Sally and her family were devastated when she was diagnosed with a rare, serious medical condition. Hospital stays and out-patient treatment would take all the time she had left. Sally could no longer work as she battled her disease – but the bills would keep coming in. She and her family needed financial support, and they needed it now. Social Security’s Compassionate Allowances program may help.
The Social Security Administration (“Social Security”) oversees the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. SSDI provides benefits to people who are disabled because of a medical condition.
But people hoping for SSDI benefits might have to wait months before their claim is approved. People with certain diseases can qualify for the Compassionate Allowances program. This benefit is designed for people with specific diseases that are likely to qualify for SSDI benefits automatically. Acceptance into the program means Social Security can provide benefits to the claimant more quickly than the average SSDI recipient.
Social Security added the following five conditions to the Compassionate Allowances program in 2020.
#1. Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors
This aggressive cancer usually strikes teens and young adults. Although research is coming up with new treatments, the 5-year survival rate is less than 15%. This cancer’s tendency to metastasize quickly and lack of a cure are likely why Social Security added it to the Compassionate Allowance programs list of eligible conditions.
#2. Compassionate Allowances Program Includes GM1 Gangliosidosis
This inherited condition occurs in three distinct forms. Two types of GM1 gangliosidosis strike children, while the third hits teens and young adults. Generally, this disease “destroys nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord.” Life expectancy varies, and there is no cure at this time.
#3. Nicolaides-Baraister Syndrome
Intellectual disability, sparse scalp hair, and severe physical disabilities are markers for this serious, deadly condition. While the condition is present at birth, its victims may live beyond age 30.
#4. Rubinstein-Tybai Syndrome Included in Compassionate Allowances Program
Gene mutations cause this condition. Symptoms include intellectual disability, short stature, distinctive facial features, dental programs, heart and kidney defects, and more. People with this syndrome are more likely to develop noncancerous brain and skin tumors. Social Security may have added this condition to the Compassionate Allowances program because victims likely would be unable to support themselves financially.
#5. Secondary Adenocarcinoma of the Brain
Adenocarcinoma refers to certain types of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Secondary adenocarcinoma of the brain means that an adenocarcinoma has spread to the brain. Roughly 10 to 30 percent of adults with cancer develop secondary cancers. While treatments can extend someone’s life, the disease is often incurable. Sometimes people with secondary adenocarcinoma need extensive therapy to regain brain function after surgery. For these reasons, it makes sense to add this disease to the Compassionate Allowances Program.
Will the Compassionate Allowances Program Work for You?
According to the Social Security Administration’s blog, the Compassionate Allowances program has approved more than 600,000 people over the past ten years. Please call if you need help applying for Social Security benefits.
Social Security Administration rules and regulations are not easy to understand. It can help to have someone on your side. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Martin Taller have more than 50 years’ experience helping clients like you. For a free consultation, call us at 714-385-8100. Though our office is located in Anaheim, we assist clients throughout Southern California.
