Social Security Administration Expedites Decisions for People with Severe Disabilities
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 2, 2023
Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions: 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, Anaplastic Ependymoma, Calciphylaxis, Cholangiocarcinoma, FOXG1 Syndrome, Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Metastatic Endometrial Adenocarcinoma, Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration, Pineoblastoma – Childhood, Primary Omental Cancer, Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Lung – Stages II-IV, and Trisomy 9.
The Compassionate Allowances program quickly identifies claims where the applicant’s medical condition or disease clearly meets Social Security’s statutory standard for disability. Due to the severe nature of many of these conditions, these claims are often allowed based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone. To date, nearly 900,000 people with severe disabilities have been approved through this accelerated, policy-compliant disability process, which now includes a total of 278 conditions.
“The Social Security Administration remains committed to reducing barriers and ensuring people who are eligible for benefits receive them,” said Acting Commissioner Kijakazi. “Our Compassionate Allowances program allows us to reinforce that commitment by expediting the disability application process for people with the most severe disabilities.”
When a person applies for disability benefits, Social Security must obtain medical records in order to make an accurate determination. The agency incorporates leading technology to identify potential Compassionate Allowances cases and make quick decisions. Social Security’s Health IT brings the speed and efficiency of electronic medical records to the disability determination process. With electronic records transmission, Social Security can quickly obtain a claimant’s medical information, review it, and make a faster determination.
For more information about the program, including a list of all Compassionate Allowances conditions, please visit www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances.
To learn more about Social Security’s Health IT program, please visit www.ssa.gov/hit.
People may apply online for disability benefits by visiting www.ssa.gov.
To create a my Social Security account, please visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
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Tags: Disability, General Information, my Social Security, my Social Security account, social security, social security disability benefits
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Vivian e.
I currently n have got Ss disability since 2004.i recently saw on tv something about a second check this month n depends on how we filed our taxes idk if mean this or last yrs filing???aldo im married yes n we file jointly will n when if do do i get additional funff d ing this month….thanks,Vivian
Jaime L.
Ive had an autoimmune disease for 20 years & recently submitted my application because it affected me while working. I sent the drs note and everything I had on hand. I did read that since it’s all electronic, the process is faster. I’m hoping that’s true! This is the 3rd time….fingers crossed.
S.D.
Hi, Jaime. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comments. We pay disability benefits if you’re unable to work because of a physical or mental condition that is expected to last at least 1 year or to end in death. To learn more, visit our Disability-How You Qualify webpage. You may also find our Adult Listing of Impairments helpful. To learn how to check the status of your pending application, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. If you’re denied for benefits, you may file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision. We hope this helps.
Peggy W.
If my ex-spouse we were married 18 years just applied for disability after 3 strokes, I am 62 and already on disability do I qualify for the greater of his SS Retirement Amount or the SS Disability Amount ? The disability amount is higher than mine. I am not sure if he is approved but Others are telling me I am due a higher amount .
S.D.
Hi, Peggy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, be unmarried, and not eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. To speak with a representative about your eligibility, please contact us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., or call your local Social Security office. For general information about divorced spouse benefits, check out our Frequently Asked Questions and our What Every Woman Should Know publication. We hope this helps.
Sylvester H.
why was I Denied 6 times for Social Security Disability Benefits.
When in fact, that some of the medical Problems That I Have is NOTED IN
THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT WILL APPROVE MY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS.
LIKE (CVI) CHRONIC VEINSUS INSUFFICIENCY. ALONG WITH OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS. LIKE (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE). MY DOCTORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE BEING TOO HIGH. I SEE IT LIKE THIS, BEING WITHOUT A INCOME FOR OVER 6 YEARS AND HAVING NO MONEY, WOULD MAKE ANYONE’S BLOOD PRESSURE BE HIGH. I’M TIRED OF GOING THROUGH THIESE HARDSHIPS. I NEED FINANCIAL HELP, AND I NEED IT NOW. I’VE DONE ALREADY LOST EVERYTHING THAT I HAD. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
S.D.
