they will be paid a percentage of any backpay you are allowed.
      2. There are also non-profit law firms who will also assist you, without requiring any fees from qualified clients.

      Typically, both of these resources will not charge you for medical records retrieval.

      They also should be able to point you in the direction of locating assistance related to applying for Medicaid or Market Place Insurance which can be obtained for little, to no, monthly premiums.

      Search online for Disability Attorneys.
      Also search for Non-Profit Disability Application Assistance.

      I hope you find this helpful.
      I am aware of both options because I have utilized, personally, the Private Attorney for my own assistance filing for Disability.
      Then I became employed with a Non-Profit Law Firm, assisting homeless and potentially homeless in applying for SSI/SSDI

      • Vickie

        Yes there are.

    • Sean

      Millions upon millions of our tax dollars for illegals waltzing into this country, breaking immigration laws and people with verified disabilities get denied over and over again and have to literally beg for their own money back if they can’t work. I am starting to hate this country more and more every second. Go to h***. You people are sickening beyond comprehension.

    • Karen R.

      Same here, I’m 58 and I’ve been trying for 3 years and I have fibromyalgia stenosis and thesis I have a rare skin disease so it’s immune system and they said I can go back to work doing hair I can barely stand for 2 minutes let alone a whole day

    • Jeffrey R.

      Good afternoon, Mr. Granger.
      You are not alone in your complaint regarding being caught between the proverbial “rock and a hard place”. Too often, individuals such as yourself find that they are in the very same predicament of not having medical documentation of their impairments. Alas, the Social Security Administration’s disability component is responsible for obtaining evidence of the presence or absence of an alleged impairment. The SSA understands that there are many conditions and as many circumstances that often prevent and individual from seeing a doctor; not the least being too rich to qualify for State Medicaid and too poor to afford to go to a doctor! Thus, the SSA’s disability rules mandate that they send you to one of their consulting doctors to evaluate you for any conditions that rises to the level of being a medically determinable impairment (MDI).

      I understand your frustration and I am empathetic. You may reach me at: All America Social Security Disability Representation, llc. (AASSDR@yahoo.com) or (720) 475-0440.

      Thanks,

      Jeffrey Roberts

Comments are closed.