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Our Seasoned Louisiana Social Security Disability Lawyer Helps Clients With Dire Diagnoses Complete SSDI Applications Quickly and Correctly to Expedite Vital Benefits
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be daunting, lengthy, and frustrating for any applicant, particularly those facing dire medical circumstances. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Compassionate Allowances program provides streamlined approval for applicants needing urgent assistance. At Phillip M. Hendry Law, our experienced Louisiana Social Security disability lawyer helps clients understand Compassionate Allowances, complete their applications, and submit evidence proving they qualify. We proudly assist clients nationwide in securing the crucial disability benefits they deserve.
The SSDI application process is notoriously slow, with many applicants waiting months, if not years, before being approved. The SSA recognizes that time is of the essence for people with exceptionally severe or terminal medical conditions. The Compassionate Allowances program, or CAL, identifies conditions so severe that they, by definition, meet the SSA’s standards for benefits. Though applications from individuals with CAL-qualifying conditions go through the same determination process as other applications, cutting-edge technology allows the SSA to identify them and provide expedited decisions. Here’s what you should know.
Exploring Conditions That Qualify for Compassionate Allowances
Compassionate allowances encompass wide-ranging illnesses, including certain cancers, brain disorders, rare diseases, and other severely disabling conditions. The SSA regularly updates and expands the list of CAL conditions based on input from medical experts, advocacy groups, and the public, ensuring that applicants with newly-recognized severe medical conditions can benefit from expedited approval. Specific examples of qualifying conditions include:
- Acute leukemia
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
- Early-onset Alzheimer's disease
- Pancreatic cancer
- Small cell lung cancer
- Adult-onset Huntington’s disease
- Mesothelioma
- Liver cancer
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Primary progressive aphasia
Applying for Compassionate Allowances Expedited Processing
There isn’t a separate application process for Compassionate Allowances. When you complete your SSDI application and indicate that you have a condition that could qualify for CAL, the SSA system flags your claim for expedited review. A team of adjudicators evaluates the application and accompanying medical evidence to determine if it meets the CAL criteria. If approved, you could begin receiving SSDI benefits in weeks rather than months or years, ensuring accelerated access to vital financial support.
Understanding the Essential Role Medical Evidence Plays in Compassionate Allowances Determinations
Providing extensive and thorough medical evidence supporting the existence and severity of your medically determinable impairment (MDI) is crucial for all SSDI applicants, especially those with conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowances (CAL). This can include detailed medical records documenting your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis; diagnostic laboratory and imaging results; statements from treating physicians and other health care professionals; your treatment history and functional assessments; and objective findings from medical examinations.
This mountain of medical evidence must come from acceptable medical sources (AMS). Accepted sources include licensed or certified medical or osteopathic doctors and other health care providers practicing within their fields, such as optometrists for visual disorders or podiatrists for foot or ankle impairments.
Phillip Hendry understands the impact comprehensive and compelling medical evidence can have on the outcome of your SSDI claim. He and his team work tirelessly to help clients compile the supporting documentation required to prove they qualify for benefits and accelerated application review.