What is the Compassionate Allowances Program?

If you are seeking disability benefits from the federal government, you might worry that any kind of disability benefits claim will be met with a lot of red tapes. That, in fact, is typically the case. Indeed, a large percentage of claims are initially denied by the Social Security Administration before benefits are ultimately provided after an appeals process. 

That said, even the Social Security Administration understands that there are some medical conditions that are so obviously deserving of disability benefits that in some cases the Social Security Administration can speed up the claims process. 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has several initiatives in place to ease the management of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs in select cases. One of those programs is the “Compassionate Allowances” program.

In this article, we will discuss what the Compassionate Allowances program is, and provide some updated news about an expansion of the program. If, after reading this article, you have more questions about your own circumstances related to a disability, then the Social Security disability attorneys in Jacksonville , at RITE Law, are here to help you. 

Our RITE Law Social Security disability attorneys in Jacksonville have your best interests at heart, and we have the training and resources to make sure that you receive the help you need. Our number is (904) 500-RITE or you can fill out our contact form online. We provide a free case evaluation , so call today.

What is the Compassionate Allowances Program?

Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify those medical conditions and diseases that, without question, meet the SSA’s definition of disability, such that disability benefits will more easily be provided. For example, certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children are conditions that easily meet the standard for Compassionate Allowances. 

Why is the Compassionate Allowances program so helpful? It is helpful because it substantially reduces the waiting time for those seeking disability benefits. When a condition falls under the Compassionate Allowances standard, then the SSA can make sure that benefits go quickly to those with the most serious disabilities. 

How Does a Condition Fall Under the Compassionate Allowances Program?

The SSA incorporates cutting-edge technology to identify potential Compassionate Allowances in the pool of SSDI claims made each year. Once certain claims are identified, the SSA can quickly make decisions on those clear cases of disability.



In addition, the SSA continues to reach out to the public and to receive information from the public on certain conditions that it should include in the Compassionate Allowances program.

The SSA Just Updated its Compassionate Allowances List

This past summer, on August 17, 2020, to be exact, the Social Security Commissioner announced five new Compassionate Allowances conditions . Those conditions are as follows:

1. Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors,
2. GM1 Gangliosidosis – Infantile and Juvenile Forms,
3. Nicolaides-Baraister Syndrome,
4. Rubinstein-Tybai Syndrome, and
5. Secondary Adenocarcinoma of the Brain.

As with other conditions, those five conditions now will receive the expedited disability benefits treatment to ensure that an applicant suffering from those conditions can receive SSDI benefits more quickly. 

At this point, more than 600,000 people with severe disabilities have been approved for benefits through the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) accelerated , yet policy-compliant, disability process. Overall, the CAL program now has 242 conditions on the list. Thus, anyone with a claim suffering from one of the 242 conditions should get an expedited determination from the SSA and receive benefits right away.

Although we often to look at the government as a challenging, bureaucratic institution that tends to put lots of “red-tape” obstacles in the way of obtaining services, there is a lot that the SSA does for Americans. For example, in 2020, about 65 million Americans will have received over one trillion dollars in Social Security benefits. 

Disabled workers and their dependents, numbering about 10 million people in all, received in June 2020 an average benefit of $1,259 per month, for a total of over $10 billion in disability benefits. In fact, the Social Security program itself is the major source of income for most of the elderly in the U.S. 

Get Help from an Experienced Social Security Disability Attorneys in Jacksonville.

The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with physical and/or mental disabilities. SSDI pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. SSI pays benefits solely based on financial need.

Initial claims for these benefits are often denied by the SSA due to paperwork errors or insufficient medical evidence verifying a disability. There are a number of levels to the appeals system that leaves most people overwhelmed and frustrated. 

RITE law we are the SSI claims attorneys in Jacksonville who can assist you with this lengthy and tedious process. There are no upfront fees, and we are paid only if a benefit is recovered on your behalf.

At RITE Law, we started the firm for one reason – to help those in Florida and elsewhere have the resources of a firm that was “big enough to fight but small enough to care.” At Rudolph, Israel, Tucker & Ellis (RITE law), we have the resources and experience to go to trial when it is necessary, and we have the wisdom to advise you appropriately. 

Without help from the hearing loss attorneys in Jacksonville on the RITE team, trying to make insurance claims can lead to a lot of frustration and time and money lost. When you turn to our firm, we spring into action, making sure every detail of your claim is addressed. We answer any questions you have and stand in your corner to give you the best opportunity to receive all the benefits you deserve.