Social Security Administration’s new Compassionate Allowances is touted as great news for disability applicants with rare diseases and cancers… but is it really?
Social Security Administration’s new Compassionate Allowances initiative is designed to fast-track Social Security disability applications for 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers that are deemed to be severe. The Compassionate Allowances Impairments list is here.
If you have a diseases on this list please be very careful not to get a false sense of security that you application is going to breeze through the system. Because this listing type criteria (AKA slam dunk approvals cases) has been around for years and for applicants like Bern has caused extreme hard ship.
Bern contributed his story in Aug 2008 explaining that he has inoperable malignant brain tumor and has been turned down over and over again. The reason cited were…. “You are not sick enough”. For the record he has not been able to work since July 02 2006. Yep over 2 years. Bern’s complete story is here
Common events that cause cases like Bern’s to get denied ..
1. The Social Security staff making the approval decision are not familiar with the diseases as a result don’t understand its debilitating ability
2. The applicant has not completed the application process so that it has proper medical documentation and or does not clearly communicate that the condition has caused limitation that prevent from doing any job in the United States 5 days a week forty hours a week.
The real problem arises if your case requires a hearing to get approved. CBS news special reports the average wait for a hearing is 3 years which is the obvious cause of hardship. The loss of income and health during this wait is terrifying and typically puts real pressure on you and your family.
Need less to say this compassionate allowances initiative is a positive step but really just a start because the National Organization for Rare Disorders that there are 6,000 to 7,000 known rare diseases.
In closing my message is that even if you have a condition that meets the compassionate allowances criteria it does not mean that your are off the hook and you case is going to breeze through the approval process ….
To do all you can do to avoid this hardship caused by the disability road block take an educated approach and get a FREE membership to the Disability Digest and maximize your chances of winning your disability.
Help You WIN Your Disability Income!
Brian Therrien
Ps: Learn if your rare diseases or cancer is on the Compassionate Allowances initiative list click here
