If you or your loved one is seriously injured or sick, you are likely well aware that time is critical. You already know the importance of getting medical help right away and notifying an employer of any accommodations or leave requests as soon as possible, and you are almost certainly accustomed to acting fast.
That is why it can be incredibly frustrating to learn that the wait time for a traditional application for disability benefits to be processed can be more than a year. Thankfully, this wait can be decreased dramatically for people with certain conditions covered under Compassionate Allowances, or CAL.
As noted by the Social Security Administration, Compassionate Allowances conditions include conditions that are most certainly eligible for coverage under Social Security disability. They include:
- Many types of cancer
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
- Various heart conditions
- Malignant multiple sclerosis
- Mixed dementias
- Severe neurological disorders
These and the many other illnesses on the list of CAL conditions obviously meet the definition of disability, so the SSA allows these claims to be expedited. Instead of waiting months or years for an application to be processed, CAL applicants wait a matter of weeks.
However, there are still the same eligibility requirements in place, and the SSA will still need to review an application, confirm medical evidence and possibly conduct a random quality review.
This means that there is plenty of room for delays, especially if an application is incomplete, incorrect or improperly submitted. These are delays that applicants can avoid by consulting an attorney who has experience building a claim or appeal and navigating the complex Social Security system.
When everything goes according to plan, you will be able to avoid these delays and have a Social Security disability claim processed as soon as possible. This will allow you and your loved ones to secure the financial benefits you need immediately.
