The Social Security Administration (SSA) has added 14 medical conditions to its Compassionate Allowances list, allowing people with these serious diagnoses to have their disability benefit claims processed more quickly. The expansion brings the total number of conditions covered by the fast-track system to 314.
The Compassionate Allowances initiative is designed for people whose medical conditions clearly meet Social Security’s disability standards. Instead of creating a separate benefit, the program identifies qualifying disability claims and accelerates their review.
14 conditions added to the Compassionate Allowances list
Most of the new additions are rare genetic disorders, including Aicardi syndrome, Bohring-Opitz syndrome and CASK-related gene disorders. The updated list also includes four cancers: hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, primary cardiac sarcoma, primary intracranial malignant melanoma and uveal melanoma with metastases.
The 14 conditions added by Social Security are:
- 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
“The Compassionate Allowances initiative cuts through red tape and allows us to deliver support to individuals who experience life-changing diagnoses and need help fast,” Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano said in the agency’s announcement.
How Social Security’s disability fast-track process works
When someone applies for Social Security disability benefits, the SSA reviews medical records and other evidence to determine whether the applicant meets its disability requirements. Disability benefits provide financial support to eligible people whose medical conditions meet Social Security’s rules.
The agency uses technology to identify applications involving conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list. When one of these diagnoses is detected, the claim can receive expedited processing, reducing the time needed to reach a disability determination.
However, having a condition on the list does not mean a person receives benefits automatically. Applicants still need to submit a disability claim and provide the required medical information so Social Security can determine eligibility.
The Compassionate Allowances initiative was launched in 2008. Since then, more than 1.2 million people with severe disabilities have been approved through the accelerated disability process, according to the SSA.
With the latest expansion, people diagnosed with any of the 14 newly added conditions can now have their applications identified for this faster review process when seeking Social Security disability benefits.
