5 Things to Know About the Expansion of the Compassionate Allowance List

When you have a certain medical condition, getting Social Security Disability Insurance seems like a no-brainer. Clearly, you deserve benefits for your pain, suffering, and limitations. However, not every applicant gets the compensation they deserve, with so many fine lines and lists and rules and cutoffs to meet. The expansion of the compassionate allowance list, though, has changed things for many people, especially when you have a qualified SSDI attorney on your side to guide you.

1. How the Compassionate Allowance List Started

Social Security created a list of medical conditions in 2008 that, according to research, were awarded benefits nearly every time. The purpose of creating this list was to help the powers that be process claimants’ applications more quickly and get them into pay status.

2. Over 240 Medical Conditions Are on the List

The Compassionate Allowance List has expanded over the years and now includes over 240 severe medical conditions. Most of the afflictions are categorized as severe impairments that have little medical hope for improvement, like genetic problems, growing cancers, neurological diseases, and terminal conditions.

3. Twelve Conditions Added to the Compassionate Allowance List

The most recent additions to the Compassionate Allowance List include the following dozen conditions:

  • Charlevoix Saguenay Spastic Ataxia (ARSACS)
  • Choroid Plexus Carcinoma
  • CIC-rearranged Sarcoma
  • Congenital Zika Syndrome
  • Desmoplastic Mesothelioma
  • Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – Adult
  • Pericardial Mesothelioma
  • Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • Renpenning Syndrome
  • SCN8A Related Epilepsy with Encephalopathy
  • SYNGAP1-related NSID
  • Taybi-Linder Syndrome

4. Getting SSDI Benefits Still Has Shades of Gray

There have always been hoops to jump through for SSDI applicants, a frustrating reality particularly for those whose conditions are clearly on the list but may not fit the detailed parameters. Now, though, there is a greater likelihood of achieving benefits for a person with, say, Hodgkin Disease. According to Social Security rules, if the disease recurs with a year or doesn’t respond to treatment, it is considered a Compassionate Allowance. Approval of the application is more likely to be expedited.

5. Clarity Does Not Mean Simplicity or Automatic Benefits

While it may be clear to you and your family that you deserve Social Security Disability benefits, the agency may have other ideas. You never want to assume that having an obvious medical condition is going to result in help.

It’s important to work with a Social Security Disability attorney from the start to make sure your Compassionate Allowance application is properly handled. You are solely focused on your medical issues – you shouldn’t have to worry about paperwork and approvals and proving anything to anyone. Leave that to your lawyer.

Get an SSDI Attorney at Thurswell Law

Rely on the SSDI experts at Thurswell Law. Allow us to minimize your stress and help you get the benefits you deserve. Even though you can easily file a Compassionate Allowance application online, always retain counsel so you avoid any discrepancies with dates, reporting of work activity, and more.

You are facing serious medical issues. You shouldn’t have to worry about applying for benefits or be in distress about finances. Contact Thurswell Law for help expediting Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and getting you the compensation your family deserves. Call us at (248) 354-2222 today. We do not charge any fees until we win.