Disability Benefits and the Compassionate Allowances Program

Is there a way to expedite my disability benefits application?

Arizona Social Security disability benefits attorneys know all too well the obstacles and delays that disabled people face when trying to access federal government disability benefits like Social Security Disability (“SSDI”) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits, both of which are administered by the Social Security Administration.

Applying for SSDI benefits is a complicated process as evidenced by the fact that nearly 2/3 of initial applications are denied. Add that grim statistic to the fact that most applicants who appeal a SSDI denial have to wait as long as two years for an appeal hearing, and it becomes obvious that many suffering people could die before getting approved for SSDI benefits.

While many of the mental or physical conditions qualifying for Social Security disability benefits are chronic and/or long-term, other applicants may be suffering from conditions that are expected to take their lives extremely quickly. They are arguably the most vulnerable and needy recipients and they especially don’t have time to wait for the usual slow processing of their claims.

Fortunately, the government has a fast-track process for those with certain severe health conditions who are applying for SSDI benefits. It’s called the Compassionate Allowances Program (“CAL”) and it allows for the approval of SSDI benefits “within weeks of medical confirmation of a diagnosis, versus months or years”.

In order to be considered, the medical condition must fall within the CAL program’s list of 233 qualifying impairments, many of which are “brain disorders or types of cancers”.

Recently, five new health conditions were added to the CAL: Fibrolamellar cancer; Megacystis Micro Intestinal Hypoperistalis Syndrome (“MMIHS”); Megalencephaly Capillary Malformation Syndrome (“MCAP”), Superficial Siderosis of the Central Nervous System; and Tetrasomy 18p.

If you or a loved one needs assistance applying for Social Security disability benefits or appealing the denial of benefits, the disability attorneys of Arizona at Roeschke Law can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation.

From our offices in Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson, we help disabled clients throughout Arizona access the disability benefits they need and deserve.