In a new announcement, the Social Security Administration revealed that it has added 25 new conditions to its Compassionate Allowances program. The announcement was made by Carolyn W. Colvin, acting Commissioner of the Administration. The 25 new conditions bring the program’s total to 225. Of the new conditions, 12 are various forms of cancer.
12 Cancers Added to Compassionate Allowances Program
The Compassionate Allowances program is designed to speed up the process of obtaining disability benefits for applicants who suffer from one of the most serious disabilities. The program expedites the disability decision process, allowing applicants to obtain their decision within a matter of days. For those not eligible for the program, the process can take months or even years. In choosing the conditions that are included as part of the program, the Social Security Administration collaborates with medical experts, advocacy groups, and members of the public. This includes conducting public outreach hearings.
Conditions chosen to be a part of the Compassionate Allowances program clearly meet Social Security’s standard for disability. The most recent conditions added include disorders affecting all of the following:
- Digestive system
- Neurological system
- Immune system
- Multiple other body systems
Congressman Elijah Cummings released a statement praising the Social Security Administration’s inclusion of prostate cancer in the list of Compassionate Allowances program conditions. He noted the substantial benefits of the expedited Social Security program for patients fighting this and other diseases. Almost 200,000 people suffering from severe disabilities have benefited from the Compassionate Allowances program to date.
For more information about Social Security disability benefits and the Compassionate Allowances program, call our office today at (877) 898-1581. For these and other issues surrounding Social Security benefits, you can learn more by following Morgan Weisbrod on Facebook.
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by Paul B. Burkhalter Managing Partner of Morgan Weisbrod , Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.