QUICK DISABILITY DECISIONS AVAILABLE (FOR SOME)

Compassionate allowances permit Social Security to approve claims quickly (often in a week or less) for applicants suffering from one of 200 incurable diseases.

On December 6, 2012, Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue met in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. to announce reaching the milestone of 200 diseases that now qualify for a speedy compassionate allowance approval.

In order to qualify, an applicant must have one of the 200 illnesses on the list.  There are still many incurable and tragic diseases that are not on the list and thus do not qualify for the rapid award of benefits.  However, the program does provide very quick approval for thousands of applicants each year who suffer from one of the 200 conditions listed.

To see the complete list of diseases which qualify for a speedy compassionate allowance disability award, go to the following website:

 http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/compassionate-allowances200conditions-pr.html