The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently added fourteen new medical conditions to its “Compassionate Allowances” list, potentially making it easier for many applicants to obtain Social Security benefits. This is because people with these recognized conditions can skip some of the more difficult aspects of proving their disability. However, it can still be worthwhile to seek legal assistance with your disability application to minimize the risk of complications arising.
What is the Compassionate Allowances List?
The Compassionate Allowances list is a collection of known medical conditions that are considered so inherently severe that someone automatically qualifies as disabled for having them. Ordinarily, someone with a disability must undergo a separate examination to prove the nature and severity of their condition. If their condition is on this list, however, they can skip that part of the process, significantly simplifying their application.
The full list of conditions can be found here.
What Conditions Were Added to the List?
In total, fourteen conditions were added to the list. These include:
- Adenylosuccinate Lyase deficiency – Neonatal Form and Type 1
- Aicardi syndrome
- Baraitser-Winter syndrome
- Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome
- Bohring-Opitz syndrome
- CASK-related gene disorders
- Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma
- Lafora disease
- Malignant Migrating Partial Seizures of Infancy (MMPSI)
- OPHN1 syndrome
- Primary cardiac sarcoma
- Primary intracranial malignant melanoma
- Uveal Melanoma – with metastases
- Warburg micro syndrome
Why Does This Matter?
For people who suffer from the conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list, as well as their families, applying for SSDI or SSI benefits can already be incredibly difficult. This helps to alleviate the problem by removing one of the major obstacles between them and disability benefits. That way, they can start receiving the benefits they deserve much earlier.
What Should You Do?
If you or someone you love is suffering from a severe medical or psychological condition, you may be entitled to disability benefits through the SSA. However, to know what you may qualify for, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling disability applications. The sooner you call, the sooner they can get to work for you.
If you or a loved one need assistance applying for SSDI or SSI benefits, it is important that you seek the guidance of an experienced Social Security Disability benefits lawyer. The lawyers at Sullivan & Kehoe, LLP have over 50 years of combined experience between its attorneys and are available to you or your loved one in obtaining Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. To schedule a consultation with our New York Social Security Disability benefits lawyers, call (631) 823-7155.
