Social Security Makes it Easier for People with Severe Disabilities to Get Help
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 11, 2025
If you or someone you care about is living with a serious medical condition, you understand how crucial it is to receive timely support. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently added 13 new conditions to its Compassionate Allowances (CAL) list, which will enable more people to access disability benefits more quickly.
What’s the Compassionate Allowances List?
The CAL list is our way of fast-tracking help for people with the most severe health problems. If your condition is on this list, it’s serious enough to qualify for disability benefits and your application is moved to the front of the line.
What’s Changed?
We added these 13 conditions to the CAL list:
- Au-Kline Syndrome
- Bilateral Anophthalmia
- Carey-Fineman-Ziter Syndrome
- Harlequin Ichthyosis – Child
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- LMNA-related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
- Progressive Muscular Atrophy
- Pulmonary Amyloidosis – AL Type
- Rasmussen Encephalitis
- Thymic Carcinoma
- Turnpenny-Fry Syndrome
- WHO Grade III Meningiomas
- Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim Syndrome
With these additions, there are now 300 conditions on the list. That means more people than ever can get the help they need, without waiting months or even years for a decision.
Why Does This Matter?
Waiting for disability benefits can be stressful, especially when you’re dealing with a life-changing diagnosis. The CAL initiative is designed to cut through the red tape for people who need help the most. Since the initiative started, over 1.1 million people have gotten benefits more quickly because their conditions were on the list.
How Does It Work?
When you apply for disability benefits, we review your medical records to see if you qualify. If your condition is on the CAL list, we use technology to flag your application and speed things up. In some cases, we can even get your medical records electronically, which makes the process even faster.
For the full list of CAL conditions, visit: ssa.gov/compassionateallowances. To start your application for disability benefits, visit: www.ssa.gov/apply.
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Beverlee J.
I had surgery and the Dr messed up my liver so I was then put on a liver and kidney transplant list . I stopped working about 9 years before that to keep my grandkids so the parents could work with out miss work when one of them was sick I was able to get SSI for a few years .. my husband was trying to get his disability from where he got hurt in the US Navy he tried for years after his job and Dr told him he would never do construction work again he had 2 knee replacements and a hip so a little over 800.00 a month is what we had to live on with us rising our grandson no help with him from anyone we never got custody of him we just got him in the first grade and was here until after graduation well until he was 21 … my husband finally got his disability when he turned 62 the they stopped my check so that went on for a few years and now that I’m 62 I’m getting mine early so we might be able to have a life now with the extra money … we did not sue the doctor we was to busy trying to raise our grandson and keep me alive .. it’s horrible to be in the shape we was in an couldn’t get our money that we put out for all the years we worked but because I kept all my grandkids an not let a daycare raise them I was punished and not able to draw disability…. Sorry so long but I get so upset thinking about it this day an time when non Americans illegal ones was getting a check ….
Debi r.
Hi Mam, you are SO RIGHT!
I’m so sorry you & your husband had to FIGHT for YOUR MONEY!I do understand your frustration. I lost EVERYTHING because I could’nt work. I WAS a cardiac R.N. Loved my job BUT hospital politics in a smallish town… then I was involved in a car accident. Got hit broadside by a person doing an estimated 85MPH. This was ’94, my world was never the same. Finally got it in 2010. Now at 68 they’re messing with me again. Making 400. LESS a month because I’M WORKING 20 HRS/WK! not as a nurse, but as a cashier in a convenience store. SO NOT making big $$$$$.
Why MESS WITH the EASY target?? ALWAYS??
Sorry Ms. Beverlee
Heather K.
DOGE Put Critical Social Security Data At Risk, Whistle-Blower Says
New York Times 8-26-2025
We knew this would happen!
Deb A.
What DOGE actually did was call out fraud, and illegals put on SSI + SSDI. Which will enable the legal citizens that really need it to have better benefits. The ones that really deserve the benefits from our programs, I don’t see a issue with that unless you are one of the persons sucking off the system illegally. And if you are you need to pay a penalty for stealing and shame on you!
Kim o.
I have been on ssi for 20 years..my condition
unfortunately never got better…now that i qm older i wondered why they never changed it to SSDI…i had the work credits…what should i do
Sue
Its disgusting that people have to fight for years to get ss ssi. People who are sick or handicapped should not have to wait years for something they paid into their entire life. Most die before ever receiving anything then having to wait another 24 months for medicaid.
Shame on America for treating people like 3rd world citizens. I guess I should have had 10 kids from 10 different men so I could live off a system paid for by hardworking citizens.
Victor
Supplemental Security Income for permanently, long term, end of life recipients. They’re people that will never make a living wage again. A living wage for qualified, verified disabled, long term to end of life people should be what minimum wage is with the promotion of being able to save and build upon via checking/savings account instead of penalized. Some people will never have 40 credits of work to get SSDI/SSA benefits. Some people will be disabled taking care of their elderly parent(s) without any work credits added because, that’s not recognized and doesn’t pay in anything to get a credit. Speaking of credit, who would ever give credit to a bona fide SSI recipient that receives a recurring payment far below minimum wage every month?
Bethann L.
I’m an SSI dependent and I have worked for years before I was disabled and I couldn’t get SSDI even through I have a disability. I’m still receiving my benefits but my retirement benefits are still up for debate. So is the SSDI. I’m taking care of my elderly parents who now I have only one parent. I have no time for anything else except for the caregiving and the house duties and bills etc. I will have nothing to fall back on. I will be able to figure it out before I get destitute. I can’t live without this disability payment. I make more than most and I’m still under the lowest income in the country. Worst part is I make too much money monthly to get food help from the government. I don’t make enough annually but that’s not the way it is decided. SSI is by your monthly income and disability pay is not enough for the monthly median income. So I am in a loophole. If there is one I will find it. We need our government funding. I’m a democrat and I plan on keeping it that way.
Premlata V.
How people are abusing Medicare and SSI benefit People are sponsoring sick and old relatives and once they get green card and Medicare card, the new immigrant gets the full medical treatment and surgeries done without paying a penny. Why the sponsor’s affidavit that they will be liable for new immigrant is not being implemented and our hard earned Medicare is paying
Kaye
We hope this department is cleaned up. Let legitimate payments be made to deserving n verified candidates who worked for the help as it was set up to do.
Timothy T.
Only a few months from 80 years old, I have contributed to SS for almost 50 years. Without SS benefits my livelihood would be put in total chaos. I depend on Medicare and SS for peace of mind, my health care, and groceries among much more. America without SS becomes a banana republic, not one of the safest places on earth. SS means security.
Nolen f.
Social Security is based on what you have put in it, but thanks to Obama. It is the past 10 years that counts. my husband and I did not have high paying jobs for the last 10 years. I remember getting a letter from Social Security stating my husband Social Security would be over $4000 a month. Now it’s 2500. I asked you “ what’s wrong with this picture?”
Dr B.
Hear! Hear! It is imperative we vote for candidates who continue to support SS . . .
John
YOU can sign up for Social Security on Official Government Website. It is easy. You can also Call the Official Social Security Office and sign up there. DO NOT give ANY of your Personal Information to someone on the internet. SOCIAL SECURITY WEBSITE OR SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE ONLY !