3 Things to Know About the Compassionate Allowances Program
Applying for Social Security disability benefits is often a lengthy process, but the Compassionate Allowances program can help people with certain conditions speed up claims processing so they get their benefits more quickly.
Qualifying Conditions
To get a compassionate allowance, an individual must have one of over 200 approved conditions. Some of those conditions are:
- ALS
- Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal cancer
Talking with Social Security disability lawyers can help individuals with a severe disability or terminal illness understand whether or not they qualify.
Faster Payments with the Compassionate Allowances Program
People who receive compassionate allowances get money more quickly because they do not have to wait for their disability benefits eligibility approval to start getting funds. With the Compassionate Allowances program, claimants with a serious or terminal illness can start receiving monthly payments while they are still waiting for approval of their SSDI application. If the application for Social Security is denied, the money received through the Compassionate Allowances program does not have to be repaid.
Application Process Is the Same
Many disabled people work with Social Security disability lawyers to get through the application process, which includes strict requirements and an abundance of documentation. Thankfully, the Compassionate Allowances program does not add to the work on the application. When the Social Security office initially reviews the claim, any qualifying conditions will trigger the payments.
Even with the expedited process, benefits are not instant, however. Factors such as other applications, whether or not medical evidence is complete and submitted quickly and additional medical examinations can delay the decision. Most qualifying applicants receive Compassionate Allowance benefits within about 2 months after the application is received.
What to Do If Compassionate Allowance Payments Don’t Come
Working with Social Security disability lawyers can limit the risk of having compassionate allowance payments overlooked. However, there may still be instances when someone qualifies for expedited processing through the program but does not receive a compassionate allowance.
When people think they will receive compassionate allowances are overlooked, Social Security disability lawyers often help investigate the reasons for the delay.