Skip to main content
U.S. flag An official website of the United States government Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

...
What to Know about Proving Your Identity
Social Security
X
Benefits
BY PHASE
  • Prepare
  • Apply
  • Manage benefits
BY TYPE
  • Retirement
  • Disability
  • Survivor
  • Family
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Benefits overview
Medicare
  • Plan for Medicare
  • Sign up for Medicare
  • Request to lower IRMAA
  • Apply for Part D Extra Help
  • Manage Medicare benefits
Card & record
  • Number & card
  • Personal record
Español
Sign in
Menu

Press Office (Subscribe)

Menu

  • Contact the Press Office
  • Press Releases
  • Reports, Facts and Figures
  • Social Security Update
  • Follow us @SSAPress
  • COLA

Press Release  (En español)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
For Immediate Release
Mark Lassiter, Press Officer
press.office@ssa.gov
News Release SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Holds Disability Hearing on Compassionate Allowances and Schizophrenia

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today hosted the agency's fifth public hearing on Compassionate Allowances. Commissioner Astrue was joined by Philip Wang, M.D., Dr. P.H., National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, and Social Security executives. They heard testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on schizophrenia about possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for young adults with schizophrenia.

"Schizophrenia is a devastating disease that affects more than two million Americans, primarily individuals in their teens and twenties," said Commissioner Astrue. "The onset of schizophrenia has life-changing consequences, which can include unemployment and homelessness." This hearing will help us to potentially identify the most severe cases and consider bringing them under our Compassionate Allowances umbrella."

In October 2008, Social Security launched Compassionate Allowances to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants with medical conditions so severe that their conditions by definition meet Social Security's standards. To learn more and to view a web cast of today's hearing, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

"Our Compassionate Allowances and Quick Disability Determination processes are making a real difference by ensuring that Americans with devastating disabilities quickly receive the benefits they need," Commissioner Astrue said. "This fiscal year, we expect to fast-track about 150,000 cases and we plan to add more diseases and impairments to these expedited processes in the coming months."

Support
  • Contact us
  • Find an office
  • Forms
  • Publications
  • Report fraud
Languages
  • Español
  • Other languages
  • Plain language
Services for
  • Employers & businesses
  • Representatives
  • Government agencies
  • Other groups
About
  • About SSA
  • Communications
  • Careers
  • Initiatives
  • Research & policy
  • Financial reports
Agency logo

SSA.gov

An official website of the Social Security Administration.


  • Accessibility support
  • Privacy policy
  • FOIA requests
  • Civil Rights/Compliance
  • Office of the Inspector General
  • Office of the Chief Actuary
  • Performance reports
  • System status
Looking for U.S. government information and services? Visit USA.gov