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Press Release  (En español)

Thursday, December 6, 2012
For Immediate Release
Mark Hinkle, Acting Press Officer
press.office@ssa.gov
News Release SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Announces New Compassionate Allowances Conditions
Fast Track Disability Process Will Now Include 200 Conditions

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced 35 additional Compassionate Allowances conditions are in effect, bringing the total number of conditions in the expedited disability process to 200. Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security's standards for disability benefits. The program fast-tracks disability decisions to ensure that Americans with the most serious disabilities receive their benefit decisions within days instead of months or years. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children.

"We have achieved another milestone for the Compassionate Allowances program, reaching 200 conditions," Commissioner Astrue said. "Nearly 200,000 people with severe disabilities nationwide have been quickly approved, usually in less than two weeks, through the program since it began in October 2008."

By definition, these conditions are so severe that Social Security does not need to fully develop the applicant's work history to make a decision. As a result, Social Security eliminated this part of the application process for people who have a condition on the list.

Social Security has held seven public hearings and worked with experts to develop the list of Compassionate Allowances conditions. The hearings also have helped the agency identify ways to improve the disability process for applicants with Compassionate Allowances conditions.

For more information on the Compassionate Allowances initiative, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

New Compassionate Allowances Conditions

  1. Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
  2. Adult Onset Huntington Disease
  3. Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome
  4. Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma
  5. Aplastic Anemia
  6. Beta Thalassemia Major
  7. Bilateral Optic Atrophy- Infantile
  8. Caudal Regression Syndrome -
    Types III and IV
  9. Child T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma
  10. Congenital Lymphedema
  11. DeSanctis Cacchione Syndrome
  12. Dravet Syndrome
  13. Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma
  14. Erdheim Chester Disease
  15. Fatal Familial Insomnia
  16. Fryns Syndrome
  17. Fulminant Giant Cell Myocrditis
  18. Hepatopulmonary Syndrome
  19. Hepatorenal Syndrome
  20. Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome
  21. Leiomyosarcoma
  22. Malignant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
  23. Malignant Germ Cell Tumor
  24. MECP 2 Duplication Syndrome
  25. Menkes Disease - Classic or Infantile Onset Form
  26. NFU-1 Mitochondrial Disease
  27. Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia
  28. Peritoneal Mucinous Carcinomatosis
  29. Phelan- McDermid Syndrome
  30. Retinopathy of Prematurity - Stage V
  31. Roberts Syndrome
  32. Severe Combined Immunodeficiency - Childhood
  33. Sinonasal Cancer
  34. Transplant Coronary Artery Vasculopathy
  35. Usher Syndrome - Type I
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