We’re sorry to hear about your condition, Sylvester. We pay disability benefits to people who have a condition or conditions that prevent them from working or are expected to prevent them from working for at least 1 year or to result in death. If you were recently denied for disability benefits, you may file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision. If you’re outside your appeal period, you may reapply for disability. You can learn more about how we decide if you have a qualifying disability here. We hope this is helpful.
John m.
I volunteered at the Asheville North Carolina veterans hospital from 2014 – 2019 .
I was mostly helping severely disabled veterans get the social security benefits they earned by putting money in the trust fund .
Some of these veterans could even talk because of blast injuries. I witnessed many veterans loose their wife’s who were their only support . Because of the fight with social security. The financial hardship of being denied added to the family’s decline. It took years for them to get in front of a judge … only to have the judge shake his / her head saying to the veteran ( I usually take so time to make my decision, but it’s obvious you can no longer work … so I’m granting you your social security today )
The three years back is little compensation when you have already lost your wife because it took so long for your approval. Social security destroys lives of veterans …. I have seen it time after time .
I stopped advocating in 2019 because I couldn’t Handel seeing so many divorces because it took so long to receive benefits..
most of my veterans ended up spending the 30,000 or 40,000 thousand dollars in a couple of months , then ended up homeless because they no longer had a wife to care about their mental health .
Debbie J.
John, that is so sad. I am the mother of a disabled adult son. Social Security has made our lives a living hell. I do everything they can to prevent my son from receiving benefits. I truly believe they will not be happy until he is living in a box on the street. I even wrote the Commissioner. She could care less. These people are heartless. I have filled an appeal 8 months ago but they haven’t responded. Without an answer, I can’t proceed to court. I though America took care of it’s vulnerable, but it clearly doesn’t!!
Ms. C.
If I have been approved for SSDI will my son automatically start receiving benefits as well or is there something I need to do?
A.C.
Hi, Ms. Cur. Thanks for visiting for our blog. When you qualify for Social Security retirement or disability benefits, your children may also qualify to receive benefits on your record. Generally, during your initial interview to apply for Social Security benefits, we typically explore the eligibility for other members of your family. For more information about benefits for children, please read our publication here. We hope this helps.
Tammy R.
Will I be able to first draw from my ex-husbands social security benefits if I turn retirement age before he does? I will be 62 years however he will only be 51 years however has paid in for more that 30 years.
A.C.
Hi, Tammy. Thanks for your question. Generally, to be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record, and your ex-spouse also has to be entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps.
Diana
I feel sorry for the rotten attention you have been given. I wish I could help you but I am poor too. I believe firmly what is said about what goes around comes around and they will get theirs one day.
Cassandra
I had to appeal and fight for my daughter’s disability she has 1p36 deletion syndrome. And now based on my income she might lose her ssi and medical insurance. I make to much to qualify yet don’t make enough for insurance through my employer. Which is 900 a month. The system sucks, I am most sad that if she loses the benefit it says she will lose the insurance as well which we are in need of. Lose lose situation.
Debbie J.
I am in a similar situation. This country treats it’s disabled terribly, the SSA especially. I feel like they won’t be happy until we are all homeless.
Sam H.
I agree, there is NO reason to think that giving someone a 3.2% increase while taking over 3 times that much for co pays after paying the higher wage to a family of 7 for 7 years and expecting them not to fall flat on the pavement out in the cold is a reasonable expectation, and I plan on appealing it as well as pursuing an earlier EOD since my EOD is my date of birth according to medical imaging. And don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful to be receiving what I do. But it’s just getting worse and worse. And the only way it will ever change, is when they are forced to try to make it, in the same conditions, and fail miserably, like the rest of us. But they can vote themselves pay raises and benefits, (better than our military receives by the way…….) so it will never change, until we force them to make an adjustment .