Compassionate Allowances: Five Conditions Added to Fast Track

Processing disability claims quickly and accurately is important to us. It is through this commitment to you that we use the Compassionate Allowances program to help us identify and fast-track cases where people have medical conditions and diseases that are most likely to meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits.

In August, we added five conditions — Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors, GM1 Gangliosidosis – Infantile and Juvenile Forms, Nicolaides-Baraister Syndrome, Rubinstein-Tybai Syndrome, and Secondary Adenocarcinoma of the Brain — to this essential list. Additions to the list allow us to ensure that anyone with qualifying disabilities can receive the benefits they need quickly.

“Social Security’s top priority is to serve the public, and we remain committed to improving the disability determination process for Americans,” said Commissioner Saul. “Our Compassionate Allowances program gets us one step closer to reaching our goals by helping us accelerate the disability process for people who are likely to get approved for benefits due to the severity of their condition.”

The Compassionate Allowances program quickly identifies claims where the applicant’s condition or disease clearly meets our 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, more than 600,000 people with severe disabilities have been approved through this accelerated, policy-compliant disability process. Over the last decade, the list has grown to a total of 242 conditions, including certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children.

We incorporate leading technology to identify potential Compassionate Allowances and make quick decisions. When a person applies for disability benefits, we must obtain medical records in order to make an accurate determination. Our Health IT brings the speed and efficiency of electronic medical records to the disability determination process. With electronic records transmission, we are able to quickly obtain a claimant’s medical information, review it, and make a determination faster than ever before.

Please share the Compassionate Allowances program with friends and family who may need these vital benefits.