Social Security Adds 25 Conditions to Compassionate Allowances List for Disability Benefits

Belleville, IL (PRWEB) January 28, 2014

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) addition of 25 new conditions to its Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program this month is critical for individuals with those conditions who are seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, according to Allsup, a nationwide SSDI representation company.

Social Security’s CAL program identifies and fast-tracks disability applications for individuals with the most serious disabilities, helping them avoid an appeals process that can take up to two years or more. According to Social Security, an individual with a CAL condition could receive a decision on their claim within weeks.

The new conditions, including a dozen cancers, bring the total number of CAL conditions to 225. A complete list of CAL conditions that qualify for SSDI benefits is available here.

“The Compassionate Allowances program helps ensure applicants who obviously meet Social Security’s strict disability standards obtain their benefits quickly,” said David Bueltemann, Allsup manager of senior claimant representatives. “However, there are no special CAL application forms, and Social Security does not tell applicants if their claim is designated for expedited review.

“This highlights the importance of having expert help, especially with the initial SSDI application. At Allsup, we flag CAL conditions and make sure Social Security is aware the claim qualifies for expedited review,” Bueltemann said.

Even when a claim is designated as eligible for CAL, Social Security may require additional medical evidence. The amount of time it takes for a CAL claim to be awarded may depend on factors such as how quickly SSA obtains medical evidence from a doctor or other medical source; whether a medical examination is needed to support the claim; and whether the claim is randomly reviewed for quality assurance purposes.

“An experienced SSDI representative like Allsup will be able to assist and support the claimant in all of those scenarios,” Bueltemann said.

SSDI is a payroll tax-funded, federal insurance program designed to provide workers who have severe, long-term disabilities with income until their condition improves. For more information on SSDI eligibility, call Allsup’s Disability Evaluation Center at (888) 841-2126 or visit Expert.Allsup.com.

About Allsup
Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, go to Allsup.com or visit Allsup on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Allsupinc.

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