Social Security disability benefits are designed to provide financial assistance for those who cannot earn an income through substantial work due to a medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last at least a year or result in that person’s death. Typically, if an application for Social Security disability benefits is approved, the benefits will begin after a five-month waiting period after the first month the person was considered disabled. This is designed to ensure the condition is a lasting disability and is serious enough to warrant benefits. However, the Social Security Administration, with input from the public and the medical community, has identified diseases and medical conditions that due to their serious nature or their lengthy or permanent disability status, will clearly meet the standards for disability. This is known as the compassionate allowance program.
Qualifying for a Compassionate Allowance
By identifying a set of diseases and medical conditions that meet disability benefits, the Social Security administration can reduce the review time of a typical case and get the benefits to individuals with the most serious conditions and disabilities much more quickly. They do not have to wait as long for a disability determination and can start receiving their benefits the month after they qualify, instead of after the normal five-month waiting period. The same rules are used by the SSA to evaluate compassionate allowance when they evaluate applications for both the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
The most common types of medical conditions or diseases that qualify for compassionate allowance include:
...